What to Put in an Emergency Preparedness Kit for Hurricane Irma

This one’s a given, but a reminder never hurts. You can never be too safe, so make sure to have at least one gallon per person per day on your emergency kit checklist. Tip: Bottles expire after about a year, so instead, fill your own large jugs ahead of any storm. 

Also something you’d expect to see in an emergency kit, but not all food is created equal when you're weathering a storm. Stock food that doesn't require the use of electricity to safely prepare (peanut butter, granola bars, and dried fruit), and stock up on enough to feed your family for at least a few days during Hurricane Irma. It’s also a good idea to have a camping stove and matches (stored in a waterproof container) available in case you want to heat food.

Flashlights are essential for obvious reasons, namely ensuring your family's safety when the power goes out, but they're especially useful if have little ones—the dark will heighten their fears during an already scary time. Also have a few battery-powered lanterns and headlamps stocked up as alternatives.

An emergency first-aid kit is a must not just for actual emergencies, but for everyday life as well. However, if you don’t have one that’s easily accessible at home, you’ll certainly want to make sure you have one ready to go in this case.

You’ve probably got your credit cards in your back pocket, but don’t forget to stash cash in your emergency survival kit—you’ll never know when you’ll be able to visit an ATM again.

The last thing you’d want to lose in a storm is anything that can’t be replaced. Ahead of time, make sure you grab birth certificates, any will you may have, passports, and other legal papers you can’t afford to get ruined.

While you probably won’t forget the batteries, a portable charger might not be on the top of your mind to toss into your emergency preparedness kit. If you’re able to get cell phone service, it could be a game changer when it comes to letting your family know that you’re safe and sound.

While having a portable gaming system is a great way to keep the kids’ minds off the situation, they won’t have anything to do if you don’t have electricity. Throw some coloring books and games into your emergency kit to keep everyone’s minds occupied.

This is probably the least common item to pack in your home emergency kit, but certainly one of the most important to your safety. Normal AM/FM radios can’t pick up on frequencies sent by the National Weather Service during a hurricane, but this one can.