As hurricane season approaches, residents throughout the region should be thinking about ways to be ready. Building a go bag with all the essential items in one spot is a great way to make sure you're not caught off guard.
Here are 10 items to have ready in your go bag before a storm hits:
1. Food and water
These are two of the more obvious items to bring with you.
Nonperishable items are the way to go: cans of soup, beans, dry pasta or rice. Don't forget you'll need a can opener, too. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also suggests at least one gallon of water per person, per day. That would take up a lot of space in the bag. So, keep a few extra cases of water handy in the house or car somewhere.
2. Batteries, portable chargers
Disposable batteries are good to keep on hand for flashlights in case the power goes out. Keeping your phone charged is also a big concern while trying to contact family and friends. Portable phone chargers are a great luxury to have during a storm.
3. First-aid kit
Injuries happen, especially when water levels rise and winds start to swirl. In the rush to get out, you might suffer a cut or a bruise.
Having a first-aid kit with bandages, hydrogen peroxide and prescription medicines can make a huge difference in those unfortunate scenarios.
4. Personal hygiene products
This one is a little less vital than some of the other items on this list, but no one likes to be smelly, even during a storm. With the potential for a lack of clean water in the event of a storm, hot showers might be few and far between.
Deodorant, a toothbrush, soap, toilet paper and other similar products can certainly make life a bit easier.
5. Important documents
You never know when you'll need to identify yourself during a storm or might get washed away after you evacuate.
If you do end up losing access to your phone or the internet, having documents like your driver's license, birth certificate, insurance information or immunization records can be valuable.
6. Waterproof containers
Many of the items on this list would be meaningless if they got wet. To keep that from happening, pack some small zip-lock or freezer bags to store the belongings that you want to keep dry.
You'll be glad you put your phone in a zip-lock bag if you happen to drop it in the water.
7. A few tools
In case you need to shut off your utilities, a wrench and pliers could come in handy. With so much debris on the road, you might also have to change a tire at some point. Keep a jack and a lug wrench in the trunk so you don't get stuck on the side of the road.
8. Extra clothes, rain gear
A storm can quickly ruin your clothes. So, it's imperative to some extra outfits packed up.
But remember, you're not packing for a vacation, so think practical — hoodies, t-shirts, pants and undergarments are all essential. Rain gear like ponchos and boots are even better.
9. Sleeping bag, blanket
You might need to get some rest where you least expect it. That could mean sleeping in your car or at a friends house. Either way, it's good to have a blanket or a sleeping bag to help stay warm on a wet night.
10. Cold, hard cash
If the power goes out, your credit cards suddenly become useless. Some loose cash will be a good commodity to have in the days during a storm.
If there's something you forget to pack in the go bag, hopefully you can buy it with cash.
©2022 the Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, Texas), Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
