A hurricane supplies list is essential for residents. For those new to Florida, preparing for a hurricane can seem overwhelming. Figuring out what supplies you need, how much, and where to store them is not what anyone wants to do on their day off. However, it’s an important step in starting life here in sunny Florida. Even those who have lived in Florida their whole life may need to update their hurricane supplies list. It’s easy to let these preparations slide especially after making it through several hurricanes.
At Home
Ideally, we will be riding out any hurricanes at home. There are several basic items on the hurricane supplies list you simply must have if you plan on staying at home during a hurricane. These basic items ensure that you have enough supplies for you and your family’s needs. Additionally, it’s important to have survival supplies as well. Hurricanes are unpredictable and plans may change. Without preparing these additional supplies ahead of time you may find yourself in a bad situation and unprepared to get yourself out.
Hurricane Supplies List Basics
- 3-day supply of food and water per person
- 7-day supply of medication
- Sanitization/Personal hygiene supplies
- Pet Supplies
- First Aid Kit
Additional Hurricane Supplies List Items
- Flashlight
- Battery/Hand-crank radio
- Extra Batteries
- Multi-purpose tool
- Tools to secure home
- Extra keys for home and cars
- Rain gear
- Insect repellant/Sunscreen
- Important documents (Stored in waterproof bag)
- Cell phones and chargers
- Emergency blankets
- Road maps with evacuation routes marked
- Extra cash
- Extra clothing
Hurricane Supplies List In Your Car
We don’t always get to stay at home during hurricanes. Sometimes the risk is just too great, and we have to follow recommendations to evacuate the area. In this case, having your car ready to go is just as important as having the necessary supplies at home. This means making sure that your car is maintained so you can rely on it in case of an emergency evacuation. This also means that you should prepare a separate supply of essentials. You will store these in your car so you and your family can leave quickly if needed. The last thing you want in an emergency is to stress about transporting essentials from your home to your car.
Preparing Your Car
Before hurricane season, it’s important to have a mechanic check out several things on your car to ensure it’s ready to go.
- Antifreeze levels
- Lights and hazards
- Windshield wipers and fluid levels
- Ignition system
- Oil levels
- Brakes
- Tires
Additionally, it’s a good idea to keep your gas tank full at all times. There’s nothing worse than trying to evacuate and realizing you and hundreds of others all need to fill up before leaving town.
Car Supplies
In addition to the supplies you’ve stored inside your home, you should consider creating an emergency kit for your car during hurricane season. Some of these supplies will be the same, while others will be specific for travel.
- Basics (from at home list)
- Jumper cables
- Cell phones and chargers (battery or solar powered)
- Emergency blankets
- Maps with evacuation routes
- Flares
Go Kit
Because hurricanes are so unpredictable, it may be a good idea to keep some items in a predesignated go kit. This kit should be stored in a place that is easily accessible and should not be touched unless it’s an emergency. Every family member should know where this is and to grab it in case you have to evacuate. Most of these items are already listed on the additional supplies for your home. However, because they can be useful in multiple situations, they may be more beneficial in a go kit.
- Important Documents (Stored in waterproof bag)
- Cell phones and chargers
- Emergency Blankets
- Road maps with evacuation routes markers
- Extra cash
- Extra clothing
Preparations for a hurricane are something we hope to never need, but as we all know are an essential part of living here in Florida. This beautiful state we get to call home, means that we have to take a few extra precautions. Protecting ourselves, our homes, and our families is the most important thing. Don’t wait until the worst happens to think about preparing. If you need to add some supplies to your hurricane supplies list, be sure to visit our Punta Gorda store. We can help you buy hurricane generators to help you stay powered up, even if the hurricane cuts power.
