There will be nothing left to do but ride out the storm and its aftermath if long before the first hurricane arrives you have put in place the basics required.

For everyone, the needs are common - securing the home, adequate food, water and fuel supplies and a first-aid kit.

The Consumer Affairs Com-mission (CAC) advises that the list involved in preparing for a hurricane can be an extensive one and that it should be dealt with over time.

"Pick up one or two items every time you go shopping," advises Dorothy Campbell, communications officer with the CAC.

"Check your list as you go to ensure that you are not purchasing the same thing over and over again."

There are also items that can be used repeatedly if stored and secured with long-term usage in mind.

Double ply, used for covering windows by those who find them more economical than hurricane shutters, should be nailed in such a way as to allow for removal and reuse, said Campbell.

"They should be stored in a dry place, such as under a stairway or cellar, until the next hurricane season rolls around."

Empty containers can be converted - washed and properly stored - in anticipation of a storm.

After purchasing, use tinned and dried foods according to the date of expiration - taking from the back of the cupboard and replacing these with fresh ones - so that you will not find yourself with expired products during the actual storm.

Purchasing tinned and dried food items over time allows one to get lower prices, avoid long lines at supermarkets, and prevents the possibility of having no funds to shop when the hurricane makes its surprise appearance.

Shop around for equipment itemised on your hurricane list, as prices vary widely. For example, Sunday Business found that flashlights ranged in cost from $385 to $895, GCT not included.

The hurricane checklist:

Flashlights

Water containers

Toiletries

Paper plates, cups, forks, spoons

Bleach

Tinned meats

Powdered juices

Dried starches

Milk and juice in Tetra packs

Hammer, board (double ply) and nails/or storm shutters

Caulking or duct tape to seal windows

Kerosene and kerosene lamps

Batteries

Inverter or power source

Sponges or sleeping bags

First-aid kit, including alcohol, Band-Aids, cotton and thermometer

Inhalers and other medications and treatments

Disposable diapers

Old newspapers

25- or 30-pound cylinder gas

Two-burner gas stove (mobile)

Secure container for documents.

You will have noticed that candles were left off the list. Campbell of the CAC says that these have caused too many accidents and kerosene lamps, flashlights and other light sources are better used, especially when children and the elderly are around.

If you must use candles, never leave them lit when retiring to bed.

Energy source, medicines:

Inverters, available in various sizes and voltages, are energy- efficient means of recharging and providing power for everything from cellular phonesand microwaves to televisions and refrigerators during a storm.

An inverter converts the DC electricity from sources, such as batteries, solar panels, or fuel cells to AC electricity.

The electricity can be at any required voltage. In particular it can operate AC equipment, be designed for mains operation, or be rectified to produce DC at any desired voltage.

Make sure that you are prepared for the needs of relatives with chronic illnesses, such as diabetics, who need insulin and children with res-piratory illnesses, such as asthma, who need respiratory pumps or inhalers.

Be aware of the special needs of your family.

In the case of flooding or structural damage which threatens life, be prepared to move out.

You will need at least two weeks worth of clothing for each family member, as you will not be able to do laundry.

You will always need to store water, so have containers ready, along with bleach to be used in the right proportion to prevent bacteria breeding.

Too much bleach is poisonous.

Extra fuel is also a good idea as you will be using this more and more to boil drinking water. For persons with electric stoves, a cylinder of gas and a two-burner gas stove will come in handy if the public power system fails.

Some Jamaicans still use a coal pot, an implement best used outdoors. Any heat source can be used which does not put your family at risk.

Property insurance:

If you have invested a lot in constructing your home, then purchasing peril insurance should be added to the must-dos as you prepare for high winds and possible flooding.

If you cannot afford this, then prepare as much as you can to prevent wind and water damage.

Sealing windows with caulking or duct tape will prevent water damage inside your home. Make sure that your roof is not leaking. There are a number of new sealants on the market for this purpose.

Floods and flash floods are the most common natural disasters and cause devastating damage to buildings and personal belongings.

After a disaster, much of the flood-insurance claims are generated outside areas considered flood prone.

Ask your insurer directly, and ask today, whether the policy you have covers flood damage.

Prune trees, remove junk, which can become dangerous missiles, caulk windows and protect with boarding or install storm shutters.

Fill the gas tank in your vehicle and make plans to move to higher ground should a warning to do so be issued.

avia.collinder@gleanerjm.com