The days and hours leading up to a possible hurricane strike are no time to be at the store buying necessities or scrambling to find important documents.Whether you hit the road or stay home during a storm threat, emergency management officials say you should have with you everything you’ll need to be self-sufficient for three, five or even seven days or more, possibly without basic utilities such as electricity and safe running water. Opinions vary on what specific supplies that means, but here are some common recommendations.

BASICS
— Water (one gallon per person per day for three to seven days)
— Food (nonperishable and ready-to-eat meals and snacks, enough for three to seven days)
— Manual can opener
— Battery-powered or hand-crack AM/FM radio and NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
— Flashlight and extra batteries
— First aid kit
— Whistle
— Moist towelettes, paper towels, toilet paper
— Hand sanitizer
— Garbage bags and plastic ties

ADDITIONAL ITEMS
— Prescription medications and glasses
— Infant formula and diapers
— Pet food and extra water for pets
— Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
— Cash or traveler’s checks and change
— Emergency reference materials such as a first-aid book
— Household chlorine beach and medicine dropper (when diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water.)
— Fire extinguisher
— Matches in a waterproof container
— Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
— Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
— Paper and pencil/pen
— Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
— Battery-powered fans
— Sunscreen
— Mosquito repellent
— Tools
— Grill or portable stove and charcoal or propane for outdoor cooking in case power is out after the storm