Checklist: What to have in your emergency kit ahead of the tropical storm

Traffic slows to a crawl on the rain-slicked Harbor Freeway in downtown Los Angeles as an atmospheric river pushes through Southern California on in March. You need food and water, as well as supplies to potentially get by without electricity or running water — or on the road if you need to evacuate. List: What to have in your emergency kit — Canned and packaged foods — At least three gallons of water per day, per person — Fire extinguisher — Hard-soled shoes — Extra glasses/contact lenses — Seven-day supply of medications, especially prescription — Face mask — Cash — Sanitation and personal hygiene items — Whistles — A list of phone numbers for family and emergency contacts — Utensils — Manual can opener — Paper map of your area — Scissors — Duct tape — Food, medication, restraints and other supplies for pets — Copies of important documents, such as emergency contacts, passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates and insurance policies — Diapers, formula, food and medication for small children — Comfort items, such as stuffed animals, board games and books — Hand-crank NOAA radio — Flashlights — Batteries for flashlights — Phone chargers — Hard hat or helmet — Gloves — Goggles — Crowbar — First aid kit — Multipurpose tool that can turn off utilities — Heavy-duty plastic garbage bags — Blankets — Sleeping bags — Extra clothing for a variety of weather — Tent — Portable cooking appliance, such as a propane camp stove Why do I need this stuff in my emergency kit? Hand-crank NOAA radio: You can listen to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio online whenever you want, if that’s something that interests you. After your kit is assembled, you’ll need to rotate perishable items such as food, water and batteries according to their expiration dates.