May through October is prime hurricane season for much of the coastal United States which means that those living there are at a higher risk of having to evacuate their homes. There's no snap of the fingers that can make facing a natural disaster easier, but preparing in advance can help ease some of the stress and anxiety and prove instrumental in help keeping you and your family safer.
If you are new to prepping you might be thinking, well where do I even start? The best thing you can do is to prepare a go bag. A go bag, sometimes called a bug out bag is a bag or bin filled with emergency essentials, usually enough for three days and more if you have the room, at the ready so if you have to evacuate your home you have everything you may need packed and ready to go.
Start with a waterproof bag so that your items will be protected from the weather and make it in working condition to your destination. Once you have your bag it's time to pack food and water. As a general rule, you will need one gallon of water per person per day, but you should also take your family's specific needs into consideration. For instance, if you have an infant and will need water to mix formula then you might want to pack some extra water. Pets? you will need to bring along water for them as well. If you can't get to an evacuation shelter or you want to go at it alone, you will need three-days worth of food for everyone in your household. When it comes to choosing the right food for your go bag you'll want to look for shelf-stable items. MRE’s or Meals Ready To Eat is the easiest option for food but you can also look for any items that are shelf-stable like freeze-dried and canned goods. If you pack canned food, make sure you have a manual can opener as well. Tip: you can pack spices in tic tac containers to make whatever food you pack more exciting.
The next thing to pack is a weather radio that has access to both local radio stations and NOAA weather stations so that you can stay up-to-date on how conditions are progressing. Opt for a radio that has a few powering options. For instance, many weather radios will be able to be charged by batteries, hand crank, and even solar power. I also suggest you look for one that can act as power bank to charge your other devices and a flashlight as well. And no matter how many powering options your radio has, always pack lots of extra batteries.
It's important to have some waterproof clothing like rain boots, ponchos, waders, and hats. I recommend you keep your rain gear right nest to your go bag so each member of your household can wear their gear upon evacuating and save space in the bag. Leave an emergency whistle for each member of your house as well, so they can put that on with their rain gear – it's a good idea to wear a whistle at all times so it's handy should you need it.
First-Aid kits are a good idea in any go bag. When choosing a first-aid kit make sure it contains enough supplies for your family size. Pack dust/mold filtering masks so that you can be safe when you return home, because there might be dust and debris around. Don't forget tin include any medications your family is currently taking as well as extra inhalers and epipens if needed. If you have family members that wear dentures, hearing aids, contacts, or any special medical devices you will need to pack to maintain them. If you have old glasses for family members, your go bag is an excellent place to store these items. In an emergency, back up items can be a life saver. Also include hygiene items like feminine hygiene products, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, etc.
Remember earlier when I spoke about those extra batteries? Well, you'll also want to pack extra cell phone and device chargers. It's also a good idea to pack some backup charging packs in case you need some juice and don't have access to electricity – which very well might be the case for a good portion of your evacuation. It's also smart to pack some leisure items to keep busy: books, games, etc. You could be away for a while and you will likely need some entertainment.
Because hurricanes can bring about flash flooding and various water hazards, it would be remiss if I didn't remind you to pack items for family members that cannot swim. You can there are a number of floatation devices, water wings for children, and rope so if need be each member of your family can grab hold ( so make sure it's long enough, test it before you pack it!). Tip: tie a knot to help them keep a good grip. Is someone falls or starts to be overcome by water, it will be easier to rescue them and to alert the family if you are all moving together and connected. Smaller members of the family can have the rope around their waists or run through a belt loop. No matter what you do, be safe and never go into water if you can avoid it during a storm.
This should help you pack a go bag that will keep you and your family safe in the event of a hurricane, but it's always important to remember that just like packing for a trip you need to think about all your families needs at ever turn whether it's food and water or entertainment. Another great tip: make a checklist, take a breath and do a little at a time. Good luck!
