10 Essential Hurricane Preparedness Supplies

Being prepared ahead of a hurricane warning is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your home.

Store the following supplies together in an easily accessible area in case of emergency:

 

CLEAN WATER

Keep a supply of at least three gallons per person for a three-day period for drinking, sanitation and cooking.

 

 

 

 

FOOD

Have a supply of non-perishable food to feed your family – including pets – for at least three days. Keep a manual can opener handy too.

 

 

 

 

FLASHLIGHT

A flashlight is essential in case of power outage. Be sure to store extra batteries. Never light a candle during or after a hurricane.

 

 

 

 

PHONE CHARGER

Keep a cell phone charger that will power your phone without electricity (e.g., powered by battery, solar or car).

 

 

 

 

RADIO

A battery-powered or NOAA radio will allow you to receive information in an emergency or electrical outage.

 

 

 

 

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

Store a first-aid kit, medical supplies and any prescription and non-prescription medication you may require.

 

 

 

 

SANITATION SUPPLIES

Keep a supply of hand sanitizer, paper products and bags for use in case clean water becomes unavailable.

 

 

 

 

WRENCH OR PLIERS

Have the necessary tools handy in case you need to turn off your power or water supplies as a result of damage.

 

 

 

 

WHISTLE

Keep a whistle for each member of your family to wear in case there is a need to signal for help.

 

 

 

 

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Ensure that you have sturdy shoes and protective clothing – including gloves and dust masks – to shield against debris.

 

 

 

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Additional Hurricane Preparation Tips:

• Identify the elevation of your property and learn whether or not it is flood-prone. This will tell you how your property might be affected during a storm surge or flooding.
• Learn where levees and dams are in your area, and understand how they might affect your property during a hurricane.
• Assemble emergency kits for each member of your family, taking into account special needs for infants, the elderly or the infirm or handicapped. Also consider your pets’ needs.
• Learn the evacuation routes out of town and know how to get to higher ground.
• Establish an after-storm meeting place in case your family is not all together when it hits. Agree on a few of alternate meeting places in case one or more is inaccessible or unsafe.
• Make your home resistant to storms by installing storm windows and doors, reinforcing your garage door, and adding straps or clips to help keep your roof attached to your house.
• Keep trees and shrubs trimmed to reduce wind resistance.
• If a hurricane is imminent, bring in all outdoor furniture, garbage cans and yard decorations. These can fly loose and cause serious injury or damage to yourself, your home and others.
• Make sure your rain gutters and downspouts are clean and in good repair.
• If you own a boat, make plans to secure it.
• Install a generator.
• Consider building a safe room or storm shelter — an interior room without windows — where your family can hunker down.
• If you live in a high-rise, know where to take shelter on the lower floors. Winds increase in intensity at higher elevations, so get to the lowest floor you can, but be mindful of the possibility of flooding and try to stay above that level. Generally, this will be below the 10th floor but above the 2nd.

Sources:

FEMA
Red Cross

7 Comments

1. Madelyn Weingarden, September 20:

   I live in Florida, and we just went through Hurricane Irma. This is a great resource to send to my clients. Thank you.

2. Sharon, September 11:

   Please take this seriously. We stayed in a steep slope high mountain home through a hurricane several years ago. 5 days without power or water and a tree down and through our pantry roof. Have ready to heat food and a camp stove & propane tanks for it. Fill sinks and bathtub(s) with water and, if you have time, trim trees. If you can’t camp out for several days, LEAVE. Check NOW that you have first aid supplies and any RX medications on hand. This time we have warning, last time was a surprise. Good luck to all in this storm’s path – as we are in the WNC mountains.

3. Susan Aizenman, September 12:

   Thank you for your guidelines. I have noticed that every group that does so leaves out one very important thing. Fill every bathtub in your house with water. If there is damage to the water supply to your home, this will include the toilets. You can use the bathtub water to fill the toilet’s holding tank at least half-full. Also, do not flush for liquid waste, only for solid.

   Please think about adding this to your list of preparedness for cataclysmic events. Thank you.
   Susan Aizenman

4. Richard Moyer, August 30:

   Where do you go to give you zip code to find out what zone you are in?

5. Michael Striscko, August 30:

   Be prepared, we are prepared my Boy Scout motto

6. Marie Bradford, August 30:

   If you have a swimming pool, you may use that water to flush toilets.

7. Debra, August 30:

   I survived hurricane Michael last October.
   After hurricane, there were many false rumors going around that were scaring people. It was impossible to verify these things cause we had no means of communication and travel wasn’t possible. My street had trees blocking road.
   Also, you need to be on high alert round the clock for looters. Some had kicked in front doors, shot homeowner, then robbed the houses. I did security watch at night around my house and for neighbors on both sides. We ran off one looter.
   I saw the worst in some people and saw the best in some people. When people have lost homes, jobs, and been traumatized by a CAT 5 hurricane some people become desperate and do bad things.