By Tom Crawford
tcrawford@abcnews4.com
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- If a hurricane threatens our area, you need to be prepared. The Lowcountry could be without electricity and phone service for an extended period of time.
You made need to pick up some supplies well in advance from a place like your local hardware or do-it your self store.
So many people wait until the last minute. But good advice comes from Larry Zobel who is a commercial sales specialist at Lowe's.
"You don't want to wait until the last minute or the day before a hurricane hits, because those supplies will run out quick," he says.
Having a well-maintained and stocked supply kit is a must. You may not need everything that is offered at the big stores, but there are some essentials that you really need to have.
A couple of flashlights and some batteries; enough water supply to last you 3-5 days for the entire family; you may want to check out the American Red Cross radio.
A hurricane survival kit is a must for Lowcountry residents.
Propane for your gas grill is a must as well, no matter how large your gas grill is. Several tanks would be even better. A couple of extra gallons of fuel can come in handy as well.
You want to make sure you have a full tank of gas, because you may be in lines during the evacuation for an extended period of time. Or, you may be without electricity where your credit card doesn't work.
Cuts and scratches happen often, especially when working and playing outside. When there is plenty of debris around, it happens more often. A good first aid kit is a must as well.
Don't forget about your washcloth, towels and soap. All of your toiletry items that you would use on a day-to-day basis like toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, as well as hand sanitizer are must-haves. Don't forget your bug spray.
You also want to have cash in hand. With credit cards you need electricity, with cash you don't.
Items often found in a survival kit
