Add these 3 essential items to your hurricane prep kit

There are countless lists floating around the internet to help residents prepare for the possibility of a hurricane. These lists advise stocking basic supplies like water, flashlights and batteries. However, there are a few items that are easy to overlook, yet are crucial when the winds pick up and things go south.

Once the power and internet go out or evacuation orders are issued, you will need access to important information that most of us store in our computers, phones or on the cloud. Accessing and printing this information ahead of a storm can make the ordeal much less stressful.

1. Important phone numbers.I don’t know about you, but I’ve only memorized three phone numbers by heart (and one of them is 911). Take a few moments to create a document with phone numbers of:

• Family and friends (especially those also affected by the storm)
• Auto and home insurance agent (and claims department)
• City number for local updates (630-CITY for Jacksonville, 825-1001 for St. Augustine)
• Local hospital/family doctor
• Local hotels (in case you cannot stay at home)
• Work contact (or your boss’s cell number)
• Landlord number (if you are a renter)
• Other emergency contacts

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