Hurricane Preparedness Kit: What you Need to Weather the Storm

Hurricane season lasts from June 1 through November 30, so you have plenty of time to prepare for the worst, as opposed to panicking over the important things you and your loved ones need to weather the next incoming storm. As a lifelong Florida Man, I understand how a quality hurricane preparedness kit makes the inconveniences a hurricane or tropical storm brings to your area far less stressful—and how simple they are to prepare for future emergencies. So whether you need to round up the family to evacuate or gather the essentials to deal with the inclement weather conditions as comfortably as possible, I’ve got the ultimate list of must-haves for your hurricane kit.

Essential items for your hurricane preparedness kit

Water supply

• Bottled water
• Food-grade water container

Sewer overflows, contamination from flooding, and damage to your local water treatment plant are just some of the reasons it’s critical to secure your own personal water source long before a hurricane arrives.

Get enough bottled water or food-grade water containers to provide everyone in your household with at least one gallon of water per day, for at least a week. Staying hydrated is important, especially if a storm knocks out the power during the warmer months of hurricane season.

Fill up your extra bowls and cups with water and place them in the freezer before the storm arrives. This provides you with cold water whether or not the hurricane takes down your home’s electricity, and take it from me- you’ll be glad to have a frosty drink if your air conditioning loses power.

Keep your bathtub full before the storm arrives. This water may not be good to drink, but you’ll appreciate the extra water for freshening yourself up if the power goes out or flushing the toilet if you need it.

Non-perishable food

• Canned food
• Pantry staples
• Food bars

It’s vital to stock up on non-perishable food to last you and everyone in your household for a week in case your home loses electricity for an extended period of time. There are more delicious options to enjoy while the power is down than you may expect though, including the following.

Canned goods, such as ham, fruit, beans, and veggies, as well as hearty meals like soup and chili that are still nutritious and tasty when eaten cold. Pantry snacks like chips, nuts, cookies, candy, and pre-popped popcorn are all tasty must-have foods to help get you through the storm. Granola, energy, and meal bars such as KIND bars and Huel are shelf-stable, filling, healthy, and delicious, too.

If you need a rock-solid meal option during the storm, I always keep a loaf of bread, peanut butter, and jam on standby for tasty emergency peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

First-aid kit essentials

• Basic first aid kit
• Gauze
• Bandages
• Thermometer
• Antibiotic ointment
• Topical anti-itch medication
• Disposable gloves
• Antiseptic solution, such as hydrogen peroxide

Keeping at least two weeks’ worth of medication on hand is paramount for comfortably enduring a hurricane, but it’s always a good idea to keep a basic first-aid kit in your home just in case the worst happens. Some of the items you should consider storing away include a roll of gauze, bandages, disposable gloves, a thermometer, antibiotic ointment, itch creams or sprays for bug bites, and an antiseptic solution to immediately kill bacteria on an open wound.

Communication and technology

• Smartphones
• Battery or hand-cranked radio
• Flashlights, LED lanterns
• Additional batteries or battery packs

Between power outages and the importance of being kept up to date regarding the latest hurricane developments, there are some key tips for getting the most out of your tech throughout the storm.

Be sure to charge your smartphone, tablet, laptop, and other communication devices before the storm arrives. A battery powered or hand-cranked radio is an excellent investment for staying informed during a hurricane, and additional battery packs and solar chargers are also great for keeping your electronics up and running.

Social media is a helpful tool for staying informed as long as you have cellular service; follow your local authorities, weather services, and trusted news stations for the latest updates.

Keep electronics such as TVs, video game consoles, and PCs unplugged and placed as high as possible as the hurricane passes through to protect them from water damage in the ultimate worst-case scenario.

Lighting and power

• LED flashlights
• LED lanterns
• Batteries
• Glowsticks
• Gasoline

Part of your hurricane preparedness kit is planning on losing electricity for anywhere between a few hours to several days at a time. Here are some ways to comfortably light your home during the storm.

I recommend buying a few flashlights and extra batteries for each flashlight and your radio. Solar chargers and portable power banks are handy for getting much more use out of your essential devices if you lose electricity. Glow sticks are a fun handheld option that last between eight and twelve hours on average.

Don’t forget to keep your vehicle fully gassed up or charged and ready to go if things get bad. If your area receives an evacuation order, the last place you want to be is waiting in a massive line at the gas station with a horde of other irritated evacuees.

Sanitation and hygiene

• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper
• Toothpaste
• Paper towels
• Feminine hygiene products
• Trash bags

You may take for granted many things that will be readily apparent as a hurricane upends your daily routine, and staying clean is one of them. The good news is while a hot shower may not be in the cards for a few days, there are still ways to maintain personal hygiene throughout the severe weather.

Buy a large container of hand sanitizer and use it often. At some point, clean running water may not be available as the storm moves through your area, so sanitizer is your best option for consistently clean hands and to keep from spreading germs.

Stock up on daily household items such as toilet paper, toothpaste, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and trash bags ahead of time.

Set aside a bucket of water, as it will allow you to flush your toilet if there is a disruption in your public water supply.

Other essential items

• Important documents
• Cash
• Durable work gloves
• Duct tape
• Rope
• One or two durable tarps
• General home tools

Whether you plan on hunkering down at home or are getting ready to evacuate, it’s always a good idea to keep a folder containing essential documents including a copy of your ID card, proof of address, emergency contact information, and insurance paperwork. Even if you want to stay put, keeping all your most important info in a handy grab-it-and-go file is convenient for dealing with emergency situations.

ATMs, banks, and card-reading services may be inoperable for a while, so keeping at least $100 in $1, $5, and $10 bills is always a good just-in-case option.

Anything can happen due to the intense winds and torrential rain, but some general tools and supplies are always great to have on hand. Heavy-duty gloves will protect your hands if you need to lift, move, or carry heavy, sharp, and unwieldy debris; I’m a big fan of the comfortable, yet rugged Gorilla Grip gloves and I always keep a pair or two in my kit just in case. Duct tape, rope, and a tarp are excellent for makeshift emergency repairs. Know where your toolbox is and have a general idea of what you have, so you can react quickly to whatever problems pop up during the storm.

Building your hurricane preparedness kit

Choose a storage container

The best container to use for your core hurricane preparedness kit is large enough to hold everything you need, durable enough to easily survive a drop, and completely waterproof. Look for rugged plastic containers with a tight fitting lid, a handle for easy transport, and consider making a label for your kit so anyone will recognize it at a glance during an emergency.

Organize your kit

The best way to organize your hurricane preparedness kit is to group together various types of supplies for easy access. For example, first-aid items in one section, batteries and flashlights in another, a pocket for documents and cash, etc.

Maintain your kit

Keep your hurricane kit in a central location within your home, and in a dry, cool spot like a closet. If you plan on keeping any food in the kit itself, consume and replace it before it expires so nothing goes to waste. It’s a good rule of thumb to evaluate the kit once in a while and adjust your supplies as needed to reflect life changes, such as a new pet, baby, or to include other important must-haves.

Additional considerations

Preparedness for pets

Hurricanes are stressful enough, so anyone living with a dog, cat, bird, or other pet should plan on getting the essentials needed to keep their animals cozy and well cared for throughout the storm.

Pets need at least seven days of food, water, and up to two weeks of their medication just in case the hurricane causes you to evacuate or forces your pet’s pharmacy to close for an extended time.

Gather your pet’s kennel, leash, ID tags, collar, and harness together before the storm arrives, so if you must leave, departing home will be a little less hectic for you and your animals.

Other key pet essentials include documents that prove ownership, a mini-litter box or waste bags, and a few comfort items such as a favorite toy or well-used blankie to help keep them calm.

Preparedness for infants and children

Kids and babies have all of the same core needs of everyone else in your household, alongside a few additional necessities that should be boxed up and ready to roll long before a hurricane comes ashore.

Each child needs at least seven days of food or formula and water, a minimum of two weeks of essential medication, as well as a few bottles and more than enough diapers to get through a week or more. Comfort is paramount for infants, so be sure to pack extra clothes, blankets, and a few favorite toys to keep them content. Younger kids have similar needs, so plan ahead by charging their must-have portable electronics, bringing a few changes of clothes and some favorite books, and their top non-perishable snacks in case of an evacuation. I certainly appreciated the extra batteries my parents packed for my Game Boy Color when we evacuated for Hurricane Floyd back in 1999, and today’s kids will appreciate a fun distraction throughout a stressful storm too.

Preparedness for the elderly or disabled

A great hurricane preparedness kit will cater to the needs of everyone living in the household, including elderly residents and those with disabilities. The most important considerations include setting aside two weeks of must-have medication in case your pharmacy isn’t up and running for a while, and including a list of critical medical devices such as a wheelchair, hearing aids, or a walker that need to be brought along during an evacuation. Plan to pack hygiene products, favorite non-perishable foods, comfortable clothes, and entertainment such as a tablet or book just in case your home loses electricity.

Special needs items

If someone in your household relies on an electric wheelchair, consider keeping a manual model in reserve if it would be difficult or impossible to charge the battery if the power goes out.

Note that service animals have the same needs as their pet counterparts, and should be planned for in the hurricane kit accordingly.

Hurricane preparedness tips and resources

The importance of early preparation

Some of the key benefits of creating a hurricane preparedness kit way before you may need it include not having to compete with a crowd at the store for key items and having the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have everything you need to ride out the average hurricane. An excellent hurricane kit will keep you and your family fed, entertained, informed, and safe during the storm, so trust me when I tell you that it’s absolutely worth the extra effort.

Staying informed

Do your best to learn the latest developments regarding the hurricane while your home still has electricity by tuning in to local news channels. Social media is an awesome tool for up-to-the-moment information, and some of the best resources to follow for national hurricane coverage include the accounts of your local news stations, city, state, National Weather Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A simple battery-powered radio is an extremely effective way to listen for emergency alerts, evacuation orders, and other state or city-wide announcements regarding the hurricane.