Your food and water supply should include a 5-7 day supply of non-perishable goods. As the storm approaches your kit should be moved to your safe-room. Include the following in your kit:
- Bottled water. Figure on a gallon of drinking water per person per day. You can also fill your bathtub and any container that can be sealed with tap-water to augment your supply
- Juice and milk boxes
- Canned fruit juices
- Instant coffee
- Tea
- Sodas
- Prepared foods (canned soups, beef, spaghetti, tuna, chicken, ham, corned beef hash, fruit cocktail, packaged pudding)
- Canned vegetables and fruits
- Dried fruits
- Snacks (crackers, cookies, hard candy, nuts)
- Snack spreads (peanut butter, cheese spreads, jelly)
- Cereals
- Raw vegetables
- Sugar, salt, pepper
- Bread
- Dry goods should be stored in a cool, dry area of your home. Be mindful of any expiration dates and replace products as needed.
- You should also have at least 2 coolers or ice chests with a generous supply of ice. Ice can become scarce after a major storm, stock up early.
- Before the storm, turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and drape blankets over them, but keep bottom vents clear. Then move perishables you'll use first into ice chests to limit opening of refrigerators.
- Designate one cooler you will open regularly; fill that with drinks and less perishable items. Set aside other coolers for more perishable things such as meats and open them only rarely.
- Crank up your ice maker, break out the ice cube trays or fill jugs with water, so you can be making and storing ice in your freezer or coolers around the clock.
- Store cubes or small blocks of ice in sealed bags and containers so you can drink it after it melts.
- Jugs or containers to store water
- Manual can opener
- Bottle opener
- Pocketknife - preferably Swiss Army style
- Disposable dishes (Paper plates, napkins, cutlery, cups)
- Matches or disposable lighters
- Camp stove or other cooking device (outdoor use only!)
- If you have a gas grill, stock up on propane ahead of the storm (outdoor use only!)
- Water purification tablets (usually available only in drug stores), 2 percent tincture of iodine or ordinary household bleach, which contains hypochlorite as its only active ingredient - not bleach with soap, lemon or other additives.
