BE PREPARED

Collect emergency supplies and store them so you can find them easily when you need to. A corner of the basement or a little-used closet would work. In case you have to evacuate your home, put the supplies you think you'd need the most in a portable container such as a rolling trash can with a lid or a large rolling cooler. Think about what supplies you need, what you can reasonably carry or store in your car and how many people will be available to help you transport the supplies.

 Here are the disaster supplies recommended:

• Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day; three-day supply ideal)

• Cash (ATM and credit cards may not work or be accepted by businesses)

• Cell phone (with car charger or AAA battery pack)

• Clothing and underwear (consider rain gear and outerwear)

• Phone numbers of friends and family, as well as local, state and federal emergency numbers

• Documents (driver's license, passport, birth certificate, etc.) in a waterproof container

• Financial inventory (list all accounts, mortgages and loans, with account numbers and location of originals)

• Pet supplies and carrier (include food, water, leashes, records of shots)

• Dust mask (one per person)

• Eating utensils (plastic or disposable)

• First-aid kit (see list below)

• Duct tape, masking tape

• Food (canned goods and other nonperishable items that don't require cooking)

• Medical information and medications (three- day supply) list of your meds, chronic conditions and medical history

• Toilet paper, paper towels, sanitary products and toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razors, etc.

• Tools (can opener, knife, pliers, scissors; a Swiss army knife may suffice)

• Flashlight with extra batteries

• Trash bags and plastic sheeting

• Radio (battery-operated) with extra batteries

• Sleeping bags or blankets (one per person)