If you live in the hurricane beltway, now is the time to stock up on hurricane survival supplies before the next storm hits. According to NOAA, hurricane season on the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf states begins in June and runs through November, peaking between mid-August and late October. Rising sea levels and changes in land elevation are making many east coast cities particularly vulnerable to damaging storm surge flooding, even during weaker hurricanes. Don’t be caught off-guard when the next storm hits. Use this “Hurricane Survival” checklist to gather the right supplies so your family can ride out the storm safely.
(1) Food and Water for 3 to 5 Days
- At least 5 gallons of water per person
- Canned and non-perishable food (including a manual can opener for opening cans)
- Baby food or formula
- Pet food and extra water for animals
- Clean containers for extra water
(2) Health and Safety Items
- Prescription medicines and eyeglasses
- First aid kit and instructions
- Fire extinguisher
- Sleeping bags or extra blankets
- Supplies to make drinking water safe (like iodine tablets or chlorine bleach)
(3) Battery-Powered Lighting and Chargers
Battery-powered flashlights or headlamps for hands-free lighting, along with extra batteries- Hand-crank flashlights for emergency lighting when your supply of batteries is depleted
- Battery-powered charger for smartphones
- Battery-powered charger for tablets
(4)Personal Care Products
- Hand sanitizer and wet cleaning cloths (like baby wipes) in case you don’t have clean water
- Soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Tampons and pads
- Diapers
(5) Weather Alert Radio
NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert to receive up-to-the-minute information on severe weather developments and other emergencies- For the visually or hearing impaired, a weather alert radio with a strobe or vibrating bed shaker
(6) Ditch Kit
- Cash or travelers checks
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
- Drivers license, credit cards, passport and cell phone
(7) Emergency Car Kit
Food and snacks that don’t go bad and bottled water- Flares or super bright battery-powered road flares
- Jumper cables or a battery-powered jump starter
- Maps
- Roadside emergency kit
- First aid kit and instructions
- Fire extinguisher
- Sleeping bags or a plug-in travel blanket
- Battery-powered flashlights or hand-crank flashlights and extra batteries
- GPS (either in your car or on your smartphone)
…Don’t Forget to Make an Family Emergency Plan
Having these basic emergency supplies on-hand is essential for hurricane survival in case you lose power and are stuck at home for days. Equally important is making a family emergency plan in case someone gets stranded at work, school or on the road. To avoid chaos, figure out how you will communicate with each other and discuss your plans in advance. For tips on creating an effective hurricane emergency plan for your family, go to the FEMA website.
