What to bring to a shelter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you evacuate to a shelter, you should remember that you are also responsible to bring appropriate and important items with you and you must be ready to obey all the shelter rules.

  • Water -- one gallon of water per person, per day
  • Food -- Non-perishable, needing little or no cooking, such as ready-to-eat meats, fruits, vegetables, and canned juices. High energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, and other snack foods.
  • Special dietary foods -- such as diabetic, low salt, liquid diet, and baby food and formula
  • Manual can opener
  • Eating and drinking utensils including paper plates
  • Portable ice chest with ice.
  • One complete change of clothing including footwear.
  • Sleeping bag, blanket and pillow (cots for elderly) -- cots will not be provided.
  • Rain gear and sturdy shoes.
  • Washcloth, small towel, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, tampons, paper towels, toilet paper, towelettes, etc.
  • Medications -- clearly marked with your name, dosage, type of medication, and prescribing physician. You must be able to take all medications by yourself.
  • First-aid kit in a waterproof box.
  • Clothes, diapers, formula, bottles, nipples, food, blankets
  • Name and address of doctors. Name and address of nearest relative not living in area. Identification and valuable papers
  • Games, cards, toys, battery powered radios, flashlights (no candles or lanterns), batteries or other reasonable items you may need

Remember to:

  • If possible, bathe and eat before you leave home
  • Register immediately upon entering the shelter
  • Obey shelter rules
  • Keep the building safe and sanitary

NOT ALLOWED:

  • Pets (while some shelters do accept pets, make sure the shelter to which you're evacuating accepts them), alcoholic beverages or weapons