Hurricane Florence - A Basic Emergency Kit

Prepare for a hurricane by stocking up on emergency supplies including food, water, protective clothing, medications, batteries, flashlights, important documents, road maps, and a full tank of gasoline. Natives have lived on these lands for many generations. If you listen to the stories of our elders, you will hear of the emergence of First Man, First Woman and of living in harmony with the animals. We cared for the land and the land provided for us. Mother Earth shifted her weight and has always challenged her children to live upon her. She continues to bring drought, famine, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, land slides, forest fires. They are not new, but how we occupy ourselves on her great belly has changed. Not so long ago, when our great grandfathers fought in the Indian wars, our people knew how to pack up, store food, prepare their families and animals and move quickly. 

Chemical weapons are not foreign to us as we also had poison-tipped arrows long before the chemical hazard and biohazard labels came into being. Preparedness should not be unfamiliar; we prepared ourselves for many of the challenges that today take the title of disaster, catastrophe, critical incidents, and tragedies. If we didn’t – we wouldn’t be here. Surviving is in our blood. It’s in our heritage. 

These are the teachings and reflections of some of the great Native minds who work in Emergency Management, Bioterrorism, and Tribal CERT. We can teach ourselves and our youth the skills that will last them a life-time; how to take care of one another in times of need.

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items

• Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery