1. HURRICANE DISASTER SUPPLY KIT

•  Canned goods and nonperishable foods, particularly those that do not need cooking:

• Canned meats and fish
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Canned soups and puddings
• Canned fruit juices
• Dried fruit and nuts
• Bread, cookies and crackers
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Coffee and tea

•  Manual can opener

•  Bottled water (1 gallon per person/per day)

•  Prescription medication (2-week supply)

•  Extra eyeglasses

•  Pet food/supplies

•  Water purification tablets (halazone)

•  Disposable plates, cups, and utensils

•  Infant care items:

• Disposable diapers
• Baby wipes
• Baby food
• Formula

•  First aid supplies

•  Masking and duct tape

•  Flashlight or lantern, with extra batteries

•  Battery operated radio, with extra batteries

•  Watch or battery operated clock

•  Ice chest

•  Matches

•  Canned heat (sterno)

•  Portable outdoor camping stove or grill with fuel supply

•  A certain amount of cash

•  Important documents (Such as wills, deeds, prescriptions, passports, birth certificates, health record, proof of address, Social Security number)

•  Emergency generator

•  Plastic trash bags

•  Plastic sheeting or tarp

•  Chlorinated bleach

•  Personal hygiene items

•  Other useful items:

• Work gloves
• Sun lotion
• Insect repellent
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Pliers
• Wrenches
• Handsaw
• Razor knife
• Ax or chainsaw
• Rope caulking
• Nails and screws
• Rope and wire
• Broom, mop and bucket
• All-purpose cleaner
• Ladder
• Sandbags
• Portable generator
• Tree pruner
• Shovel, rake and wheelbarrow
• Sheets of plywood

2. FAMILY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

Develop a Family Emergency Communications Plan in case family members are separated from one another during an emergency (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school, camp or at a friend’s house). This plan should also address reunification after the immediate crisis passes.

• Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the Family Emergency Communications Plan contact person.  During and immediately after a disaster occurs, it is often easier to access a long distance telephone number than a local one. Also, calling outside a disaster area is usually easier than calling into the same area.

• Make sure everyone knows the name, address and telephone number of the Family Emergency Communications Plan contact person.

• Designate two meeting areas for family members – one within your community (your primary location), and one outside of your community (your alternate location). Sometimes an emergency could impact your neighborhood or small section of the community, so a second location outside of your community would be more accessible to all family members.

A Family Emergency Communications Plan can help reassure everyone’s safety and minimize the stress associated with emergencies.

3. STAY INFORMED

Educate yourself and family about emergency plans for your community, place of business, your child’s school and camp.  Know what potential risks your community and neighborhood are susceptible to in a hurricane, such as storm surge, flooding, etc. Carefully monitor the Media and follow instructions from Public Safety officials as hurricane approaches.

#The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, and local resources to protect the public during disasters and emergencies.  RIEMA helps develop plans for effective response to all hazards, trains emergency personnel, provides information to families and communities, and assists in recovery from disaster losses.  You can learn more about RIEMA by visiting the RIEMA homepage at www.riema.ri.gov

The site features a lot of information on evacuations from hurricane-prone areas of the state. Also included on the site are links to pet friendly hotels and preparing a disaster supply kit.

Should a storm threaten Rhode Island, many people will be asked to evacuate their homes. Click on any of the towns or cities on the map below to see the evacuation map for your area.