Hurricane season has already begun! Ever since Katrina and New Orleans five years ago, we are all on alert for the worst. Our family is vigilant about hurricanes due to Ike as well. We were without power for 14 days!
With this in mind, here is our family preparedness check list. Not sure where to start? I suggest baby steps! Organize your papers first in a fireproof safe. Make a plan depending on whether you are staying or going. Take it step by step to be ready.
Emergency Preparedness Checklist
Prepare and check when daylight savings time begins and ends!
Communicate your family plan to another family friend or relative.
For paper documents, place originals in safe or safe deposit box and carry copies with you.
| Social Security cards |
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Bottled water ( 1 gal per day per person) |
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| Insurance policies (Life, Home, Auto, and Flood) |
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Snacks |
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| Passports |
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Travel food |
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| Drivers License |
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Ice |
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| Immunization records |
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Paper towels |
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| Medical records |
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Toilet paper |
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| Medication |
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Hand sanitizer |
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| Birth certificates |
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Candles |
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| Checkbooks |
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Garbage bags |
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| Credit cards |
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Tool kit |
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| Debit cards |
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First Aid Kit |
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| Will |
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Safe deposit box list and keys |
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| Legal documents |
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Tarp |
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| Valuables (jewelry and keepsakes) |
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Matches |
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| Computer back up/ thumb drive |
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Rope |
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| Cash ($500 suggested minimum) |
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Old quilts and blankets |
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| Photos |
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Pet supplies |
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| Family phone book |
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Kids: Card and board games |
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| Tax copies |
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Battery operated TV |
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| Document carrier or safe |
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Battery operated radio |
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| Batteries |
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Walkie talkies |
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| Flashlights |
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Flips flops/extra shoes |
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| Duct tape |
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Video camera & tapes of home |
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| Propane tanks filled |
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Cooler |
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| Cars filled up |
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Can Opener |
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| Gas in cans |
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| Cell phones and chargers |
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Here are some amazing websites for preparedness too!
www.redcross.org
www.ready.gov
www.beprepared.com
Posted in Family Organizing, Organizing Skills, Paper management, Time management, Travel by Ellen, June 13, 2010 3:00 am Comments (1)
Tags: emergency, emergency preparedness, family emergency, getting organized for a hurricane, just in case, life happens
Life has a way of “happening!” You just never know when an emergency is going to come along. So what do we need to be organized just in case?
Our family recently had a medical emergency of this unforeseen type. We rushed to the hospital with the bare minimum for a day or two stay. First and most importantly we had our medical information organized. Our family has only a few medications and a few allergies, but this is the first thing you will be asked when a situation occurs. Have a list of all these for each family member printed and placed in your car . Medical insurance cards are critical to keep in your wallet. So be sure you have your most recent with you.
We want to stay in touch and communicate with family, friends, church pastors and doctors. I love that we can keep all these numbers handy in our cell phone! We also have an emergency contact list for our family including email addresses, work phone numbers and a few other details. Need lists for medical information or contacts? I love www.listplanit.com. Check it out!
Speaking of our phone or other technology, be sure to bring your charger and other attachments to keep everything up and running. Having one extra charger is a small price for staying in touch.
I spent the night there with my husband. I always have a travel kit ready to go. It has all the basics in it, in small containers, including a nail file and bandaids. I dropped this and a few items in my bag and off I went.
It really provided peace of mind to me to be ready at a moment’s notice. And that is what being organized is all about!
