How to Prepare for a Hurricane or other Weather Related Emergency

I evacuated from the New Orleans area for Hurricane Gustav last Sunday with the wife and kids and I returned home on Thursday. Over the weekend, Tropical Storm Hanna moved up the east coast, and now, Hurricane Ike looks like it is headed to south Texas. But it is not just hurricanes that can cause you to lose power, damage your home, or cause you to have to leave you home for a period of time. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, snowstorms, wildfires and other natural disasters and emergencies all have the potential to cause serious disruptions to your daily life and routine for you and your family. Being prepared for these types of emergencies can keep your stress level down, and by planning ahead of time you can minimize disruptions and get through them safely.

Staying At Home

If you are at home or not evacuating, certain supplies are necessary if you lose power or become confined to your home for several days.

Water-have enough water for each person for several days

Non perishable food items such as canned goods

Flashlights, candles and matches become very important if you lose power

Batteries-for flashlights and other devices

Battery powered or hand crank weather radio- I bought a Midland WR300 weather radio for a relative a couple of years ago and they love it.

If You Evacuate

If you have to leave your home for several days, you need to make sure you take care of quite a few things before you leave and bring certain items with you besides clothes.

Know your destination-Have a destination, whether a friend or relative’s house or a hotel, know where you will go in advance.

Bring important papers-Birth certificates, social security cards, checkbooks, and other sentimental items should be taken with you.

Secure your home-Make sure you lock the doors and windows, and put away outdoor furniture, etc.

Unplug electrical devices-Even if you have surge protectors, unplugging electrical devices is a good idea in case of an electrical surge during a storm.

Pay bills in advance-Make sure you take care of upcoming bills before you leave.

Tap your emergency fund-Before I left for hurricane Gustav, I transferred a portion of my emergency fund from my ING DIRECT account to my checking account. Luckily, i did not have to use it, but i had it available if my evacuation became prolonged.

Plan on being gone longer than you think-Many people evacuated for hurricane katrina with only a couple of days worth of clothes, and ended up leaving for weeks.

Keep in touch with friends and family, as well as your supervisor- Let them know where you are going, and touch base with them once you reach your destination.

Bring important phone numbers- neighbors, and you insurance company are 2 examples of phone numbers you may need but might not normally carry with you.

Carry some cash-If businesses are without power, you may not be able to use a credit card. In times of emergencies, cash can be essential for getting what you need.

There are lots of other things you can do to prepare yourself for a hurricane or other weather related emergency. But by planning ahead and following a few of the basics, it can make things go a lot easier and help you get back to normal quickly.

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The Peril of Living Paycheck to Paycheck- Are You One Step Away from a Financial Disaster | Think Your Way to Wealth: 09.10.08 at 6:15 am

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PT 09.09.08 at 10:59 am: Great list, RC. What do you think about bringing cash with you? I would think some physical cash would be a good idea.
RC 09.09.08 at 7:55 pm: Thanks PT- cash is very important-can’t believe I forgot about it. I’m going to add it to the list. I normally carry less than $50 with me, but when I evacuated for Gustav, I took about $200 out to be on the safe side. Even in this day and age of ATM’s on every corner and pay at the pump for gas, cash can get you things a CC cannot in an emergency, especially if stores do not have power, etc.