It looks like Alex is going to miss the US, but it’s still a good idea to prepare, at least mentally.  The first decision to make is whether or not you will evacuate.

So, you’ve decided to go.  Now what?

First, I must tell you that if you even have an inkling or passing thought about evacuating, go right then to the gas station and fill up your vehicle.  Keep it topped off.  Two days before Ike hit, gas stations has hour long lines, some had run out of gas, and I had to go to four different stations to fill up.  Don’t be me and waste time running all over town.  Get gas before everyone else does.

Next, go to the bank and withdraw some cash. Try to get smaller denominations, $5, $10, $20.  Another lesson learned from Ike.  We left after the storm because there was no electricity, and quite a few places on the way out of town were cash only.  Don’t take out your life savings, but take out enough to comfortably make it a couple of hours out of town.  Get a roll of quarters, too.  That way you can get things out of vending machines or soda machines, if stores are closed.

Call the doctor for any medication refills.  You don’t want to be scrambling to get a new prescription the day before the storm hits when the doctor may be out of the office and the pharmacy is packed.

Finally, go to Radio Shack or a phone kiosk and get a car charger for your cell phone.  If you are inclined, you might want to pick up a charger for your laptop.  Our cell phone charger cost less than $20 and we use it all the time.  That way you can charge your cell phones using your car engine, even if there’s no electricity.

Get a map and plan where you are going to go. Don’t just rely on your GPS, get an actual paper map you can keep in your car.  Depending on when you leave, it may be prudent to have a plan B or backup plan.  Where are you going to stay?  If you have family and friends, great.  Otherwise you may consider making hotel reservations now, to make sure they have a room for you.

Set up a contact that lives outside of your area, and make sure they know your plans.  That person can be your point of contact in case your family should get separated and can keep other family members up to date on your travels or situation.

Go to the FEMA website, your local news site, or the Red Cross site and print off a list of shelters. You never know if you’ll need them – hotels fill up fast!

Now that you’ve run your errands, it’s time to pack.

Make sure you have all the safety equipment you need in your vehicle.  During an evacuation, emergency personnel are tied up and you’ll have to do for yourself as much as possible.  Make sure you have jumper cables, spare tire, jack, tools, and all those things you know you *should* keep in your car.  Buy a can of fix a flat.

Gather up important documents – birth certificates or adoption papers, titles to vehicles, marriage license, social security cards, passports.  You may want to get a copy of your lease if you rent.  Make sure you have a copy of all of your insurance information, homeowners and car.  Write down the phone numbers to your utilities so you can check if they’ve been restored.  Go to your neighbors and write down their numbers, too.  Make sure you have documents with your home address on them, you may need it to get back into your neighborhood afterward.

Pack clothes and supplies for all your family members.  There are tons of lists all over the internet for this.  Err on the side of too many diapers.  Pack extra plastic bags for trash.  Don’t forget medications, special foods, pet supplies, etc.  Here’s a comprehensive list of things to do and take. Here’s another page from FEMA about how to prepare and secure your home before you go.

Now, if you’re leaving after an evacuation has been called for by local officials, the highways will be clogged.  Prepare to spend a lot of time in your car, driving 5 miles per hour or at a dead stop.  Prepare accordingly!  If your AC doesn’t work well when you idle, get battery powered fans or car fans that plug into the lighter.  Pack plenty of snacks and drinks so you don’t have to pull off for a fast food meal.

What will you eat, and how will you eat it?  Pack food that doesn’t need refrigeration or cooking.  Hello, peanut butter sandwiches and granola bars! Hint: avoid red juice and V8.  Those are terrible if someone gets car sick.  And what if someone gets carsick?  Pack dramamine, towels, plastic bags, rolls of paper towels and my secret weapon, a spray bottle. A spray bottle is the best on-the-go tool for blasting car sickies out the nooks and crannies of car seat harnesses.

FEMA recommends having 72 hours worth of food and water with you, and remember, that’s 1 gallon of water per person, per day.  That’s a little less than 8 .5L water bottles.  Also remember what goes in must come out, so bring your own roll of TP in a plastic bag and keep some Purell in your glove box for easy access.

Bring plastic spoons, etc. and your can opener if your emergency food is in cans.  It won’t kill you to eat cold spaghettios, if you have to.  Have coloring books, decks of cards, or a list of car games at the ready to play with the kids.  Take some books or crossword puzzles, and don’t forget a pencil sharpener.  Take all of your flashlights and other emergency supplies.

And if you are a coffee addict, you may want to make sure you have some caffeine with you to avoid headaches.  Don’t count on being able to purchase items up the road.  They may not be available or stores may be closed.  Again, after Ike we had to drive to College Station in order to find a grocery store that had bread – and it was a zoo!  This was a couple of days after Ike had hit.

And grab your camera to record your family adventure!

Have you ever evacuated?  What lessons did you learn?