How I did it: "In the first 48 to 72 hours of an emergency, many Americans will have to look after themselves." --  R. David Paulison, Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

When I moved back to New Orleans in April 2008, I made the commitment to spend the month of May preparing myself for the upcoming hurricane season (June 1 through November 30 each year).  Many of my friends (post-Katrina returnees) had excellent advice; the longest part of accomplishing this goal was waiting for items I'd ordered on-line to be delivered.

In my case, I wanted the flexibility of being able to leave if required or sheltering in place (depending on the intensity level of the approaching storm).  I used the following build-a-kit article/instructions as my starting point:  Disaster Supplies Kit

I have the "essentials-to-go" 72-hour kit (including my gear, food/emergency bars, water, clothing and a spare pair of sneakers) packed into a medium-sized backpack with straps/cinches for adding my sleeping bag, a small airline-approved rolling duffel bag (with a great padded shoulder strap) to hold the bare essentials I need to care for my two cats and my important papers waterproof briefcase, plus a soft-sided pet carrier with a sturdy shoulder strap that is large enough to hold both of my cats in an absolute emergency (I have a second matching carrier on hand for use if I have use of a vehicle -- it folds up and fits into the bottom of the duffel bag).

The combined weight of the backpack (including sleeping bag) and the duffel bag is 25 pounds; carrying the cats (instead of attaching the carrier to the handle of the rolling duffel) adds another 15 pounds.  Because the weight can be distributed/balanced (backpack high on my back, duffel on one shoulder, cat carrier on the other), it's something I can manage in a worst-case traveling-on-foot situation that requires everything to be carried.

[I also have additional food, water, a home-made "bucket toilet/sanitation kit" (I purchased the toilet seat/lid and sanitizing/odor control sachet packets on-line and assembled the rest of the supplies like disposal bags, single-use non-latex gloves, sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer and toilet paper myself), an emergency gas/water valve shut-off tool, tarps, more duct tape, a camp stove, a hand axe/pry bar tool and a shovel should I decide to dig my heels in and stay put.  All of the non-consumable items pack into the six-gallon bucket; it lives in the closet.  Half of my food supply and the prepackaged bottled water lives in one of my kitchen cupboards; the rest is in a watertight lidded plastic box under my bed, along and my self-packaged gallon water jugs.]

Try to keep in mind that that the process of becoming prepared has two main components:  Building your kit/collecting your supplies and having a viable plan.  A kit in and of itself is of limited value if you don't have the information you need to function to the best of your ability in an emergency situation.  Your kit will have the most value if you determine the most likely conditions under which it'll be put to use and plan accordingly.

(1)  Be certain to select a well-made, sturdy, and portable storage option, such as a backpack (with padded shoulder straps) and/or a durable duffel bag (with a padded/adjustable shoulder strap) for your essentials-to-go kit. You must be able to carry your kit fairly comfortably if traveling on foot becomes required.  If you are preparing a kit for multiple people (your family), each person should have a backpack or a duffel bag (share the load and try to distribute the supplies evenly).

(2)  Invest in a decent first aid kit that includes an ace bandage, single-use sterile thermometers, a CPR mask, Pepto-Bismol or Immodium AD and a comprehensive first aid book (the pocket variety with a couple of antiseptic wipes and six bandaids is just not sufficient).

(3)  Food... If you are opting to include pre-packaged emergency food bars with a five-year shelf-life in your kit (instead of pulling things from your pantry and packing them at the time or going to the grocery store when supplies are needed), try to choose food bars that are specifically made to not provoke thirst, are high in calories/carbohydrates (for energy), are low in protein (requiring less water of digestion), are not affected by high heat (especially if your kit will live in the trunk of your car year-round), have a long shelf-life and yet are still reasonably palatable.  I avoid emergency food bars/rations that are high in tropical oils (palm or coconut), which tend to have a shorter shelf-life in warmer climates and can cause digestive issues if they'll serve as your primary (and possibly only?) food source during the recommended 72-hour timeframe.

(4)  Water... The small 4.227 oz. Coast Guard-approved pouches with a five-year shelf-life are the best for flexible packing and storage if you need to carry your load; my kit also includes a two-gallon foldable water bag and EPA-approved water purification tablets (effective against Cryptosporidium, Giardia, bacteria, and viruses). While the bare minimum recommendation is 12 oz. of drinkable water per person per day, I've opted for 32 oz. per day for myself if I have to be mobile (and also have several gallons of water plus several cases of bottled water on hand at all times in my home if I decide to shelter-in-place; I rotate these supplies every three months to ensure freshness).

(5)  Flashlight and radio -- I already had a couple of the hand-held "squeeze-to-power"/no batteries required LED flashlights and recently purchased a small crank-to-charge LED lantern.  I also already own a small battery-powered AM/FM radio, plus a couple of 115-hour liquid candles.  I recently purchased an all-in-one four-power source AM/FM/weather band/emergency siren/flashlight/cell-phone-charging deluxe model device ($50).  Knowing that I can crank my cell phone back to life if necessary and that I can monitor the local weather band myself made it a worthwhile purchase for me; I also can use the cell phone charger and AM/FM radio in my car as another option.
 
(6)  Shelter and warmth... My kit includes a no-frills "tube tent," plastic tarps, basic rain ponchos, duct tape, a couple of the mylar "space blankets" and a couple of waterproof sleeping bag sheaths (I think all of these things cost less than $20 and the most expensive component was the jumbo-sized roll of duct tape procured from the local chain hardware store).  I recently purchased a more durable-yet-lightweight reflective poncho/blanket combo for about $13 for additional protection from the elements (it's insulated and far less likely to flap around or tear).  It is stored in the trunk of my car in case I need to fix a flat tire in less-than-optimal weather (and will enhance my visibility at the side of the road).

(7)  Emergency plan information and crucial personal documentation...  This is really a separate project in and of itself, but once it's completed, you will also have your "life in a box" to grab on your way out the door in the event of a home-based emergency situation (e.g., a house fire).

• Maps and documentation regarding evacuation route details/shelter locations and emergency resource phone numbers/locations should also be stored with your kit.

• Copies of your will, living will/organ donation registration information, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds.

• Passports, Social Security cards, personal health/immunization records and medical/dental insurance information..

• Bank account numbers and financial institution contact information, including the toll-free number if you usually use the local number.

• Credit card account numbers and issuing company's contact information, including the "report a lost or stolen card" and/or customer service number.

• A copy of your Inventory of valuable household goods to be used for insurance claim purposes.

• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).

• A current list of the personal phone numbers/email address/contact information for your family and "core" people (in case your cell phone becomes non-functional and you need to use a pay phone).

• Copy your prescription medication label information and any prescription eye wear/contact lens information, including the name, address and phone number of your prescribing physician.

• Consider photocopying the contents of your wallet (driver's license, AAA membership card, discount warehouse membership cards, etc..), and list the phone numbers for your bank/financial institution/creditors, including the number to report a lost or stolen credit card.  If you lose or become separated from your purse or wallet, having access to this type of information can make a world of difference in what happens next.

• If you are a rental tenant (not a homeowner), include items that can serve as proof of current residency (very useful when dealing with FEMA), such as a copy of your current lease, your voter registration card, and power/water utility bills.

• Your pet's health/immunization records and licensing information, plus at least one current photo of each pet (to be used for identification purposes in case you somehow become separated from your pet).  During an evacuation situation, proof that your pets have had their shots can become unexpectedly important, particularly if you're going to be seeking shelter or transportation assistance from a public location/resource.

(NOTE:  If the originals of the documentation noted above are stored in a safe deposit box or home safe/fireproof box, be sure to store them in a waterproof container -- a simple heavy-duty Ziploc-type bag will do the trick.   As several people discovered post-Katrina:  Banks flood, too.)

I have a waterproof, lightweight plastic "briefcase" that I use to store my life-crucial data and portable back-up drive. When I evacuated for Hurricane Gustav in August 2008, all I had to do was pull my most treasured photos from their frames (with limited space in my econo-box vehicle, I favor portability and reduced weigh/bulk whenever possible), put them in a "photo storage folio" that lives in the briefcase, toss in my emergency cash stash and my yet-to-be-used books of checks and this part of getting things pulled together was finished.  I also store my one-month emergency supply of prescription medications in this case.

(NOTE: Take care to store this securely at all times, as it could also inadvertently become "identity-theft-in-a-box.")  This briefcase is stored in a locking-resistant filing cabinet when I'm not on the run.)

[There's actually a great do-it-yourself kit available that will help you to pull this documentation together (it also includes a CD-ROM that you can use to write your will and create other essential personal documentation) which includes the waterproof briefcase:  Suze Orman's "Ultimate Protection Portfolio," available from her website at http://www.suzeorman.com -- It made this part of emergency preparedness so much easier for me (and it was worth every penny).]

If you choose to purchase a pre-packaged 72-hour kit, I encourage you to review preparedness checklists for additional items that may be essential to your well-being that might not or won't be included (such as any medications you may need, decent particulate respirator masks, toilet paper, a reliable flashlight, a basic toolkit, etc.).

Preparing a kit doesn't need to be expensive -- I recommend finding a good checklist (like the one I've posted a link to in the "Resources" section below) and pulling together what you have already on-hand before opting to buy a ready-made kit because this will allow you to plan your purchases more economically, best ensuring that you will buy only what you really need and that you'll be able to budget accordingly.

For your consideration, I offer an example of why I think off-the-shelf kits may lead to a false sense of readiness/security... Pre-packaged 72-hour kits often include a small and/or low-quality flashlight that may require batteries, plus two or three eight-to-twelve-hour glow "light" sticks (which generally have a three-year lifespan when stored) and maybe also a single skinny paraffin "emergency candle."  Stop for a second or two and think about it:  Are these truly the type and quality of supplies you want to depend upon if things really go sideways?  To me, these items are something of a "worst case scenario" supply strategy (as in it's only slightly better than having nothing on hand) instead of "emergency preparedness."  You're going to have enough to deal with in the moment -- choosing durable, practical, useful and reliable gear for your kit is a requirement -- not an option.

During the occasional extended winter storm-related power outages I experienced while living in the Pacific Northwest (the longest lasted just shy of two days' time during a very cold February just a few years ago), I learned that a $15 multi-LED crank-chargeable mini-lantern was a far more useful, effective and low-maintenance option (I don't have to worry about whether or not I have fresh batteries on hand, if the bulb is going to go out, or if I'll somehow manage to splash hot candle wax on myself while bumbling around in the dark -- I'm a little more night vision-impaired than most).  I found it on sale at a chain drug store the November before; fifteen bucks for a versatile, durable tool that made life more comfortable in a time of need?  A bargain.  I was able to comfortably pass much of the time waiting for power to be restored reading by its light, and I didn't trip over my cats even once!

Take the time to figure out and locate/gather/organize what you already have on hand, make a list of what you need, prioritize those needs, budget accordingly and purchase what you need when those items are offered at a sale or special price (shoot for completing purchasing the items on your list in a three-month time frame at the longest; if you don't find what you need on sale or specially priced during that interval, then comparison shop for your final items on-line and just get it done without excuses or further delays).  On-line emergency preparedness supply sites, chain hardware stores or drug stores often feature monthly sales or specials that will definitely help to reduce the expense of building an effective kit, and the quality and value of these items will almost always exceed that of the components in a majority of the pre-packaged kits.  For the items you decide to purchase, opt for reliability, usefulness and durability over convenience or disposability and your expenses will be lessened in the long run.

If you have pets, have the necessary supplies ready to go just as you are doing for yourself/your family.  For my cats I've assembled a kit that includes:

• a small bag of their customary cat food;

• a small resealable plastic container chock full of their favorite treats (indispensable for begging their forgiveness or bribing them out from under hotel room/guest room beds);

•  a medium-sized heavy-duty plastic Tupperware-like rectangular storage pan (about 5" deep) with a secure snap-on lid for use as a portable and reusable litterbox;

• a box of disposable litter pan liners (similar to draw-string style plastic garbage bags), a small litter scoop in its own heavy-duty Ziploc-style bag and plastic grocery bags for easy disposal of used litter;

• a jug of Tidy Cat cat litter (a more durable option than the bagged variety, which became important as it was moved into/out of my car several times during our Gustav evacuation adventure);

• a catnip-filled scratching pad that's designed to hang from a doorknob;

• a small dustpan/wisk broom combo for cleaning up any spilled/scattered litter or food wherever we're staying (purchased for a buck at a Dollar Store);

• a resealable canister of pet-safe (and skin-friendly) disinfecting wipes; and

•  a large resealable/lidded Tupperware-style food bowl and a portable water dispenser/dish (nothing ceramic or breakable).

All of the smaller supply items and the food/treats fit into the litter pan, so it's all in one place (in my storage closet with the soft-sided carriers), ready to be added to the duffel bag at a moment's notice.  If I'm traveling using my car, I also take the jug of cat litter; if I'm required to be on foot, I will add cat litter to the sealable litter pan container and put the food, treats and other items into additional Ziploc-type bags as needed.

For safety's (and sanity's) sake, I'm considering adding a couple of harnesses and leashes. I also learned that taking their favorite blanket/throw with us during the evacuation was a stroke of brilliance; it made them far more comfortable in unfamiliar places while bouncing about for six days thanks to Hurricane Gustav (all I had to do was spread it over the foot of the bed wherever we was staying and they became more relaxed almost instantly).

Having a supply of inexpensive, disposable puppy "training pads" and extra plastic grocery bags on hand (even if your pet is of the feline variety) is also something I recommend if your evacuation plan is likely to involve several hours of car travel -- they can be used to line your pet's carrier (instead of towels or blankets that will require laundering), make cleaning up after accidents a non-issue, plus help to prevent unpleasant odors in your car and to best ensure your pet's comfort in a stressful situation.

Take fifteen minutes or so to specifically identify the pet-friendly hotels/motels on your evacuation route; have the relevant phone numbers on hand to call ahead for reservations at your earliest awareness of your need to evacuate.  People who evacuated during Hurricane Katrina indicated that a particular budget hotel chain was pet-friendly; I discovered unexpectedly, however, that this wasn't true for the hotel in this chain located in Mobile, Alabama.  Investigating and confirming your options in advance of an emergency is something I cannot emphasize enough...  After ten hours of driving during my Gustav evacuation, I had to resort to a "They didn't ask, I didn't tell" strategy to check into a hotel in the wee hours of the morning during my sixth attempt to check in anywhere.

Since then (prior to my return home post-Gustav), I  discovered thismost excellent website resource:  PetsWelcome.com -- it also features a link for "Emergency Vets" that you can use to plan ahead as well. Red Roof Inns get my heartfelt recommendation and gratitude for making this a non-issue when I made my way home to New Orleans after Gustav had passed; knowing that I would not have more headaches while trying to find a welcoming place to stay as I made my way back home was a definite relief.

Practice your "evacuation" at least once, really -- do the drill in real-time.  I learned that pulling everything together in preparation for the Hurricane Gustav evacuation took about 90 minutes the first time around, which was longer than I'd prefer even though I considered myself to be well-prepared.  I've since reorganized my emergency supplies and my important belongings more efficiently and now I can have the car packed up with my gear & valuables and be on my way in 30 to 45 minutes' time (depending mostly on where my car is parked!).  If I'm traveling with just the essentials-to-go (instead of packing the car for a planned evacuation event), I can be on my way in under 15 minutes' time (the most time-consuming part being getting both cats into the carrier).

Update as of 01/14/09:  My preparation plan includes checking my emergency preparedness kits/supplies every January and June; this gives me a bit of time to budget for items that need to be replaced prior to the start of hurricane season on June 1st.

My non-perishable food is packaged and organized in gallon-sized freezer Ziploc-type bags in two Rubbermaid-style storge totes; each bag contains a day's worth of food (at least 2,000 calories available per day), plus I have a few boxes of my favorite nutritional snack bars on hand that get rotated out every six months. I'm good through April 2010 when four days' worth of my MRE-style rations will expire. It took me an hour or so to complete, but I now have an organized, chronological list of my food supplies, allowing me to know at a glance what needs to be replaced and when between now and 2013.  If possible, try to purchase supplies with a variety of expiration dates so that the cost of maintaining your supplies over time is minimized (you'll only need to replace a bit at a time).  I've rotated myself-filled, jug-based water supply (I do this every three months). I also swapped out all of the batteries in my supplies for fresh ones and replaced the tube of antibiotic ointment in the first aid kit.  I also rotated out my one-month medication supply by replacing it with the current month's supply.

[Do I really need a three-week supply of non-perishable food for my personal use?  I seriously hope not.  Is it likely that I'll have friends or encounter people who might be in need in times of emergency?  Yes.

 Examples: Two of my friends (a married couple) live in a neighborhood in New Orleans that isn't viable for sheltering-in-place; while they are generally prepared, I know that their financial circumstances are such that they may not have sufficient cash on-hand during what's commonly known to be the "low spot" of the year for the local economy and is also, coincidentally, the "high point" of the annual hurricane season -- the months of August and September.  Knowing that evacuation is costly and difficult for them at a time of the year when putting food on the table in general is a priority, I have extended the invitation of my home as a refuge option for milder storms and have prepared accordingly (my extra supplies can serve to augment theirs as needed). As a single woman living alone, having well-known allies in close proximity is definitely something I'd prefer if I need to shelter-in-place during a storm or emergency situation.

Also, after Gustav passed New Orleans, there were widespread and lengthy -- e.g., week-long -- power outages in several communities in the central and northern areas of Louisiana.  My neighbors ended up hosting a family of six post-storm refugees (friends) from Baton Rouge.  Feeding everyone was a bit of a challenge, what with everyone's refrigerators having been cleaned out prior to evacuating, most restaurants being closed (due to staff having evacuated and/or lack of food supplies), grocery store shelves having been picked clean a week before, and understandable restocking delays post-storm.  In a pinch, my non-perishable supplies are fairly palatable, don't require waiting in line and it's my thinking that someone will be grateful, sooner or later.]

I've re-sent my emergency contact plan to my family and close friends and re-confirmed that they're aware of their responsibilities/"part of the plan" as needed (who notifies whom on my behalf and such, as I learned during my Gustav evacuation that regional communication systems can easily become overwhelmed).  All of the contact information has been confirmed and updated as needed.

Even though I know I'm generally well-prepared, I continue to read articles or blog postings regarding other people's emergency preparedness efforts and experiences.  I recently read a series of articles that pointed out an oversight in my own preparedness efforts -- personal safety.  In addition to my stainless steel police whistle and my small electronic personal alarm (a little gizmo on a wrist strap that emits a loud, shrill chirp at regular intervals when the strap gets tugged, similar to the noise made by a car alarm), I'm now shopping for a small stun device (one designed not to affect me if I need to use it and bodily contact occurs between myself and an attacker) and a couple of cans of pepper spray.  Initial comparison shopping indicates that these additions will cost approximately $40-50.

For additional thoughts/considerations re: emergency preparedness, I recommend the following five-post blog series originally posted in September 2005 on Daily Kos:  Are YOU ready for disaster?

Assess your risks

Plan to survive! (Part A)

Plan to survive! (Part B)

Emergency gear and supplies

Material preparations, continued; Conclusion

Risk management  and emergency preparedness are about planning ahead before the crisis happens.  It's not about preparing for the end of the world -- it's about doing what you can now to make it easier for yourself and your loved ones when life-as-usual is interrupted by circumstances or conditions beyond your control.

Lessons & tips: Please feel free to message me or comment if you have questions or want more information; I'd be happy to recommend specific resources (Internet vendors) and particularly useful/economical products I've discovered via messaging if that would be helpful.

Resources: The American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org/

Here's a 72 hour emergency preparedness checklist that I found to be very useful (concise recommendations for building and maintaining a kit):  http://beprepared.com/images/art/72hourchecklist.pdf

Check your local and state governments' websites for disaster preparedness details of particular relevance for your area/region (current evacuation route details, emergency shelter information, etc.).  Checking this information for updates and/or changes should also be a routine part of your overall emergency preparedness strategy.

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Oct 14, 2008, 04:24AM PDT | 2 comments | 3 cheers