A collection of phone numbers for Louisiana state agencies, parish emergency management and law enforcement offices in the southern parishes, and national disaster information centers.

This game of 20 questions can help you determine whether you and your family will be prepared if a hurricane comes your way, according to LSU AgCenter experts.

If an evacuation or other emergency separates family and friends, you’ll want to find each other. Fill out a card for each close friend and relative. Carry it with you wherever you go.

If you don’t have the right answers to this hurricane quiz, you may be flirting with disaster for your home or your family, cautions LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel.

Regularly checking the trees in your yard for damage, disease and other indications of danger is important, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter, who say the beginning of hurricane season is a good reminder to do it now.

(Distributed 05/09/08) With hurricane season approaching, it’s a good time to ask yourself a few questions to determine if you’re appropriately prepared. Even if you’ve been through a hurricane before, it’s easy to forget some of the preparations that can protect your property and family, experts with the LSU AgCenter stress.

(Distributed 05/15/08) As hurricane season approaches, it’s a good time to take a few simple steps to protect your home and family in case a storm strikes, according to LSU AgCenter disaster preparedness specialist Pat Skinner.

(Distributed 05/19/08) Neglecting to make basic preparations could be a decision you heartily regret if a major storm or hurricane comes your way. That’s a message LSU AgCenter experts are stressing as this year’s hurricane season approaches.

(Distributed 05/26/08) If your family has a plan for what you’d do in case of a hurricane or other disaster, now is the time to pull it out and review it. If you don’t, there’s still time to write your plan, LSU AgCenter disaster preparedness specialist Pat Skinner says.

(Distributed 05/28/08) Anyone who has heard disaster preparedness recommendations probably knows a three-day emergency food supply is on the list. But just what does that mean? LSU AgCenter nutritionist and food safety expert Dr. Beth Reames has the answers.

(Distributed 05/29/08) Everyone will be able to cope better if you talk to your children early about hurricanes and get them involved in your plans and preparations, says LSU AgCenter family development specialist Dr. Diane Sasser. Discussing what hurricanes are, the dangers they pose and the safety measures to take against them can help to alleviate some of the fear and anxiety children and adults feel when a storm is approaching.

(Distributed 05/30/08) Packing a box you can “grab and go” in case you need to evacuate could save you from financial disasters and hardships, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker. “You may not be able to prevent hurricanes and storms that interrupt your routine or destroy your home, but you can make plans to keep them from disrupting everything,” Tucker says.

(Distributed 08/29/08) Adults are urged to assemble a “grab-and-go” box of important papers in case of a hurricane evacuation. How about making a “to-go kit” for your child? Assembling a few treasured items can help your child in times of disaster, according to LSU AgCenter family development professor Dr. Rebecca White.

Don’t wait until a storm is approaching to talk to your children about hurricanes. Everyone will be able to cope better if you get children involved in your plans and preparations, says LSU AgCenter family development specialist Dr. Diane Sasser.

There's a hurricane forming. It's time to pull out your family disaster plan. What's that? You don't have one? See how many of these questions you can answer with a "yes."

You may not be able to prevent hurricanes and storms that interrupt your routine or destroy your home, but you can make plans to keep them from disrupting everything, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

Most disaster checklists include recommendations to keep a three-day food supply on hand for each person, but just exactly what does that mean? LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames has some of the answers.

The amount of food you need depends on your age, gender, physical condition and activity level. The general nutrition guidelines for a 3-day supply, shown in the table below, are based on the Food Guide Pyramid.

This will give you an idea of what a three-day supply of shelf-stable foods (for one person) may look like.

These publications are designed to help Louisiana residents recover from floods, storms, extended power outages and other stressful, dangerous events.

You need to take some precautions during hurricane season if you have a boat moored, docked or stored in a recreational harbor along the Gulf Coast, an LSU AgCenter expert says.