Don’t wait until you hear warnings of a hurricane/tropical storm approaching. Unfortunately, too many people do and are rushing to Home Depot, Lowes, not to forget all of the grocery stores in search of supplies. You can and should be stocked up on this beforehand and in many instances the cost will be less to you because once the supplies start getting low, the prices rise.
Let’s first look at the necessary list of items and then we’ll discuss this a little further:
Water – at least 1 gal per person per day for 3 – 7 days.
Food – for at least 3 – 7 days
Non-perishable canned or packaged goods & juices
Comfort foods - snacks
Cooking utensils and fuel, such as a filled propane tank for a grill
Disposable products – paper plates and plastic utensils
Food for infants and the elderly
Medicines/Prescription Drugs
Flashlights & batteries as well as candles & lighters/matches
Battery operated Radios
Telephones – cell phones charged & a regular corded telephone
Vehicles should have full tanks of gas
Cash & also Credit Cards (yet with a power outage they may not be as easily
used). Don’t forget to have some coins on hand as well.
Keys
Important documents – placed in a watertight container
Insurance policies – house, medical, life
Bank account numbers & passbooks and checkbooks
Social Security cards
Any important documents that you store in your home should be easily
accessible if needed in a moments notice.
Toiletries & Moist wipes
Special items – for babies and the elderly
First Aid Kit
Toys & Games for children and also books and reading material.
Possibly bedding & clothing and surely don’t forget about your pets, but this will be discussed more fully in another post shortly.
This is by far not a complete list, but gives you an idea of some things to have readily available. Additionally, many of these things should be kept in a watertight container as a storm approaches because what use are many of these items if they get wet.
If you know a major storm is approaching possibly turn the refrigerator and freezer up to their coldest settings and make as much ice as possible with the time that you have. Yes, it will cost you a little electricity, but it also may have your refrigerated products last longer. If the power does go out and you need to retrieve something from the refrigerator, think about where it is before opening the door. You don’t want too much cold air escaping. Also, don’t forget that over time your food will thaw and there will be water that will collect in the bottom of your freezer and refrigerator.
I know this may appear to be somewhat scary and overwhelming, but preparing ahead of time will allow you to cope with a situation more easily.
Here’s hoping that you won’t need to use any of these suggestions!
For information on Orange and Seminole County real estate and Orange and Seminole County homes for sale in addition to Orange and Seminole County relocation contact Marc Grossman, your Orange and Seminole County Realtor @ 407-463-1034. Additional information is available for Seminole County real estate, Orange County real estate, West Volusia County and South Lake County.
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Marc Grossman, GRI - http://www.OrlandoHomes-4u.com/ - 407-463-1034
Marc donates 10% of his net proceeds to Hospice of the Comforter.
Marc: Nice series on hurricane preparedness for the start of the season........ not my favorite season in FL!
Marc, you are providing such good hurricane preparation material that if one heads your way your phone will be ringing off the hook with people wanting the reminders again.
Jan - For all the years that I've lived in Florida, there have only been a few that have been bad. Granted, the destruction is unbelievable. But then again this is Florida and look at the weather that we have otherwise.
Gary - Thank you! I hope people read and take heed of it.
Good points, Marc, but you missed pets. :) I have written about power outages and dealing with pets during power outages because we often are faced with this in Sacramento. OK, nor hurricanes, but let me say that I do NOT want to get up at 3 am and stumble around in the dark putting together cat boxes, litter, medications, food, etc. I already responded once, but AR ate it up in cyberspace.
Marc-O! Great tips for those living in hurricane areas. After surviving hurricane HUGO back in 1989 (had a 16-month old and 7 months pregnant was I!) and living 19 days with no phone or electricity, I concur with EVERYTHING on your list! I will say that the two most important things were water (we had a well at the time and couldn't flush the toilets either!) and moist wipes! Keeping an extra propane tank is also a good idea--one which I STILL do because of this experience--for cooking!
Marc... these are some great ideas. I just wonder how many people, year in and year out, don't do this, until after the first one hits them. Saying... I should have done this prior. I know so many procrastinate. Again, some great tips.
Elizabeth - Yes, AR has been giving us that issue as of late. It ate this post, but thank goodness I write in Word first. Actually, I felt pets were worthy of their own post and I'll probably write that late in the week.
Debe - OK, so you really want that hurricane to be trouble! I just see it now - dang!! :) No, they are not fun to deal with that's for sure. I've been lucky in that I only lost power for 5 days after Charley.
Jeff - Thanks and even though there are some that prepare. I'm fairly sure that there are more that do not until the last minute. When we have an impending hurricane/storm heading our way - everything gets crazy.
We created a 72 hour kit... the fun part is when the kids get to use theirs... this is near a self-proclaimed expiration date.
Chuck - That's excellent! One of the things that I want to write about is a disaster plan itself.