Hurricane Isaias and coronavirus: Make sure you have these supplies, officials say
Tropical Storm Isaias is now a Category 1 hurricane projected to arrive on the Carolinas’ doorstep early next week.
In the age of the coronavirus, how should residents prepare?
“It is crucial for everyone to take this virus into consideration when making your emergency plans this year,” according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. “Your first priority should be to protect yourself from a potential hurricane if an evacuation is issued for your area. Use as many precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 the best you can.”
Ready NC recommends adding the following items to your existing hurricane kit:
- Face coverings or masks
- Hand sanitizer
- Cleaning products
- Sanitizing wipes
There should be at least two masks per person, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol and some sort of bar or liquid soap, according to S.C. DHEC.
A basic emergency kit for storms should contain “enough water, food and supplies in your kit for three to seven days for each person and pet,” Ready NC says.
According to emergency management officials in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, those supplies should include:
- Water, between one and three gallons per person per day
- Up to one week’s supply of non-perishable food, likely canned (and a manual can opener)
- A battery-operated or hand-crank radio
- Flashlight
- Spare batteries
- First-aid kit
- Four-week supply of prescription medication
- Cell phone with charger
- Whistle (to call for help in an emergency)
- Wrench or pliers, to turn off utilities
- Local maps
- Sleeping bags and blankets for each person
- Change of clothes
- Personal hygiene and toiletry items (i.e. toothbrush, toothpaste, soap)
- Matches
- Garbage bags, plastic ties and tarps
- Extra house and car keys
- Important documents in a waterproof bag or container (S.C. health officials recommend they include immunization records, passports, wills, insurance policies, deeds, contracts, stocks and bonds, social security cards and birth certificates.)
- Basic tool kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Extra cash or travelers checks
- Plastic containers to keep non-waterproof items dry
- Rain gear
- Insect repellent
- Duct tape
- Sunscreen
This story was originally published July 31, 2020 at 12:16 PM.
