Hurricane Season is here!! Are you prepared?

Every year there are on average 17 deaths due to Hurricanes in the continental US. 

       Last year, 2017, Hurricane Harvey was blamed for 68  storm-related deaths and in 2013.  Hurricane Sandy, in 2012, killed 71 in the US out of the 147 deaths attributed to it.

       This is serious, folks!

    According to FEMA, (We're from the government and we're here to help.), YOU NEED 72-96 HOURS of food and water before you can count on them to show up!  We have that much warning before  one makes landfall. Its pretty easy to be prepared for it, but people won't do it. "I will be fine."  Yeah, those dead Fathers, Mothers, and children thought the same thing.  If you live on the coast and don't have a rubber maid Roughneck container in 18-35 gallon size, ($10.00 at Home Depot) with the basics, you suck as an adult/parent!!
     
      According to Jeff, the kit should contain the following.

1. A Sawyer water filter. ($20.00) In a pinch, you can filter water from a mud puddle, but we hope you stored some good, clean water before the storm. (Water redundancy can't be done enough.)
2. Canned food that CAN be eaten cold. (DO NOT FORGET THE CAN OPENER and silverware)
3. Wool blankets enough for everyone in the family. (Wool will keep you warm even  if it gets wet.)
4. Three days of underwear  and at least one change of clothes for everyone.
5.  Any essential medications. Your pharmacist will sometimes fill them a month ahead if you explain that you are preparing for hurricane season.
6. Toiletry/hygiene kit for each member of the family. Including Tampons/pads for the ladies and a cheap pack of baby wipes for each family member. Also TWO rolls of toilet paper with the cardboard removed, stomped flat, and put inside a one-gallon freezer bag.
7. Copies of ID and birth certificates on a thumb drive. 
8. CASH!  CASH! CASH! I cannot stress that enough. Hit the ATM before the storm if you don't keep cash at home. Get at least $100. $2-300 is better.  I was in Joplin Missouri in 07 after a major ice storm. If you didn't have cash, you didn't eat at the only place in town that had power. Waffle House. They didn't take checks. The couldn't take credit cards.  That went on for almost a week!

     And you need one gallon of water per person for three to four days. (Walmart sells 6-gallon water jugs for about $13 each)These jugs can be cleaned and  refilled every month or so during hurricane season    .. If you stay home, you will have access to all your resources, (A bathtub holds 50-75 gallons on average. Clean it well before you fill it.)   If you have to evacuate, the tote and water jugs can be thrown in the trunk of a car or back of a truck  in about 5 minutes' time.
  
     This is a basic kit and could easily be doubled in size by the addition of disposable ponchos,  a couple of cheap tarps,more water, more clothes, a way to cook food such as a propane camping stove, etc.

      Once  you have built your kit, you only have to do maintenance on it a couple times a year. Once a year, before hurricane season, pull the canned goods out and put  them in your pantry so you can eat them before they expire and put newer canned goods in their place.  Same with Wet Wipes.  And especially clothes. This year, little Jimmy hit a growth  spurt and can't even wear last year's underwear.  You or your spouse might have gained 20 lbs and can't wear what you packed.. 

   And one last thing. DO NOT WAIT FOR GOVERNMENT TO TELL YOU ITS TIME TO LEAVE! TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR FAMILY'S WELL-BEING AND SAFETY!! If you think you need to evacuate, THEN PACK UP AND LEAVE. Better to have a pissed off boss that wanted you to come to work the next day than to have a dead or injured spouse or child!