The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) suggests that individuals evacuating an area for a weather event have an emergency kit that includes these items:

• Health & homeowners insurance policies, wills, passports
• Family photos & irreplaceable mementos, disposable camera, digital camera, video camera
• Digital inventory CD of house and printout of contents
• Paper & pen, address book, emergency phone numbers (family, hospital, physicians)
• Wallet, checkbook, credit cards and cash
• Canned goods, can opener, peanut butter, protein bars, bouillon cubes, M.R.E.s, baby food
• Bottled water (1/2 gallon per person), water purification tablets
• Sharp knife, duct tape, electrical tape, small shovel, rope, work gloves, fix-a-flat for tires, tarps, dust masks, small toolbox, all-purpose tool
• Water proof matches, butane lighter, small fire extinguisher
• Transistor radio, batteries
• Candles, flashlights  
• Pet food and supplies
• Toiletries – toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, feminine products, diapers, baby wipes, paper towels, trash bags
• First aid kit, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment, vitamins, general remedies (cold, flu, allergies, chap stick, antacids), glasses
• Clothing – long pants/shirts/gym clothes for sleeping/rain poncho, walking/working shoes, extra underwear and socks, jackets/sweaters
• Sleeping bags, cots, air mattresses, folding chairs
• Laptop computer, cell phone, chargers & car chargers
• Medication & prescriptions
• Extra batteries
• Maps
• Irreplaceable jewelry and other mementoes
• Children’s games, deck of cards, other activities to pass the time

Other preparations include:

• Charging computers, cell phones, rechargeable batteries, cameras and video cameras
• Taking video and still photos of each room in the house, particularly the contents (furniture, collectibles, knick-knacks, antiques or other valuables)
• Filling up vehicles with gas before evacuating
• Removing furniture, lawn ornaments and other items that could become airborne during high winds

More disaster tips and what to do after a flooding emergency can be found on the RIA website at www.restorationindustry.org under the “consumers” link.