Hurricane Earl 2010 Rhode Island: How to prepare for hurricane disasters with emergency supply kits

Video: Having a family emergency plan, and emergency supply kit ready when Hurricane Earl's projected path tracks closer to Rhode Island than expected, can be a life saver in weather disasters like this Category 3 hurricane. Having all your important documents on hand can help if you need to call FEMA, the Red Cross, or the ER room at the local Providence, RI hospital.

How To Prepare For Hurricane Earl
WPRI reported earlier today, "We as a state are on high alert," said Gov. Donald Carcieri during an afternoon news conference at the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (EMA) headquarters in Cranston.

RIEMA Executive Director J. David Smith told Eyewitness News, "It's not too early to start planning and being prepared for the storm because everyone needs to be prepared for the worst."

Check out How To Prepare for Hurricane Earl: Make a Family Emergency Plan and Supply Kit for complete detailed and bulleted lists and directions on How To Make an Emergency Supply Kit. Items like insurance policies, important documents, prescriptions, birth certificates, etc, should be in that kit.

Rhode Island Emergency Shelters
The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) has three mega-shelters available to the public in the event of a serious disaster. They are located at CCRI's Warwick Campus, URI and Thayer Arena.

For More on Preparing for Hurricane Earl, see Ready.gov, or WPRI.com.

For More Hurricane Earl Updates, Pictures, Maps and Videos:

Hurricane Earl downgraded, video, pictures: Hurricane path from Ocracoke Island to NY, RI and Maine

Hurricane Earl projected path update: Category 4 hurricane track, NC, RI in Earl's path? (pictures)

Hurricane Earl projected path 2010 storm tracker: Will Hurricane Earl hit Rhode Island? (Video)

Hurricane Earl like Great Hurricane of 1938 (video) Long Island Express - Newport remembers

Hurricane flight cancellations - weather news updates (video) plan ahead and save money

Sources: wpri.com; noaa.gov; wunderground.com

Photo: ATLANTIC OCEAN - AUGUST 31: In this handout satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hurricane Earl (L) moves north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico with the with Tropical Storm Fiona forming behind on August 31, 2010 in the Atlantic Ocean as seen from space. According to reports, Earl is a Category 4 hurricane and is predicted to be heading toward the U.S. Carolina coast. Fiona has winds near 40 MPH and is moving west-northwest. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)