I think that this post should be "stickied" as a hurricane prep item:
First of all, I converted a part of my preparedness talk to a PowerPoint show. If your browsers won't open it correctly, then right click on the link below and click "save target" (Internet Explorer) or "save link as" (Firefox) and put it on your hard drive. You'll need the free MS PowerPoint viewer to watch it. Unfortunately, you can't see all my notes in such a show, but most people don't have PowerPoint to view the actual presentation.
http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/Hurr.pps
As I have to travel around the country giving hurricane preparedness presentations each spring, I have a quite comprehensive kit. It's so heavy (without the kit with the battery supply) that I bought a special dolly to carry it around. Here are a few pics:
Below is a list of items for your hurricane kit. I have every item below in my kit (minus the AC and 5 gal. gas cans which are in the garage, of course). I never by water, I use giant water containers from
http://www.mywatersafe.com The 65 gallon unit sits in your bathtub. I also have a few 5-gal collapsible containers that fit in a sink, and a 55-gal portable unit that you can put in the bed of a truck. Since I know the lady who sells them, she supplies me with whatever I need and I give her plugs at my talks.
One new item for 2010 is a portable TV with replaceable AA batteries. It's the first one on the market:
http://www.radioshack.com/pwr/product-r ... al-TV.html
Other such TVs released in 2009 require AC power to charge the built-in batteries.
I also got a new headlamp, the Petzl Tikka XP 2 (3 AAA batteries). It's VERY bright:
http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/produ ... 217402/N/0
Hurricane Kit/Ride Out Items
1. Flashlight(s), Lantern(s) (1 per person)
2. Extra bulbs for flashlights / lanterns
3. Collapsible water containers (enough for 7 days at 1 gal/day per person)
4. Portable radio and/or TV (I have Auvio 3.5" that uses AA batteries)
5. Weather radio
6. At least 2 sets of extra batteries for all electronic devices
7. Digital antenna for TV (if you have a generator)
8. First aid kit
9. Corded telephone with long cord
10. Toolkit - hammer, screw drivers, pliers and assorted nails/screws
11. Fire extinguisher (ABC type)
12. Manual can opener
13. Battery-operated fan
14. Duct tape
15. Blue tarp (15x20ft) and 100ft rope or cord
16. Gloves
17. Eye protection glasses
18. Automobile power inverter
19. Rain gear (poncho/raincoat)
20. Matches / lighter
21. Pocket knife/multi-tool
22. Plastic garbage bags
23. 5-gal gas cans (2-4) for car/generator WITH funnel (if needed)
24. Disposable camera
25. Battery-powered alarm clock (can use cell phone)
26. Outdoor extension cords (2-3 50ft)
27. Small window AC unit
28. Generator and 4-8 quarts of extra oil
29. Whistle
30. Plastic sheeting
31. Tree saw / axe / hatchet
Personal Items:
1. Prescription medications (2-4 week supply)
2. Non-prescription drugs (aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever)
3. Mosquito repellent / sunscreen
4. Pet medications (2-4 week supply)
5. Pet cage (if traveling with pet)
6. Emergency phone numbers
7. Important documents (insurance/passports/Soc. Security card, medical records)
8. Home PC backup disks/drive
9. Moist wipes
10. $100-$300 in extra cash (small bills)
11. Extra set of car/house keys
12. Disposable diapers
13. Feminine supplies
14. Personal hygiene items (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap)
15. Toys/games for kids (deck of cards)
Food / Water:
1. Water – 1-2 gal/person for 7 days
2. Nonperishable food – enough for 7 days
a. Peanut butter
b. Bread
c. Canned goods (fruit/vegetables/soup/meat/tuna/beans)
d. Dried fruit
e. Powdered milk
f. Energy bars / breakfast bars
g. Snacks (cookies / crackers / chips / nuts / candy)
h. Boxed juices / energy drinks
i. Cereals
j. Dry & canned pet food
k. Baby formula
3. Camp stove and extra fuel
4. Ice chest(s)
5. Waterless soap
6. Extra charcoal/propane for BBQ pit
7. Disposable plates/cups/utensils/napkins
8. Salt/pepper/sugar
9. Aluminum foil
10. Garbage bags
URLs Cited in my Hurricane Talk
1.
http://www.securedoor.com/ -- Garage door bracing hardware
2.
http://www.readytown.com -- Hurricane planning widget for businesses
3.
http://mywatersafe.com/ -- Water storage containers
4.
http://www.readykit.com/ -- Hurricane preparedness kit
5.
http://worldprep.com/ -- Hurricane preparedness kit
6.
http://www.hurricanestore.com/kits.html ... agodNhJncA
The Hurricane Store – preparedness kits, flashlights, tools, etc.
7.
http://www.radioshack.com -- Battery-powered Auvio 3.5” TV
8.
http://www.batterysavers.com/ -- Battery-powered devices
9.
http://www.just-mobileonline.com/produc ... ies_9.html -- Just Mobile “Gum Pro”
10.
http://www.solio.com/charger/solio-char ... esium.html -- Solio Mag solar charger
11.
http://luckypacks.com/EXTERNAL-IPHONE-B ... Ah-p5.html --
U20 I-UP 5400 external battery pack/charger for phones and other devices
12.
http://www.mountaingear.com/ -- Search for “Headlamp”
13.
http://www.lashen.com/vendors/tripplite ... esktop.asp -- Line conditioner
14.
http://www.tripplite.com/ -- Automobile power inverter
15.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml -- NHC hurricane preparedness web site
16.
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/loginForm.ph ... 2Fchp%252F# -- COMET hurricane preparedness module (requires free registration)
17.
http://www.ready.gov/ -- FEMA hurricane preparedness site
18.
http://www.hcfcd.org/tropicalweather/evacuation.html -- Harris County Flood Control District evacuation plan for Houston/Galveston
19.
http://www.readyhoustontx.gov/ -- Houston’s hurricane preparation web site with a “Make a Plan” widget.
20.
http://www.hawkeyemedia.com/bolivar -- Aerial photography of Bolivar Peninsula
21.
http://www.houstonhidefromthewind.org/ -- Houston’s predicted maximum sustained wind data by zip code