Do you have a hurricane survival kit ? If yes, what does it contain ? (San Antonio: power lines, insurance)

[Houston456]

I dont have one.

Would like to know how other folks are doing

[EasilyAmused]

I made a reservation in San Antonio. That's my survival kit. I don't want to be without AC for weeks in these heat and bugs. Not to mention the smell of rotting food that will becoming from every direction. I don't evacuate, but I do leave afterwards when there's no power.

Seriously Have:
1 gallon per person of water for each day. Estimate at least 5 days worth.
Fill up tubs and sinks the night before so you can bath and flush toliets.
Canned tuna, crackers, PBJ
Deep Woods off
Garbage/Trash bags
Paper plates
Lots of D cell batteries and flash lights.
Pet Food
Lots of cash. When the power goes out credit and debit cards don't work

[sbhubbell]

I have a lot of water and flashlights. I need to get some powdered milk for the kids. I have a lot of canned food, pb&j, chips and crackers.

Never thought about filling up the tubs but that's a great idea. People forget how important the local wastewater treatment plant staff is until they can't flush their toilets. I'm sensitive to this since I work in that industry.

The lots of cash is a good plan too. I never carry cash so I guess I"ll be making a trip to the bank this week.

[EasilyAmused]

I went through Alicia as a kid. There wasn't power for two weeks west of downtown. Fortunately my parents had booked some hotel rooms.

[tstone]

Credit cards work if the stores have imprinters. The big grocery stores will all have these. But cash is still a good idea. I personally wouldn't carry more than I'd want to get mugged for by someone desperate. You can stretch money for food if you really give it some effort. I'm thinking lots of corn, beans & rice. Add charcoal & lighter fluid. That way you can heat em up.

Otherwise, the above lists sound like what I have. You'll want a big bowl or pan to fill & pour into your toilets after you use it... unless your hands are big enough.

Stay away from Spam!!! Tuna is a better choice. Living on Spam can make you feel totally sick. It will suck the life out of you.

Oh yeah, add about 2 cases of beer, 2 liters of Jack, some Cuban cigars, a pack of Zig-Zags and a handful of reefer. Gotta pass the time w/o electricity somehow.

[davidt1]

No one has mentioned toilet supplies. Hmm. How do you go when the toilets don't work? OK, I read about filling up the toilet, but that would last about one flush, right? No seriously, I want to know. I imagine digging a hole in the backyard and go like cats. As for food, I found almond and raisin are the most nutritionally dense, healthy and long-lasting food available.

[tstone]

If you have 2 toilets in the house, one can be the #1 toilet, which only gets flushed every 3rd or 4th use. The #2 toilet will be flushed every time. If you're a dude, you can probably just go to the corner of your yard to #1. Where the dog does it.

I guess if you run out of TP there will be plenty of leaves on the ground after the storm. You could also use your left hand, thereby making you culturally diverse. Just make sure it's the left, since you'll use your right one to eat or shake hands.

[EasilyAmused]

Leave it to men to change a hurricane list topic into one about poop. :/

[momof2dfw]

Reading these I thought I'd pass on this just in case:

You are all mentioning several canned goods. Make sure you have a GOOD handheld can opener. Most people have an elec can opener.

As for the toilet.........you could always call now and have a port-a-poty delivered to your house. Just chain it up real good so that it stays standing upright during the storm . Some of that septic stuff and bleach to pour into it every day or so to keep the smell down would work as well and a couple of cans of Lysol.

As for cold foods............ find some dry ice and get a large ice chest to keep your cold food good. Clean out your fridge now in the days before it hits and in time for it to be hauled off on trash day. Less food hanging around in case the power does go out for extended times.

Trim your trees. If you have some low lying tree limbs or a tree that is already in danger of falling........ get rid of it now while you can w/o it causing any harm/danger. Make sure there are no tree limbs too close to nearby power lines. Don't go touching the power lines yourself but you can get the power company to come out and trim back trees that might be too close to the power lines. They usually do this anyway. If they can't get to it and the tree is on your property you can have a tree service do it for you.

You can also use some welding machines as a generator. If you DO use a generator make sure you have it OUTSIDE!!!!!! Do NOT put it INSIDE your house or any closed up structure. You might also get some extra long power extension cords just in case.

Gather all pertinent information that is valuable and put it in a plastic storage tote. Get copies of your social security cards, insurance, bank information, birth certificates, etc. If it starts to flood I've been told that putting these storage totes on top of your mattress works as the beds float. It also would not hurt to make extra copies and get yourself a safety deposit box at the bank for a second set of copies or mail them to a trusted friend/relative that does not live in your area or an area that might get hit as well.

[happycamper5]

A 8000 KW generator,lots of gas, and I'm watching T.V grabbing cold beers from the frig.