10/07/2026
Help your neighbors—-SHARE your best tips, ideas, suggestions or things you do to prepare for a hurricane in the comments. It’s been a while and easy to forget the “to do’s”.
Googled this following list, but share YOUR ideas from experience. (wash clothes before a storm in case no electricity later, buy paper products, best food to have, etc)
From Google:
Hurricane survival depends entirely on being prepared before the storm hits, sheltering safely during its duration, and knowing how to navigate the immediate hazards afterward. Waiting until a hurricane watch or warning is officially issued often means facing empty grocery shelves, long gas lines, and zero bottled water.
🛒 Shopping List: What to Buy Ahead of Time
When stocking your emergency kit, aim for 3 to 7 days of supplies per person.
• Water: 1 gallon of water per person, per day for drinking and basic sanitation. Buy extra for pets.
• Non-Perishable Food: Shelf-stable foods that require no cooking or refrigeration (canned meats/tuna, beans, vegetables, peanut butter, granola bars, and fruit pouches).
• Manual Can Opener: Crucial for opening canned food if the power goes out.
• Power & Lighting: Heavy-duty flashlights, headlamps, battery-powered lanterns, and a massive supply of extra batteries. Avoid candles due to the extreme fire hazard post-storm.
• Device Backup: High-capacity power banks and portable solar chargers to keep phones functioning.
• Communication: A battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio to receive critical updates when cell towers go down.
• First Aid & Hygiene: A comprehensive first aid kit, daily prescription medications (at least a 7-day supply), wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and heavy-duty trash bags.
• Home Protection Gear: Heavy-duty tarps, duct tape, plastic sheeting, sandbags, and work gloves.
🏠 How to Prepare: Real-Time Action Steps
If a storm is projected to hit your area, act systematically:
• Secure Cash: Automated teller machines (ATMs) and credit card readers will not function without power or internet. Withdraw small bills early.
• Fill the Gas Tanks: Fill your vehicle's gas tank entirely, along with approved fuel cans if you own a generator or chainsaw. Gas stations shut down quickly or run out of fuel days before landfall.
• Protect the House exterior: Secure or bring inside all patio furniture, toys, bicycles, and trash cans. High winds turn loose items into dangerous missiles. Board up windows with commercial storm shutters or 5/8-inch marine plywood.
• The "Bathtub Trick": Thoroughly clean your bathtubs and large buckets, then fill them with water. This water is strictly for manual flushing of toilets and washing hands if municipal water pressure drops or gets cut off.
• Adjust Appliances: Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their absolute coldest settings. If the grid goes down, keep the doors closed to trap the cold air and extend food preservation.
• Waterproof Documents: Put physical copies of birth certificates, medical records, passports, property deeds, and insurance policies inside Ziploc bags, then store them in a waterproof container positioned high up to prevent flood damage.
⚠️ Afterward: The Critical Days After
Statistically, more injuries and fatalities occur during the recovery phase than during the actual hurricane.
• Generator Safety: Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near open windows. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless killer. Keep generators at least 20 feet away from the home.
• Avoid Floodwaters: Do not drive or walk through flooded roadways. The phrase "Turn Around, Don't Drown" is a lifesaver—just 12 inches of rushing water can carry away a small vehicle. Floodwaters often conceal downed live power lines, sharp debris, raw sewage, and displaced wildlife.
• Assume All Lines Are Live: Treat every fallen power line as energized and lethal. Stay far away and report them to local authorities immediately.
• Check Before Drinking: Do not drink or cook with tap water until local emergency management confirms that a Boil Water Advisory is not in effect.
• Document Everything: Before cleaning up or tossing out ruined belongings, take comprehensive, clear photos of your house exterior, interior, and destroyed possessions for future insurance claims
