JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Hurricane Season officially begins June 1 and First Coast residents should be prepared in case a hurricane hits. The First Coast hasn't been directly impacted by a hurricane in 50 years when Hurricane Dora hit in 1964. That doesn't mean one won't.
"Most of us assume disasters happen to someone else and we need to think, I want to be resilient, should something happen to me, how quickly can I bounce back, how quickly can I resume my life," says Kathy Hayworth with the American Red Cross. "In the case of a flood perhaps, a knock on the door, and you have to leave in sixty seconds. What can you grab what have you prepared near the front of your home so you can make that happen."
There are several things to put in an emergency kit. One of those is water. There should be one gallon of water per person per day and at least a 7 day supply of water for each person in the household. Food should be ready to eat. Canned meats, fruits, and vegetables are the easiest. Also, paperwork like insurance information, cash, and medicine that family members might need.
"You should be able to sustain yourself for 72 hours. So that's several changes of clothes, and some people just forget that, they think help will be more instant,' says Hayworth.
First Coast news has teamed up with the American Red Cross, WJCT, The Florida Times-Union, and Winn Dixie to put together the Jax Ready Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Copies will be available starting Sunday.
