EDITORIAL: Make a disaster kit part of your hurricane prep

Aug. 30--With Hurricane Dorian bearing down on Florida and the busy 2019 hurricane season here, now is a good time to talk about hurricane preparations.

While the season starts June 1, it usually intensifies August-October before ending on November 30.

Since the initials season forecasts started trickling in, some forecasts have revised their numbers higher.

Often the public doesn't consider threatening weather until forecasts mark a hurricane or tropical storm as days or even hours away.

Now is the time to prepare for the possibility of a hurricane. Not in the hours leading up to a possible storm.

It is an opportunity to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best for the long uncertain months of the hurricane season ahead.

Preparations should start with a basic disaster kit.

Each kit should include:

--Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.

--Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.

--Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both.

--Flashlight and extra batteries.

--First aid kit.

--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, inverter or solar charger-- Disaster kits with water and nonperishable food for at least three days, portable radio and flashlights with plenty of batteries, prescription medication, important documents, and other special needs, such as baby diapers.

--Prescription medications and glasses.

--Infant formula and diapers.

--Pet food and extra water for your pet.

--Cash or traveler's checks and change.

--Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.

We can't control storms--where they hit, when they hit. But we can be prepared.

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