Building the perfect hurricane kit

Here are some basic items you'll need to stock your hurricane kit.

Food and drink

• Drinking water: 1 gallon per person per day.

• Nonperishable food supplies: Enough to see you through the first few days. A severe storm can interrupt delivery of fresh food to stores. You need to be ready to feed yourself until stores restock and reopen.

• Comfort foods to relieve stress (cookies, pastries).

• Toilet paper, paper towels, plates and napkins, plastic tableware and drinking cups, wet wipes, plastic wrap, trash bags.

• Two coolers: one for food, one for ice.

• Manual can opener.

Health and safety

• Flashlight and batteries for each person in your household.

• Light sticks.

• First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic, tape, compresses, pain reliever, antidiarrhea medication, antacid.

• Medications for routine illnesses such as colds.

• Liquid soap, hand sanitizer, wet wipes.

• Water purification kit.

• Two-week supply of vitamins, over-the-counter medications and prescription medicines.

• Fire extinguisher.

• Battery-powered clock.

• Infant necessities: medicine, diapers, formula, bottles, wipes.

• Supplies for the elderly or the ill: Depends undergarments, bed pads, medications, special foods.

If you evacuate

• Pillows, blankets, sleeping bags or air mattresses.

• Folding chairs or cots.

• Extra clothing and shoes.

• Personal hygiene items: toothbrush, washcloth, deodorant, etc.

• Food and water.

• Earplugs. Shelters can be noisy, and someone sleeping near you may snore.

• Prescription medications in their original containers. Shelters are not hospitals and do not have access to drugs or medicine. Bring what you need.

• Books, handheld games, cards, toys, needlework, iPod.

Miscellaneous

• Cleaning supplies: mop, bucket, towels, disinfectant.

• Camera or camcorder to record property and document damage for insurance claims.

• Plastic trash bags.

Be sure to have . . .

• Cash. If the power goes out, ATMs will not work and credit card networks will be down.

• Ice.

• Paperwork: insurance policy, identification, home inventory, medical insurance card.

• Cell phone charger for your car. Also have a land-line phone (one that's wired to the wall, not wireless).

• A full tank of gas.

Times staff writer