Hurricane season started on June 1, which means Jim Cantore’s suitcase is packed to leave at a moment’s notice for whichever way the wind is going to blow. Luckily, South Mississippi doesn’t usually experience bad weather until August or September, if past years are any indication. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t already have your Emergency Kit together come the beginning of the summer months. The season doesn’t officially end until November 30, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projected this season to be particularly intense, but we’ve all heard that before. Better safe than sorry!
For those of you who have procrastinated, now is really the time to get your kit and other essentials together. The most important thing you can do is be prepared. Yes, it’s been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina came ashore along the southern Gulf Coast, and we’ve had no major storms since then, but you always hear someone say, “We’re due something!” and they could be right. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
So, what do you need to pull together, just in case? The Red Cross provides the following list of six basic things you should stock for your home:
Water Food (non-perishable) First-aid supplies Clothing and bedding Tools and Emergency supplies Special items
Place all of these items in an easy-to-carry container, such as a large, covered trash container, a camping backpack, or a duffle bag.
Food and Water
Water
Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Children, nursing mothers, and people who are sick will need more. Store one gallon of water per person per day. Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for each person in your household for food preparation/sanitation – washing dishes, bathing, flushing toilets, etc.). If you are riding out the storm at home, fill your bathtub(s), large containers, etc. with water.
Food
Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of Sterno. Make sure you have a hand-held can-opener if your canned items are not flip top. Select food
Read original article by clicking here.