Nearly two years ago, Hurricane Katrina struck, and I learned then what I wish I’d had on hand when it happened. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to stock up on everything I needed but didn’t have during that emergency. I thought it would be useful to list everything I keep handy in the hopes that you won’t get caught without these needed supplies. These aren’t just for hurricanes. Any kind of disaster, earthquake, tornado, damaging storms, terrorism, and other forms of natural or non-natural disasters can be devastating. Keep in mind that you don’t want to be running to the store at the last minute for these items. Most likely, thousands of other people will be doing the same thing, and stores will quickly run out of stock of most emergency supplies. In addition, you’ll be wasting valuable time standing in line when you could be preparing instead.

You can get nearly all of these delivered to you (with free shipping for orders over $100) and you can stock up on batteries at or

Now for the list:
Lighting

1. Lots and lots of batteries in every size. D-cell batteries are especially useful for portable T.V.s, large flashlights and emergency radios. I bought between 24 and 72 batteries of each type (AAA, AA, C, D, and 9-volt).
2. Flashlights. I suggest at least one for every room of the house. I have a couple of rechargeable flashlights plus about a dozen cheap plastic ones in various sizes. These are mainly just for quick navigation through a dark house.
3. Kerosene Lanterns. I suggest 2 or 3 of these as they will mainly be used for long-term room lighting. During power outages, people tend to congregate in just a few areas of the house, so long-term lighting in just these areas is probably sufficient. Flashlights can be used for navigating throughout the rest of the house. Make sure to stock up on lamp oil as well.
4. Candles. This is the last of the lighting supplies you might need. Candles are always handy to have around, but they are less useful than flashlights and lanterns.

Food and Water

1. MREs. These “Meals Ready to Eat” are lifesavers. You can actually buy these in bulk, and store them for 5-8 years (depending upon what temperature they are stored at). You don’t have to wait for the government to hand these out. You can buy them in advance and have them ready when you need them. These meals are pretty decent. They don’t require water for preparation (except for powdered drinks). They typically include appetizers (such as crackers and spread), a main entree such as roast, veggie burger, pasta, or omelette, a side dish such as mashed potatoes or trail mix, a dessert, napkins, utensils, and seasonings. These meals are pre-cooked and can be eaten hot or cold straight from the pouch. Trust me on this one. I would have done just about anything to have had these on hand immediately. Now, I do.
2. Water. That goes without saying, of course, but I quickly discovered that I didn’t have nearly as much water as I needed to have. You don’t realize how much water you consume until you don’t have it. You not only need it for drinking but also to help keep you cool. Without air conditioning, my house stayed above 100 degrees during Katrina. In addition, you’ll need enough for your pets as well. You can stock up on bottled and jug water, but there are other alternatives to consider. Emergency water pouches are easy to store and travel well. Water barrels can be purchased that allow you to store 30 gallons of water at a time. These barrels come with everything needed to keep the water fresh for years, and enable you to use it easily when the time is needed.
3. Water purification tablets and water testing kits to make water safe to drink.
4. Coleman stove and propane bottles for cooking

Cooling and Heating Devices

1. Battery powered fans. These are an absolute must! If disaster strikes during the hot summer months, the heat will be something you just cannot take (and of course can be deadly). I bought two 10-inch battery operated fans (here’s where you need lots of D cell batteries on hand). They were the biggest I could find that didn’t need electricity. You can usually find these at places like Walmart and even your grocery store.
2. Space blankets and hand warmers will help during cold-weather emergencies.

Communication Devices

1. Cell phone and battery operated cell phone charger. I found battery operated chargers at my local hardware store. They work for nearly all models of cell phones as they come with various connectors.
2. Hand crank or solar and battery powered emergency radio / flashlight/ siren / weather band. This is an absolute must and they are easy to find.
3. Battery operated T.V. This isn’t essential, but sometimes you just want to be able to see for yourself that there is still a world out there.
4. An old-fashioned corded phone that plugs into an outlet. This may be the only thing still working, when cordless phones won’t work with the power out, and cell towers are down.

First Aid and Tools

1. Standard first aid kits are a must in case of any emergencies.
2. A swiss army style knife can be useful in almost any circumstance.
3. An axe is handy for escaping through a roof during a flood. Ever tried cutting a hole through a roof with a knife? The axe is much easier and if you are needing to do something like this, you can’t waste time.

You can also find many, many more items that are useful to have on hand for emergencies, but the items I’ve listed above will at least make sure you have the essentials. For greater peace of mind, you may want to consider other products as well, but please consider having at least those essentials on hand. I know it seems like a waste of time and money to prepare for things that may never happen, but the difference it will make is beyond description. Hope this helps someone.

(from Smash Mouth. "AllStar" Astro Lounge. Interscope Records, 1999.)

Posted on May 5th, 2007 by DazzlinDonna
Filed under: Life