Typhoon survival kit

corwise

corwise

Joined
Nov 10, 2006
Messages
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I recently moved to Okinawa Japan, and finally got my house unpacked. So now I'm thinking about building a basic survival kit for typhoon season, which starts in June or July. Some basic facts I've been told since I've been here.

- Typhoon usually last 3-4 days
- We lose power the entire time, and 3-4 days afterwards
- The houses stand up fine other then a little leaking, so no need for repair kits
- The stores of course get mobbed right before the storm hits, and since we're on an island it takes several days to restock after the storm
- I have a 10 month old and a 3 year old, so need food/supplies for them as well

So, as I see it, I need to have about a weeks worth of food/water that I requires no power to cook or keep cold. Since I can't use my grill while the typhoon is ongoing, I need several days worth of food that I can eat cold, and that my kids will actually eat. Looking for any suggestions on food that stores well and any other thoughts people might have.
Right now I'm planning on getting some MREs, bottles of applesause (kids will always eat that), the basic batteries, flashlights, radios, diapers, etc. Any other thoughts are appreciated, have a good one.
 
Do you have a protected area on the outside of the house? Don't need much, just a spot to run an alcohol/camp stove to heat water or a can of ravioli. Even if you don't, once the cyclone clears you'll be able to heat stuff up that way.

Water, Ramen, canned chix to mix with the ramen, boxes of animal crackers, beef jerky, a diaper genie refill or stash of grocery store plastic bags. Lots of possibilities really, a quick wander around the grocery store with your kid will give you a bunch of ideas.
 
Remember you need at least a gallon a day for each person in your family. I think you would be set with a couple cases of MREs, canned fruits and veggies, canned meats, soups, lots of extra shelf stable baby food, etc. If you think it will be 7 days max than I would have at least 14 days supplies.


BTW, don't forget baby Motrin.
 
I'd store the following items

- Water (a lot) and iodine tabs or drops to make sure it's pure (just in case)
- Canned food and dehydrated food such as soups etc...
- Camping stove with butane (or whatever gas) refills
- Led flashlights and lantern with spare batteries (lithium primaries have great shelf life)
- blankets for everyone and other warm clothing that could be needed
- wellington boots and other rain clothing gear if you need to go out with bad weather
- hand crank radio
- shovel, axe and large prybar
- stuff to repair stuff (nails, adhesive tape, cords, gear...)
 
Oh, and you definitely want to bring some of the toys the kids love and a pair of new ones too, as a surprise and "reward" for being "brave". Kids love to be considered tough, and that would save a lot of anxiety. Books with stories to read them are good too.
 
So you will most likely remain in your house?
Are you in an apartment/condo type building or
do you have a house with yard etc? in the city or out in the country?
I believe many living spaces are very small in comparison
to those here in the US.
The kit you store will have to be small enough to still
carry on daily activities until you need it.
That will have an influence on what/how to stock it.

Off the bat,some type of communication would be great
thing to have.To inform family/friends of your needs,condition etc.
Cell phones? dont know how they will survive the storm.
Internet? cant count on it. Some type of 2-way radio would be great
(ham radio) during an emergency,to save yourself or someone else,
calling for help even without a ham radio license I dont think would be
a problem.

Anyway,back to the original question,
"Are you in an apartment/condo type building or
do you have a house with yard etc?. in the city or out in the country?"
 
I have lived in Hurricane country my whole life and seen quite a few good ones. Never had the need for any emergency kit though i do think its necessary to have one. Get a small propane or alcohol burner and you will be able to cook just about anything in the fridge. The hardest part of being stuck in the house without power for a week is that there's nothing to do. So get some cards, board games, and maybe a small battery powered video game. Also, you might want to stash some cash as i have seen atms run out of money after hurricanes several times. You already know all the other stuff.
 
I lived in Okinawa for a few years. Realistically they islanders have it down pat. Rice is perfect since all you have to do is boil it. Ramen noodles are also great. Both have a long shelf life and just need water to boil. Canned goods are always a good bet as well. I'm sure they still have it see if the kids like dried squid and cuttlefish. We used to eat that stuff like crazy. It has the look and texture of a leather shoelace but I always liked the taste.

Get a small propane or butane burner. I know you can get them on the local market dirt cheap. They work great and store in a small space. I still have mine from korea stored in a closet someplace.
 
I lived in Japan for a few years (over on central Honshu, though). The grocery stores are stocked with foods that are perfect for this sort of thing. You can even get pre-cooked rice in packages so you just need to open it and eat it.

Beware of the propane cookers over there (the ones that come with propane that looks kinda like a hairspray can) as they are famous for setting houses on fire. You're better off with a good quality mountain stove, and propane/butane stoves are most convenient.

Just look at the hurricane prep websites, as they give lots of good advice. Www.72hours.com is a good one that you can get the kids involved with to get them excited.

Have lots of batteries and LED headlamps or flashlights. A lantern (battery or kerosene) is great for hanging out and gives you light to play games by.

Consider getting plywood to cover your windows and make sure to draw your curtains and blinds to minimize glass going into a room if a window breaks, and possibly tape your windows too.

Fill your bathtub and any water containers you have for drinking/hygiene water. Bleach out your tub now to get it clean. You probably don't have a water heat to get water from and you may or may not have a flushing toilet, so it'll limit your water sources. Buy a bunch of drinking water too. Always good to have a round.

I've been through many hurricanes and taiphoons and find it best to make it fun for the kids. To them it's camping indoors and an excuse to play fun games, use headlamps, and eat fun foods. Have them build forts and have fun.

Also make sure that you have bags packed and ready to go, just in case you do have to evacuate. You don't want to be scrambling trying to figure out what you need and where it's at.

Good luck and have fun!
 
Welcome to "the Rock". It can be a tough place to live with a family. Being a Marine, most of us have been through there a time or two. I'd store as much water as possible throughout the house, either in gallon jugs or in larger containers if at all possible. You can either use MRE's or dehydrated food like the Mountain House stuff, which I have and is great stuff and has a 30 year shelf life. Also the Mainstay rations are great for emergency use also, and they come in several different sizes and are pretty economical. You need a gallon of water per person per day so I would at least carry a weeks worth at minimum or 2 weeks worth at best. Some cards, board games, and other games to enertain the troops is also smart. Also, a portable emergency toilet is VERY SMART also should you lose all water pressure. They use disposable bags that you buy and change out and they work great. It looks like a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat on it and you can find them all over the net, I keep 1 at home for my emergency gear and they work great.
 
For years, here in Florida, I have been a hurricane prepper.

I cover the basics, such as food, water, ability to cook, tools and equipment to make shelter repair, lighting, communication, such as radios, and personal protection.

Few years back, when Katrina and Wilma came through Miami back to back, we were without power for three weeks. The wife and I had everything we needed, and suffered no deprivation.
 
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