Hurricane Season Prep Kit

When I talk to family or friends back in California, the first thing everyone asks me is …HOW’S THE WEATHER?!  Truthfully, the heat is nothing new.  When deciding to move here, the Texas weather had no weight whatsoever. What did worry us though was hurricane season!  We were also coming to town right smack in the middle of the dreaded season.  Along with extensive research (on Pinterest and various blogs), we asked local friends and neighbors about what to expect and how to prepare.  We heard stories about big hurricanes and minor close-calls, and of course endless tales of the most notorious in recent history, Hurricane Harvey.  The only thing we came away learning was that hurricanes can be unpredictable.  Sometimes they bring intense winds and little rain, or 100 feet of wetness but zero wind destruction.  No matter what we’re up against, one thing is certain…preparedness is the key!  The only bright side of natural disasters like  hurricanes is that you can actually plan for them, which in itself brings me some comfort.  

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First and foremost is to ensure you have a plan.  Do you stay and hold down the fort?  Or do you leave and head to safety areas? What if you’re at the office and your kids are at home? Do you have a meeting place? Our plan is to evacuate early so that we’re not stuck in horrible road conditions.  We heard mixed sentiments about evacuating from the locals but we decided since we have little kids, it’s better to be in a safe location before things are risky. So, we are leaving about 48 hour before the hurricane is projected to hit our area. 

Second, prepare a disaster kit that includes all your family’s essentials. Did you know you needed at least 2 weeks supply of water for EACH person in the household?  Or that a few drops of Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach will make impure water supply actually SAFE TO DRINK? I know…mind blown! 

I’ve put together a detailed list of everything I put in my Hurricane Disaster Kit along with a printable checklist in case some of you are still in the prep mode.  

 The Essentials

• The most important thing for any kit is WATER.  It is recommended to keep one gallon per person, per day.  We a 2-week supply stashed at home, and 3-day supply of easy gallon bottles ready to pack up the moment we need to evacuate. 
• Almost as important as clean bottled water is Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach.  In case water is not safe to drink, a few drops of Disinfecting Bleach (8 drops in a gallon) can be used to make water drinkable.  And it is always handy to keep Bleach around to clean up mold and fungi that develops from excess moisture.  With little kids, this is an ABSOLUTE necessity for me.

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Here are some specific usage measurements to make water safe to drink:

• All water of uncertain quality should be treated before it is used for drinking, food preparation, or hygiene:
  • Remove suspended particles by filtering or letting particles settle to the bottom. 
  • Pour off clear water into a clean container.
  • Add 8 drops (or 1/8 teaspoon) of Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach to one gallon of water or add 1/8 teaspoon of the product to 1.5 gallons of water. Allow the treated water to stand for 30 minutes. Properly treated water will have a slight chlorine odor. If not, repeat dosage and allow the water to stand an additional 15 minutes. The treated water can then be made palatable by pouring it between clean containers several times. 

For cloudy water, use 16 drops per 1 gallon of water, or add 1/4 teaspoon of this product per 1.5 gallons of water (3 drops to 1 quart). If no chlorine odor is apparent after 30 minutes, repeat dosage and wait an additional 15 minutes.

• Food: I stocked up on non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items like canned soups, pasta, dry snacks and pouched kids food/snacks and baby formula (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home).  I will check and replenish the food supply before and after Hurricane season to ensure food is still safe to store and eat.
• Flashlight (and extra batteries): We have flashlights in just about every room in the house and of course in our Hurricane kit.  
• First Aid Kit: In case of emergency, first aid supplies are crucial to help keep family members as healthy as possible. Make sure to stock the kit with things like bandages, gauze and antibiotic creams. 
• A Can opener and multipurpose tool to use to use on foods or any situation that might come up.  
• Baby care: I have enough diapers, wipes and bottles to ensure my little one is taken care of for at least 2-3 weeks.

Personal items

• Power bank chargers for cell phones
• Personal hygiene items like soap, lotions, hand sanitizers is always good to keep on hand for personal cleanliness.  Same goes for baby hygiene care.
• Medication:  I keep extra prescribed medication as well as basic for colds and coughs relievers for extra precaution.
• Copies of important documents such as medical insurance card, driver’s license, etc. is also essential in case flooding happens.
• Emergency Blankets and sleeping bags
• Extra Cash in a water proof bag

Other things that are good to have….

• Emergency Contact Info
• plastic baggies and plastic ties
• Maps of the Area
• Toys & games

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In the light of Hurricane Dorian that has impacted so many people in the Bahamas and the South East, I wanted to also emphasize steps to take AFTER a natural disaster.  Relief & recovery tactics are just as important in keeping you and everyone around you safe.  

1. Because new storms may occur after the initial hurricane, it’s important to stay vigilant and continue to take all safety precautions until emergency officials advise on next steps.  
2. Avoid using cellular or landline telephones if many homes in your area have been affected by a disaster. Emergency responders need to have the telephone lines available to coordinate their response. 
3. If you had to leave your home, return only when local authorities advise that it’s safe to do so. Make sure to have photo identification available, as sometimes local authorities will only permit people who own property in a disaster-affected area back into the area. 
4. Except in extreme emergencies or unless told to do so by emergency officials, avoid driving during the immediate post-disaster period. Keep roads clear for rescue and emergency vehicles. If you must drive, don’t drive on roads covered with water.
5. Again, it is great to keep Disinfecting Bleach on hand to use in the aftermath of water-based natural disasters. It can help treat drinking water that may be contaminated, kill bacteria such as E. Coli, clean up mold and mildew inside and outside your home and prevent mosquito breeding areas. 

For more information on disaster preparation or recovery services, visit the Redcross.org.  If you live in the path of a hurricane, I encourage you to start planning for the safety of your family.  Here is a printable checklist for your convenience!

The Clorox Company is helping people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. 

This post is sponsored by Clorox.  All opinions are my own.