While gearing up for Gustav, Gov. Bobby Jindal told Louisiana residents, “We need to pray for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has a complete Louisiana Citizen Awareness and Evacuation Guide for Southwest Louisiana available on the DOTD website, www.dotd.louisiana.gov.
While preparing for the storm, one of the most important items to have readily available is a disaster kit.
In fact, the DOTD recommends all families have a kit prepared at all times throughout the year.
The guide suggests six basic items that residents should stock in their disaster kit: water, food, clothing and bedding, first aid supplies, tools and emergency supplies and special items.
Officials recommend keeping the items in a waterproof container that can be easily transported from home to vehicle, then to any evacuation site.
A family disaster supply kit should include at least a three-day supply of the following items:
• Water - One gallon of water per person per day
• Non-perishable food - Select food items that are compact and lightweight. Include the following items:
° Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
° Canned juices
° High energy foods
° Vitamins
° Comfort goods
° Condiments
° Food for infant
• Clothing and bedding - Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person and the
   following weather-appropriate items:
° Sturdy shoes or work boots
° Rain gear
° Blankets or sleeping bags
° Hat and gloves
° Thermal underwear
° Sunglasses
• First aid supplies – Assemble a first aid kit for the home and one for each car.
• Tools and emergency supplies
° Emergency preparedness manual
° Battery-operated radio and extra batteries                                 ° Flashlight and extra batteries
° Cash or traveler’s checks, change                                                 ° Non-electric can opener, utility knife
° Fire extinguisher: small canister ABC-type                                  ° Tube tent
°Pliers                                                                                                   ° Tape
°Compass                                                                                            ° Matches in a waterproof container
° Aluminum foil                                                                                   ° Plastic storage containers
° Signal flare                                                                                         ° Paper, pencil
° Needles, thread                                                                                  ° Medicine dropper
° Shut-off wrench to turn off household gas and water                               ° Whistle
° Plastic sheeting                                                                                  ° Sanitation supplies
° Official DOTD Highway Map
° Louisiana Citizen Awareness and Disaster Evacuation Guide
° Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
• Special Items
Infant and medical supplies: Remember supplies for family members with special requirements, such as infants, elderly, persons with disabilities and persons taking medication
• Entertainment - Games and books
• Important family documents
° Wills, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
° Passports, social security cards and immunization records
° Bank account numbers
° Credit card account numbers and company addresses
° Inventory of valuable household goods and important telephone numbers
° Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)