Hurricane Season Prep Kit

The old Boy Scout motto (and I'm an old Boy Scout) is 'Be Prepared', and that motto is especially true in Southwest Louisiana when it comes to the weather.

I'm still so proud of the way this area prepared for and reacted to Hurricane Rita back on 2005. What could have been a major killer storm claimed no lives due mainly to the way folks in this area reacted.

Well, here we are facing another Hurricane Season and it's never too early to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Here is a list of items you'll want to have on hand in case a hurricane threatens us:

FOOD

It's a good idea to have about a three day supply of non-perishable, easy to prepare meals. Keep in mind any special dietary needs for all family members.

It's also a good idea to avoid foods that will make you thirsty since, as we all know, water supplies can shut down or become contaminated.

Obviously, canned foods can fill the bill for the most part. This may seem like a no-brainer, but have two manual can openers in your survival kit.

If you want to cook those foods, invest in a Coleman or other camping stove or Sterno.

It will help cut down on water consumption if you use disposable plates and utensils. No sense wasting precious water washing dishes.

Which leads us to:

WATER

Store a bare minimum of one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. Keep in mind that medical emergencies can require even more water and that the one gallon per person is a minimum number.

Going in, it's good to have about a 3 day supply of water for each person.

Other items you will need:

Battery operated radio

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit

Plastic sheeting and duct tape- you can never have enough duct tape!

Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Have a tool box, equipped with a variety of tools including wrenches for turning off utilities if the need should arise. Obviously include nails and screws. You never know when you may need to secure items.

Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

If you gather these items now, you'll beat the rush (and possibly the price increases) if we should have tropical weather.

As always, when such weather threatens, stay tuned to 92.9 The Lake and we'll get through it together