How ready are you for severe weather?

During severe weather, tri-state area residents should take caution and be on the lookout for flash flooding, which can make for hazardous road conditions. There is a potential for strong winds, which can cause power outages, and dangerous rip currents, as well as coastal and local flooding.

These tips can help you prepare:

Create an emergency preparedness kit with food and water, batteries, battery-powered radio, flashlights, blankets and other basic supplies for each family member to last at least three days. Remember to include essential medications, copies of important documents and special items for children and pets. Make sure to have cash available - banks may be closed or inaccessible after a storm. Click here for a list of supplies you should have.

Cash can be crucial when you’re facing an extended power outage since machines that accept debit and credit cards might not be running. Bernie Carr, author of “The Prepper’s Pocket Guide” and founder of apartmentprepper.com, says you want to keep enough cash on hand to cover gas and food for several days and carry at least some of it with you.

“I like to keep $40 in cash in my car or purse so I know I can always at least get home in case the registers aren’t working,” Carr says.

That money is in addition to an emergency savings fund, which is stored in a savings account to help you get through a period of unexpected hardship or income loss. Financial experts often recommend you build up three to six months worth of expenses into that account, but even much smaller amounts will help stabilize your finances.

If you are in a flood zone, know your evacuation route and create a plan with your family. Put sandbags around areas of your property that are prone to flooding.

Keep a list of emergency phone numbers. Click here to print out a card for every member of your household from the American Red Cross.

Plan what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency, and what to do if you must evacuate. Create a plan to reconnect with loved ones if communication networks are down. Have a back-up battery to charge your cellphone. Complete a contact card for each member of your household, and ensure that they carry it with them. Fill up your vehicle’s fuel tank. 

Carr suggests purchasing supplies over time that could help you survive temporary disruptions to power, water and other utilities, as can happen during natural disasters.

The number one step in preparing your pet and family for an emergency is to talk with your family to determine an emergency plan that includes your pet. Here are some more tips for an emergency bag.

MORE: Tips to protect your pets during severe weather

Check on any elderly or disabled neighbors.

If a storm is predicted, remove any loose items from your yard, including garbage cans and patio furniture.

Avoid walking and driving through flooded areas. As few as six inches of moving water can knock a person over or cause them to lose control of a car. Here are six flooding safety tips to follow.

MORE: Do you know what to do when lightning strikes? Here are 19 tips to help you stay safe

Stay away from downed power lines. Just because the wires have fallen doesn’t mean they are not active.

Understand which disasters are likely to occur in your area and what you must know to stay safe. Tune in to local news on TV or an emergency, battery-powered or hand-crank radio.

Collect your essential documents — contact numbers; insurance information; recent bank account statements; identity cards; any marriage, birth and divorce certificates — and putting them in a waterproof, fireproof box, as well as scanning and storing them online in a password-protected account or on a flash drive.

During an emergency, it can be easy to miss a bill or credit card payment, which can hurt your credit. 

“If you foresee a disruption in on-time payments with creditors, contact each one and let them know of your situation. Maybe ask for an extension,” suggests Paul Golden, spokesperson for the National Endowment for Financial Education, a nonprofit that promotes financial education and well-being.

Source: American Red Cross | CDC Center for Preparedness and Response | Kimberly Palmer of NerdWallet