While the “official” hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, mid-August to late October is the peak period for these dangerous and often devastating storms. If you live in areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to be thoroughly prepared so you won’t be caught off-guard when high winds, heavy rain, flooding and storm surges arrive.
Use this handy checklist to stock up on the right supplies and take the necessary precautions so you and your family can ride out the next storm safely.
(1) Food and Water for 3 to 5 Days
- At least 5 gallons of water per person
- Canned and non-perishable food (plus a manual can opener) or a pre-packaged survival kit like the Life Essential 72-Hour Food & Water Kit
- Baby food or formula
- Pet food and extra water for animals
- Clean containers for extra water
(2) Health and Safety Items
- 30 days worth of prescription medicines
- First aid kit like the 88-Piece Quick Grab First Aid & Survival Kit
- 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- Smartphone charger like the iEssentials 6000mah Powerbank With UL Battery to charge all of your USB devices in any situation where you need backup power
(4)Personal Care Products
- Hand sanitizer and wet cleaning cloths (like baby wipes)
- Soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Diapers
- Tampons and pads
(5) Weather Alert Radio
- Weather Alert Radio 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 like this Waterproof Fire Chest with Digital Lock
- 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
- GPS (either in your car or on your smartphone)
Create a Family Emergency Plan
Having these basic emergency supplies on hand is essential for survival in case you lose power or are stuck at home for days. In addition, we offer a variety of simple and affordable home safety and flood prevention products to help keep your home and family safe and secure. Now is also the perfect time to create a family emergency plan in case someone gets stranded at work, school or on the road. To avoid chaos or confusion, determine how you will communicate with each other and make sure everyone knows about the plan in advance. Visit the FEMA website for tips on making an effective emergency plan for your family.
