Proactive Hurricane Prep

 Hurricane season is upon us, and now is the best time to prepare for potential storms. Follow these steps to ensure you’re ready for whatever Mother Nature sends us. 

Plan a Route 

If you need to evacuate, what route will you take and where will you go? Study our region’s evacuation maps and contraflow plans, and set a course to your safe location. 

Do some research on hotel/motels along the way, especially if you need pet-friendly options. Find pet-friendly hotels at pet-friendly-hotels.net and petswelcome.com. Hotel policies can change, so call ahead. 

Make a list of likely accommodations, their phone numbers and websites, and keep it with your hurricane go-bag. Consider buying up-to-date paper maps of Louisiana and surrounding states. Electronics can fail, and back roads are often your best option. 

Prep your Car 

Keep up with your car’s routine maintenance. If you need to have your car checked out when a storm is already bearing down on the Gulf Coast, it will take more time. Here’s a basic checklist: 

• Change the oil. 
• Ensure air conditioner works well. 
• Check tires for wear. Verify the spare and jack are functional. 
• Replace wiper blades. 
• Top off or replace fluids, including brake, transmission, coolant, power steering and windshield washer fluids. 
• Inspect belts and hoses. 
• Check battery, especially if it’s more than three years old. 
• Inspect radiator and water pump. 
• Keep gas tank at least half full. 
• Have jumper cables. 

On the Home Front 

Make a complete to-do list to get your home and family ready if a storm heads our way, then remember where you put it! 

• Eat the food in your freezer; use the free space for containers with extra ice. 
• Photograph or video everything in your home in case you need to file an insurance claim. Include images of recent renovations or upgrades. Ditto for receipts from any recent, large home purchases. 
• FEMA recommends taking photos of important documents and storing them online. 
• Maintain generators and ensure they work properly; stock up on fuel. 
• Connect with your neighbors and exchange contact information. Share updates with each other if evacuation occurs. 
• In case of evacuation, tell family and friends where you are going. 
• Check your employer’s attendance policies for before, during and after a storm. Know whom to call or message with your location. 
• Get your pets microchipped or ensure their collar tag info is current. 
• Copy photos, computer files, account information, important documents and prescription data, 

Create a Grab & Go Bag 

• Basic first aid kit  
• Cash, in case ATMs aren’t working 
• Checkbooks 
• Extra phone charger for the car 
• Consider solar chargers for phones and laptops, as well as solar flashlights and lanterns 
• Long-distance calling card in case cell towers are down 
• List of accounts and passwords for credit cards, bank accounts and investments. Your memory may be unreliable during a stressful time. 
• Flash drive with your backed-up computer files. 

• Phone numbers for family, friends and neighbors; schools; insurance contacts; contractors and repair people; local police; employers; doctors 
• Important papers, ie. birth certificates; insurance policies; school records; mortgage records; medical information; pet vaccination records 
• Extra house and car keys 
• Add a list of things that are important but can’t be packed this far ahead of time: Pet leashes? Rain boots? Jewelry? Electronics? Put the list into the bag to consult when you need it. 

Stock Up 

• Batteries 
• Bottled water and canned food 
• Hurricane lamps or lanterns (safer than candles) and oil 
• Large trash bags. If you evacuate, use them to pack. Stash frozen food in a bag and return it to the freezer. If electricity goes out and the food spoils, just throw the bag in the trash 
• Paper plates, plastic utensils 
• A quality nonelectric can opener 
• Pet food and supplies, if needed 
• Extra diapers and baby supplies, if needed 
• Check that your hand-cranked or battery-operated radio, preferably a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio, and flashlights are working, or purchase these items 
• Medications. Get three-month refills of prescriptions and larger quantities of over-the-counter drugs for pets and people 
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities 
• Bleach for sanitizing 

Road-Trip Amenities 

• Snacks and drinks in a small cooler 
• Travel pillows and lightweight blankets 
• Games, puzzles and/or videos for kids. 
• Audio books and music 
• Tissues and wet wipes 
• Painkillers, sinus medication, etc.