Typhoon is a tropical cyclone with a maximum sustained surface winds reaching 33 m/s (64 kt, 74 miles per hour). It is the term used when the tropical cyclone developed in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. It comes from the Chinese word 'tai-fung' meaning great wind.
If your home is in a low-lying area and you often experience extreme flooding due to strong typhoon, it would be best to prepare yourself and your family for an evacuation to another place that is perched on a higher ground. Do not hesitate and evacuate for safety once your local government has declared your area to be under a state of calamity and they have released an advisory for evacuation.
Creating your own typhoon kit will ensure that your family can comfortably live until it is safe to go back to your home. Build your typhoon kit in easy to carry waterproofed bags or containers and ensure that each bag has an identification (ID) tag with emergency contact numbers.
Below is a guide on what supplies to gather in advance for a three-day stay in a shelter or evacuation center due to typhoon. These are the basic daily requirements of a family; you can add and/or remove items based on the specific needs of your family members.
Basic Typhoon Kit
1. Cash and Identification
Ensure that you have brought your ATM card, credit card, identification card, and health card with you.
Prepare cash in small denominations for emergency spending. As the streets are flooded, it could be challenging to go to an automatic teller machine (ATM) within your neighborhood. The ATM machines may also be offline or out of cash once you do able to access one because majority of people were trying to withdraw money and the bank is unable to refill the machine with cash right away.
Prepare a snapshot of your family with the respective name of each member for easy identification by other people when needed. It is your decision if you wish to include your other important documents in your typhoon kit. If you do decide to leave them at home, please store them on a high location and in a waterproofed bag:
Birth CertificatePassportInsurance Policy CertificateBank account numbers and recordsStock Certificates
2. Communication
Fully charge your mobile phones and also bring the charger. For prepaid plans, check if you still have sufficient load to text or call another person. Consider the use of handheld, portable, two-way radios such as walkie-talkie.
3. Food
Store food which you do not need to refrigerate and cook anymore such as canned goods, instant noodles, biscuits, peanuts, baked bread, etc. If this is a planned evacuation, you can bring cooked food in plastic container that you can eat on your first day in the evacuation center.
4. Water
One gallon of water should be allotted for each person per day. You can distribute bottled water to each family member but still bring a large container of water that you can carry for refill and washing.
5. Clothing
Bring comfortable clothes and include a rain coat. Consider layering your clothes made of light materials to combat the cool weather rather than wearing heavy clothing. Pack your pair of socks and rubber slippers.
6. First Aid Kit
Your first aid kit should have the following:
Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizesHypoallergenic adhesive tapeScissorsTweezersGauzeNeedleAlcoholAntisepticThermometerLatex gloves (2 pair)Burn OintmentPain RelieversEye WashPrescription Drugs
7. Supplies
a) Emergency
RopeFlashlight or small rechargeable lampExtra batteriesCandlesMatch/LighterDust MaskWhistleUmbrella (sturdy enough to stand strong gust of wind)Hand fan
b) Kitchen
Paper platesPlastic spoon and forkStyrofoam bowl and cupPlastic glassCan openerMetal KnifePaper TowelPlastic garbage bags
c) Bathroom
SoapShampooWash TowelWet TissueBathroom TissueToothpasteToothbrush
d) Sleeping
Create a bed bundle for each member of the family. One bundle is composed of one pillow and blanket and wrapped in a plastic bag.
8. Entertainment
To keep up with the latest news, please bring a portable radio that is battery operated.
You can also bring puzzles, books, paper, ballpen, and permanent markers for entertainment. Your stay in the evacuation center would be more fun for the kids if they have a toy with them.
Elise David often reviews interesting books and food at her blog at http://eropark.blogspot.com/.