Hurricane Season Starts June 1: Louisiana Prep Time Is Now

KNGT | Louisiana — Hurricane season officially starts June 1st, and if you’ve lived around Southwest Louisiana long enough, you already know how fast things can change down here. One minute it’s sunny and calm, next thing ya know everybody’s lined up at the gas station buying water and fighting over the last loaf of bread at Walmart. Sha, we’ve all been there.

Around Lake Charles and Sulphur, Hurricane Prep ain’t something folks should take lightly anymore. We’ve seen storms come through and completely change lives overnight. That’s why now is the time to start getting ready before something pops up in the Gulf.

What should be in my Hurricane Emergency Kit?

The American Red Cross says every family should have a hurricane plan and emergency supplies ready to go before a storm ever starts heading this way. And honestly, that’s just smart thinking.

One of the biggest things they recommend is putting together two different emergency kits. The first one is called a “Go-Kit.” That’s basically stuff you can grab quick if you gotta leave town fast. Experts say you should pack for atleast 3 days worth of supplies per person. Included in this should be things like bottled water, snacks, flashlights, batteries, phone chargers, medications, and important items for medical equipment like CPAP machines or wheelchairs.

Dont forget the “Stay-at-Home Kit.” That one’s for riding things out at home after the storm passes. The Red Cross recommends having at least 2 weeks worth of supplies because stores, pharmacies, and even gas stations could stay closed for days. Folks around here know that part all too well.

Medicine is another big one people forget about till the last minute. They say have a months supply on the ready, I know that is hard some times so hopefully you have a pharmacy that is around the United States so that you can get it if needed.

They also suggest keeping your important records protected. Stuff like insurance papers, IDs, bank info, medical paperwork, and birth certificates should all be stored somewhere waterproof and easy to grab if needed.

And look, don’t wait till there’s a storm spinning in the Gulf to start shopping. Every year we see the same thing happen. Batteries disappear. Water runs out. Generators sell fast. Folks panic. Getting prepared early just makes life easier.

Lets face it, we dont want another Hurricane anytime soon, but it never hurts to be prepared for the "Just in Case" moments that Mother Nature can throw at us.