How to Build Your Hurricane Survival Kit

Being prepared for disasters is a shared responsibility among all of us.  And today, as we mark the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, the team at ServiceMaster by Lovejoy wants to encourage everyone, families, communities, and businesses – to take action now to prepare.

As we’ve seen too many times before, all it takes is one major hurricane or tropical storm to devastate a community, neighborhood, or family. When a hurricane hits, it can bring high winds, heavy rainfall, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, and even tornadoes. That’s why if you live in an area in Atlanta, Georgia where hurricanes are a threat, you need to know where you’d go before the danger arrives and makes evacuation impossible.

ServiceMaster by Lovejoy, a storm damage restoration company in Atlanta, Georgia has the unique ability to handle and respond to multiple projects at once, providing the most reliable disaster response help that includes:

 In times when resources are scarce, you can count on ServiceMaster by LoveJoy to be there for your property and give you the personalized attention you deserve.

1. Determine how many people you need to prepare for. Depending on your situation, you may have additional guests riding out the storm with you such as elderly relatives. Emergency kits and backpacks are often created to contain enough supplies for between two to four people.

2. Find a durable backpack or duffle bag to store all of your emergency supplies and gear. We recommend using a backpack to help even out the weight distribution, and this will make it easier to transport the bag should you need to evacuate.

3. Fill your kit with enough non-perishable food and water for each person in the household for three days (72 hours). Keep in mind that you may need to use the water for sanitation purposes as well.

4. Pack a portable stove so that you can heat up food or water without electricity. If a severe hurricane does strike, it’s possible that power lines will become damaged, knocking out the primary source of electricity in your area.

5. You won’t want to eat food with your fingers, so don’t forget to include bowls and utensils in your kit.

6. Pack a few different light sources that will help you make it through any scenario.

Lightsticks are great because they provide reliable illumination from up to a mile away and are not dependent on batteries.

7. Pack emergency blankets to stay comfortable when sleeping, should you find yourself in a less than ideal sleeping arrangement. In the event of a hurricane evacuation, hotels may be sold out requiring you to make alternate short-term arrangements for sleeping, like staying in a shelter.

8. Make sure to find and pack a well-built knife. There are too many uses for a good knife to name, but suffice it to say that you don’t want to be left without one.

9. Make sure you have a battery-operated or hand-crank radio in your kit, just in case the power goes out.

10. Place a first aid kit in your emergency backpack. It’s not uncommon to sustain injuries while evacuating from a hurricane or cleaning up from the aftermath. Make sure your first aid kit contains the following items:

12. Add a whistle to your kit. This may come in handy if you need to signal for help.

13. Include bath wipes in your kit as well. Taking a bath may not be an option right after hurricane land.

14. Don’t forget to include a spare cell phone charger in the kit too. Keep your cell phone charged before the hurricane makes landfall. You never know if or how long the power will be out.

15. Find out if you live in an evacuation area. If you do, locate the closet emergency shelters near your home. Keep in mind when researching shelters that not all of them accept pets.

16. Put a local map in your emergency kit in case you have to evacuate the area.

Preparing your property for a hurricane may sound like a lot of work, but it really isn’t. Especially when you divide the key tasks into bite-size chunks across a week or two. If you already have an emergency action plan or disaster recovery plan, you will simply need to make updates and refresh supplies.

If this is your first time preparing your business for a hurricane, ServiceMaster by Lovejoy’s hurricane survival tips is a helpful resource for capturing key information.

We will work directly with your insurance company and insurance vendor and communicate to you all the particulars at every stage of the repair process. For immediate and faster response, you can contact 678-293-0297 for 24-hour Emergency Service.

We will arrive at your home within 2 hours.