Hurricane Preparedness Blog

Preparing emergency food supplies doesn’t have to be difficult; to help, we’ve put together some basic guidelines on what to keep in mind while putting together your non-perishables.   Perhaps you have a  list of what should be in your hurricane food supply kit, but suppose you want to know how many days you should be stocking up for, how to keep the food fresh, or what kinds of foods are best to purchase.   These are important things to consider while compiling what will be one of the most essential components of your hurricane supply kit.   To help build your food stockpile with ease, follow the key points below:

• Make sure that your emergency food supply will last every member of your family for 72 hours- buy special foods for the elderly, babies, and those members of your family with special dietary needs. Take into account the unique tastes of your family, especially those of children. Don’t forget to purchase non-perishables for pets.
• Purchase food that is ready to eat and easy to prepare.  After a hurricane or tropical storm strike, the power will probably be out for some time.   You may not be able to cook, but you’ll still have to eat!
• Stock up on foods that are high in calories and nutrition.
• If possible, purchase food that can be eaten in its container.   Electricity is not the only modern convenience affected by a hurricane, oftentimes water supply is affected as well.  Water for washing dishes may be unsafe or unavailable.
• If you must cook, you may be able to cook outside with a charcoal grill or a camp stove.
• Don’t forget to place a can opener and utensils in your hurricane supplies kit.
• To ensure that your supply is fresh, do not store canned items in the garage, or any other place that the temperature can fluctuate.   It is best to keep your items in a fairly cool environment:  the temperature should be above freezing, but below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Rotate your food supplies:  place new items in the back of your storage location, and older items up front.  Note the item’s “use by” date with a permanent marker, and use items before they go bad, replacing them as necessary.
• If your power goes out, certain food in the refrigerator and freezer will keep longer than other food.  Therefore, don’t rely on refrigerated items to get you and your family through the storm.  For further information, access OneStorm’s free resources regarding preparing your refrigerator and freezer for a hurricane and how to know which foods are safe following a power outage.
• If you have not created one already, OneStorm can help you personalize an emergency food supplies checklist. What better way to make sure that everyone has their food needs and tastes accounted for?

How will you get weather information if you don’t have power?  The NOAA Weather Radio can be the information source you need when and if the storm hits…

It’s still early in Hurricane Season 2008, and we’ve had five named storms so far.   We’re off to a fairly busy start, aren’t we?   When you are putting the finishing touches on your hurricane supply kit, make sure you cover your communication bases.   We’ve all seen how disasters alter communication systems we use everyday- so it’s best to get together various communication tools that’ll get us the information we need, when we need to know it.   We’ve already mentioned rabbit ears as a great addition to your  2008 Hurricane Season supplies, and now we will mention another great communication tool-  the NOAA Weather Radio.

• The NOAA Weather Radio is a tool commonly used by water enthusiasts and boaters, but it’s great for other weather emergencies, like hurricanes.   It is a small radio that you can typically buy at electronics stores and local boating stores.   From National Weather Service centers from across your state, it will provide you with the latest weather information pertinent to your area.  It’s a good thing to have in your hurricane supply kit, but it’s also a helpful device to use year round, for both the home and the outdoors.
• For certain NOAA Weather Radios, if an emergency weather situation is present, the radio will sound an alarm.   Then, the user can turn on the radio to hear the broadcast.   And know that you won’t miss a beat-  NOAA gets broadcast information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and repeats messages every four to six minutes.    Broadcasts are also routinely updated by the National Weather Service.
• The best type of NOAA Weather Radio is one that has three power options: plug-in, battery powered, and hand crank. While you have electricity, keep it plugged in to save the batteries for when you really need them. If the batteries die, a hand crank can power it up for a short time. Note that plug-in models from Radio Shack for example often require you to purchase the power adapter separately.

Imagine that your phones are out, your cable isn’t working, and your power is off.   After a hurricane strikes, this could describe the situation you’re in.    The NOAA Weather Radio can give you information that you don’t have, and badly need access to.   For more information about this communication tool and others, visit the Communication side of OneStorm.