Play it Safe: Make a Hurricane Emergency Kit

While Hurricane Irene has yet to decide her path, it's always better to be safe.

Council on Aging Director Conni DiLego sent this email to her friends this morning, with a link to Ready America, which offers a ready-to-print checklist for an emergency kit.

"I know most of you have one of these ready packs, or are in some way prepared, but I just thought I'd send out a reminder if you didn't have a chance to get your stuff' together," DiLego wrote. "I'm not trying to be a harbinger of bad news, and hopefully you may never need to have this, but with the crazy weather patterns and the unexpected severe storms in places where they seem most unlikely... It's good to be prepared and to have an agreed upon family/friends plan for contact."

The four most important things to remember when preparing an emergency kit are clean water, food, fresh air, and warmth.

Here's the list in it's entirety, just in case you don't feel like clicking the link.

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
• Cash or traveler's checks and change
• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children