How To Create A Hurricane Irene Survival Kit [tutorial]

Do you live in the path of the storm? During Hurricane Irene (and possibly for days or even weeks afterward), electricity and other utilities might not be available. Worse yet, you might be trapped. Fallen trees, debris and flood water might block the roads and prevent vehicles from reaching you as well as your escape. Bottom Line: Help might not reach you for days after the hurricane, so you’ll need to be completely self-sufficient during that period.

Here are some of the most critical supplies to have on hand when a hurricane threatens your region:

• Cash: If the power is out, credit cards and ATM’s won’t work. Lots of cash can be the difference of your family drinking clean bottled water or sucking up muddy puddles with a straw.
• Water: You should have at least a 3-day and preferably a 7-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
• Food: Non-perishable items like canned and bottled food, granola, peanut butter, etc.
• Communication Devices: Don’t forget your iPhone and chargers. That includes car chargers! If you have a Twitter account, then use it to communicate with friends and family. Tweets can be sent out quickly and will use less battery power than a phone call. Also grab any battery-powered radios you might have.
• Light: Flashlights, glow sticks and plenty of batteries. Bonus points if you have a Wicked Lasers TORCH flashlight.
• Baby Stuff: Formula, diapers, and other baby supplies.
• Pet Stuff: Food, toys, medicine.
• Kitchen Kit: Utensils, can opener, bottles, etc.
• First Aid Kit: A basic first aid kit should do, but don’t forget to add some comfort medicines like Aspirin and antacid. Hurricanes can be pretty stressful.
• Prescription Medicines: If medicine is helping keep you alive, then you will need it. Bring it.
• Sleep Gear: Blankets, sleeping bags and pillows
• Toiletries: Just because there’s a major storm outside, doesn’t mean you won’t have to poop. Toilet paper, toothpaste, etc.
• Entertainment: Waiting out a storm can be pretty boring. An acoustic guitar, books, board games and a deck of cards will help pass the time, especially if you’re evacuating. But if you have access to power, then by all means include your iPad, Nintendo DS, MacBook or Sony PSP. Just don’t let entertainment power take the place of survival power. Save you batteries for flashlights not video games.

Many of the above items are portable. In case you need to leave in a hurry, have them packed up and ready to go before the hurricane hits. Good luck and avoid trying to kite surf the storm or you’ll get owned like this guy during Hurricane Fay!!!