With forecasters anticipating another highly active hurricane season in 2024, now is the time to prepare for any kind of extreme weather event long before a storm is even identified. Preparing for the unexpected may feel daunting, but it makes all the difference when you find yourself confronted by a storm at your door with little notice.
Get prepared this hurricane season by reviewing this helpful resource of essential supplies and storage tips when preparing your hurricane emergency supply kit. While everyone’s needs are different, this should provide an essential starting point when building the kit that serves you best.
ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES
- Water - at least one gallon per person, per day for at least 3-5 days
- Food - at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable items
- Battery-powered radio
- First aid kit
- Life-supporting medication
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Cell phone chargers and back-up power supply
- Whistle - or other noise making device to signal for help
- Local maps
- Can opener - if canned food is included
- Multipurpose tools - such as a Swiss Army knife, wrench and pliers
- Emergency contact lists
- Extra cash - If ATMs and card swipes become inoperable
- Copies of critical personal documents
- Baby supplies - if caring for an infant
- Pet supplies - if you own pets
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
- Personal hygiene items - soaps, deodorant, prescription lenses
- Extra fuel - if evacuating in a car
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape - for emergency shelter-in-place
- Other preferred medications - pain relievers, antacids, etc.
- Disposable dishware and cookware
- Plastic shopping bags
- Clean clothes
- Heating & cooling - portable fans, hand warmers, etc.
- Entertainment - books, cards, puzzles
- N95 masks or other face protection
- Matches
- Towels
- Blankets and sleeping items
MAINTENANCE & STORAGE
A properly prepared emergency kit has to be maintained throughout the year to guarantee its reliability when disaster strikes. This means keeping the food and water components in a cool, dry place and storing boxed food in tightly closed containers. You’ll also need to replace items that have expired as soon as possible so that you don’t find yourself both without nourishment and carrying extra weight for no reason.
Considering how you store your emergency kit is just as important. Ideally, you want to create multiple kits for every area of your life that you might find yourself caught in during a storm. For most, this would include your home, your office and your car. While your home kit ought to be your most robust, especially if other family members are in your car, your work kit should also contain supplies to support you for at least 24 hours. Both your car and work kit should also be sufficiently mobile so that they don’t slow you down when you have to move fast.
For more information on how to stay prepared this hurricane season, visit our comprehensive Hurricane Resource Hub. There you’ll find helpful resources, case studies and more. You can also reach out to Cotton GDS anytime to help your business prepare for the worst on our website or by calling our 24/7 hotline: (877) 511-2962.