Emergency Kits for Hurricanes

When And Where To Expect A Hurricane

If you live in the United States, you will find that most hurricanes occur along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf of Mexico.  While most hurricanes that come in from the Atlantic tend to strike the mid-Atlantic and southern states, hurricanes can sweep right up to Maine.  Inland regions can be at risk as well as coastal ones, as a strong hurricane can sustain wind and torrential rains for a considerable distance once leaving the ocean.

Officially, the hurricane season is considered to last from June through the end of November.  However, most hurricanes appear during the latter part of August through September.  This is the time when the air and ocean waters are the warmest, providing ideal conditions for the formation of these tropical storms.

Hurricane Damage

Living on the coast when a hurricane strikes can be extremely dangerous – besides the very high winds (up to 185 mph) and extremely heavy rain, a storm surge is usually present.  This is a wall of water the rushes ahead of the hurricane and can be up to 25 feet high.  Buildings, telephone and electric lines, and automobiles can all be destroyed by the storm surge.

Although being inland even a relatively short distance will save you from storm surge damage, the high winds will usually mean that electric power will be interrupted.  Our dependence on electricity for almost every facet of our existence means that we will immediately be in an emergency situation of some sort.

What You Should Have In Your Emergency Kit

One of the most important things you will need for your emergency kit is some means to provide for clean, safe water.  Have bottled water stored, and a supply that will last a week is a good idea.  There are water purification tablets available, or you can invest in a water filtering system.  Just make sure that your filter system does not depend on electricity.

In the event your home has been damaged or destroyed, you will need shelter.  If you do not have a tent stored away, temporary shelter can be made from tarps and clothesline.
To make the shelter more comfortable, be sure to have extra blankets and maybe sleeping bags on hand.  Cardboard boxes can be flattened to provide a ‘floor’ for your shelter.

Food will be needed to provide sustenance during the emergency, and a three day supply of non-perishable food should be kept in the house.  If your supply includes canned food, make sure to keep an extra can opener with the food supply. 

Any emergency can result in minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, or bruises.  You should have a first aid kit ready to deal with any of these problems.  Being able to clean, treat, and bandage a cut can keep a small hurt from turning into a larger problem.  Besides the basics of first aid, if anyone in the family is on prescription medication, a supply of that medicine, as well as a copy of the prescription, should be kept in the first aid kit.