How to Put Together a Flood Emergency Kit

Hundreds of people have evacuated their homes and businesses, and many more are expected to become displaced as the Mississippi river continues to rise. Flood victims often have to leave their homes with very little or no notice that they are not prepared for the struggle that lies ahead. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Craighead County, Crittenden County, Cross County, Lee County, Mississippi County, Poinsett County, and St. Francis County in Eastern Arkansas, Dyer County and Lake County in Northwest Tennessee, Pemiscot County in Southeast Missouri, Lauderdale County, Shelby County, and Tipton County in Southwest Tennessee. With all of these counties at risk for flash flooding there a lot of people who should be getting prepared to survive what many reporters are already calling the flood of the century. The best way to be a survivor during a natural catastrophe is to be prepared. Every family and business owner in the Mid-South should have a flood emergency kit on hand. If you have never put together a flood emergency kit, now is the time to learn.

It's important to find a sturdy bag or suitcase that doesn't weigh too much or will be too cumbersome to carry. This will be what you put all of your flood emergency kit items in, so choose wisely. A flood kit that isn't easy to carry is a kit that gets left behind during hectic circumstances. Water proof athletic bags and overnight suitcases are great for flood kits. Once you have decided on a flood kit bag it's time to start organizing the items that will be placed in it. You will need several re-sealable zip-lock bags to put the important items in so that they do not get wet or damaged while evacuating. The gallon freezer bags are usually the sturdiest, but any will do. Gather together any and all important documents such as identification, birth certificates, social security cards, insurance and home documentation, titles, deeds, wills, etc., and then put them all in a zip-lock bag. Make sure that the bag is totally sealed because these are all important documents that you will not want to get damaged. Prepare a change of clothes including pants, shirt, socks, underwear, hard bottom shoes or boots, and put them in a zip-lock bag so that if you get wet while evacuating you'll have a fresh and dry set of clothes to change into. Organize a couple of toiletry items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant and also place these in a zip-lock bag. If you are going to stay in an already crowded shelter these simple items are usually scarce commodities. If you take a prescribed medication that is necessary for your continued good health, make sure that you put at least one week worth of medicine in the zip-lock bag with your toiletry items. Your emergency kit should also include a flashlight with an extra set of batteries, a first aid kit with bandages and gauze, a couple of bottles of water in case the water supply is contaminated, and a utility or camping knife. A flood emergency kit should also include a few non-perishable food items and a couple of cans of pet food if you have a pet. If you are bringing your cell phone with you, make sure to take an extra, fully charged battery and put both the phone and the battery in a zip-lock bag so that they won't get damaged. Once you've gotten all of these items together it's time to arrange them in your bag or suitcase. Put the heavy, larger objects on the bottom, and make sure that the important documentation and medication are placed at the top of the kit where they will be easy to access. Finally, close up and place the emergency flood kit close to the entrance of your home or business so that you can grab it on the way out.

Be prepared when it's time to evacuate your home or business during a flood. You can be prepared by organizing a flood emergency kit so that you can survive the catastrophe.