• Three to five days supply of water (approx. 5 gallons per person).
• Three to five days supply of non-perishable food.
• First aid kit and manual.
• Battery powered radio, flashlights, and extra batteries.
• Sleeping bags or extra blankets.
• Non-breakable spoons, forks, knives, cups, plates, etc.
• Water purifying supplies - chlorine or iodine tablets or ordinary unscented household bleach.
• Prescription medicines and special medical needs.
• Baby food and/or prepared formula, diapers, and other baby supplies.
• Cleaning cloths, such as baby wipes to use in case bathing facilities are not available.
• Personal hygiene supplies - soap, toothpaste, sanitary pads or tampons, etc.
• Alternate cooking source such as a camp stove--> use only in well ventilated areas.
• Plastic trash bags and ties.
• Emergency kit for your car with food, a first aid kit, sleeping bags, etc.
• Games and toys for children.
• Extra cash.
• Pet food.
• Insect repellant.
• Rubber boots/rubber gloves.

 

• Make sure you have gas in your car.
• Make sure you have gas for your generator and/or the battery is fully charged.
• Make arrangements with someone for transportation if you don't have a car.
• Fill your clean water containers.
• Review your emergency plans and supplies, checking to see if any items are missing.
• Tune in the radio or television for weather updates.
• When evacuation is necessary pack only essential items - clothing, bedding, food, water, medicines, infant needs.
• Secure any items which may damage property in a storm, such as bicycles, grills, propane tanks, etc.
• Cover windows and doors if possible.
• Fill sinks and bathtubs with water as an extra supply for washing.
• Adjust the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the coolest possible temperatures.
• Make sure you sleep wearing street clothes and that shoes are close by. Storms can hit in the middle of the night and immediate evacuation may be necessary.

• Take only essential items with you.
• If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water.
• Disconnect appliances to reduce the likelihood of electrical shock when power is restored.
• Make sure your car's evacuation kit is ready.
• Listen to the radio for emergency updates.

• Don't plan to have a "Hurricane Party" and consume alcohol. Remember, you need to remain alert for your personal safety.
• Don't drive around the island.
• Stay tuned to your radio and listen to the bulletins issued by Radio ZIZ and VON Radio.
• The weather channel (37 or 13) gives updates at 10 minutes of the hour. You may also visit their website at www.weather.com
• Do not make unnecessary telephone calls.
• Monitor the radio or television for weather conditions, if possible.
• Stay indoors until the authorities declare the storm is over even if the weather appears to have calmed- the calm "eye" of the storm can pass as quickly as a minute leaving you outside when hurricane force winds resume.
• Expect the loss of electricity, gas, and water.
• Stay away from all windows and exterior doors, seeking shelter in a bathroom. Bathtubs can provide some shelter if you cover yourself with plywood or other materials.
• Prepare to evacuate to a shelter or to a neighbor's home if your home is damaged, or if you are instructed to do so by emergency personnel.
• If you should lose electrical power, eat perishable food first.
• Stay away from river banks, streams, and beaches. A hurricane causes the sea level to rise to above normal tidal heights, with giant wind driven waves and strong, unpredictable currents.
• Open one of the windows or doors of your house on the side opposite to the one which the wind is blowing. Remember to close the same door or windows as soon as the direction of the wind changes and open another contrary to the new direction. This is recommended as a means of balancing the pressure inside and outside the house, so that the difference in pressure does not tear away the doors and windows.

• Don't use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, or to make ice.
• Drink only bottled, boiled, or treated water until your supply is tested and found safe.
• Boil water for 10 minutes to kill harmful bacteria and parasites.
• Treat water with chlorine or iodine tablets, or mix six drops (1/8 teaspoon) of unscented, ordinary household chlorine bleach (5.25 percent sodium hypocholorite) per gallon of water. Mix and let stand for about 30 minutes. However, this treatment will not kill parasitic organisms.
• Containers for water should be rinsed with a bleach solution before reusing them.

• Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with contaminated water.
• Discard any food not in a water proof container if there is a chance that it has come into contact with contaminated water.
• Undamaged, commercially canned foods can be saved if you remove the can labels, thoroughly wash the cans, and then disinfect them with a solution consisting of one cup of bleach in five gallons of water. Re-label your cans, including expiration date with a marker.
• Food containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, crimped caps (soda bottles), twist caps, flip tops, snap-open, and home canned foods should be discarded if they have come into contact with floodwater because they cannot be disinfected.
• For infants, use only pre-prepared canned baby formula. Do not use powdered formula prepared with treated water.
• Your refrigerator will keep foods cool about four hours without power if it is unopened.
• Add block ice to your refrigerator if the electricity will be off longer than four hours.
• Thawed food can usually be eaten if it is still "refrigerator cold", or re-frozen if it still contains ice crystals.
• "When in doubt, throw it out."

• Practice basic hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected.
• Don't expose open cuts or sores to floodwater and keep infection down with antibiotic ointments.
• Don't allow children to play in floodwater areas.
• Wash children's hands frequently (always before meals), and do not allow them to play with toys that have been in contaminated water. Toys can be disinfected by using a solution of bleach in five gallons of water.

• When cleaning up take proper precautions to avoid injury - wear proper clothing, including long sleeves and pants, and boots.
• When entering a damaged structure make sure the main electrical switch is off. If you see frayed wiring or sparks when you restore power or, if there is an odor of something burning but no visible fire, you should immediately shut off the electrical system at the main circuit breaker.
• Dry and disinfect all materials inside the house to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Continue to monitor your radio or television for up-to-date emergency information.
• Do not touch or drive through power lines that are lying on or dangling near the ground. If a power line falls across your car while driving, continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Stay in your car and wait for emergency personnel. Do not allow anyone other than emergency personnel to approach your vehicle.
• If possible, use battery-powered lanterns rather than candles to light your home and prevent fires. Make sure candles are in a safe holder and away from curtains, paper, wood, or other flammable items. Never leave a candle burning when you are out of the room.