RALEIGH -- Gov. Bev Perdue wants residents to take time out of their Memorial Day weekend festivities to make sure they have a hurricane preparedness kit.
Hurricane season starts Tuesday, and chances are that North Carolina will feel the effects of a storm or two before it's over. The state is affected by one-fifth of all tropical systems, said Darrin Figurskey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh, who keeps his hurricane kit in his garage.
State officials are preparing a two-day statewide exercise simulating a hurricane disaster, Perdue said. She wants residents to take responsibility, too.
So here is what state officials suggest for a hurricane preparedness kit, which can be kept in a storage container with a lid:
A three- to 10-day supply of water and nonperishable food, such as canned soup, peanut butter, raisins and granola bars
If you have children, baby food and other necessities
Flashlights and batteries and a radio
Prescription medicine
Personal hygiene items
Bleach/hand sanitizer
First-aid kit
Pet supplies, including leashes, food, bedding and vaccine records
Bedding
Insurance policies and identification in a plastic,waterproof carrier
(The sample kit at a news conference with the governor on Wednesday also included sunglasses, crayons and two decks of cards.)
For a full list of kit ideas, visit www.readync.com.
