Assemble Your Home-made Hurricane Survival Kit: 10 Must-Have Items Approved by Preppers to Sustain You Through the Harshest Storm Conditions
Adapting to the Beast: Arm Your House for Hurricane Season
Gird your loins, folks! With fresh studies hinting that our hugely problematic pals, hurricanes, are set to grow increasingly frequent in both the Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans over the next decade, it's time to hustle. Here, we've got some prime insider tips on how to whip together a DIY hurricane preparedness kit to keep you and your loved ones safe and sound as Mother Nature goes wild.
Remember, it's essential to put a little elbow grease into getting your nest shipshape to face the storm.
Prepping Your Home for Hurricane Season
Building Your Own Hurricane Vitality Kit
Think of this kit as the charminar to your Hyderabad – a vital, lifesaver in times of distress. In many ways, it's a mirrored image of a typical emergency kit, with the added spice of hurricane readiness.
Have some of it stashed away in an easy-to-go bag, like this badass 45L military-style backpack on Amazon. Sean Gold, a pro in emergency management, and the mastermind behind TruePrepper, tells us, "In the prepping world, we call them bug out bags. Plan your escape route ahead of time, and bounce before the storm makes a mess if models start to look dire."
A Dash of DIY Hurricane Preparedness Kit Recipes
Preparing Your Home for a Category 5 Hurricane
1. Emergency Weather Radio Binge
One of the best upgrades to prepare your house to embrace extreme weather is investing in a quality emergency weather radio. Think of it as your very own Ouija board, providing all the vital hurricane whisperings for you and your kin, so you can keep yourselves informed, updated, and safe. Check out the Midland Emergency Crank Weather Alert Radio on Best Buy. This bad boy can be charged via micro-USB, solar panels, or a sweet, old-school hand crank in crazy situations. Plus, it's got a flashlight, SOS strobe light, and a phone/tablet charging point to aid in your survival adventures.
Sean Gold, our emergency prepping maestro, suggests, "An emergency weather radio is a must in a hurricane preparedness kit. These are your multifunctional besties that keep you in the loop with the weather band for updates, while also doubling as flashlights and phone chargers."
2. The Food and Cooking Carnival
Ever been stuck in a traffic jam and longed for some tasty grub? Imagine that, but during a hurricane. That's where stocking some nifty shelf-stable eats and a backup cooking method comes in – handy, huh?
Diane Delaney, the executive director at Private Risk Management Association, chimes in, "You want at least a three-day supply of non-perishable items. Don't forget about our buddies in the baby and pet world – they need their grub too!"
Sean Gold adds, "Having a way to boil water and cook food, if needed, is pretty crucial, especially when there's no power." Check out the Coghlan's Campheat Emergency Folding stove on Walmart if you fancy the prepper life.
3. Water – Hydration in a Hurricane
Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink – a hurricane nightmare you don't want to experience. Keep your home stocked with clean H2O, as contaminated water is the last thing you need when the storm rolls in. Follow FEMA's advice and store at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days. Bonus points if you score the Reliance Products 7-Gallon Aqua-Trainer on Amazon, which comes with a built-in spigot for easy dispensing.
4. Flashlights, Batteries, and Backup Power Sources
With a hurricane on the horizon, power outages are pretty much a guaranteed bummer. To keep the darkness at bay, it's essential to have flashlights aplenty – a pack for every person is the answer, buddy. Steve Leasure, the VP of operations at Rainbow Restoration, suggests, "Ensure you have plenty of spare batteries for those flashlights, in addition to backup battery packs to keep your devices powered."
5. Medicine, Hygiene, and Bug Control
Seems like a no-brainer, but when your stress levels are high, remembering to freshen up might slip your mind. Organize medicines in a waterproof Tuff Box (snag one on Walmart) to keep them safe, and pack a first aid kit with bandages, ointments, and sanitary wipes. Don't forget the bug spray, like the OFF! FamilyCare mosquito spray on Target, which features a whopping 15% DEET.
6. Trash Bags Aplenty
You might not think of trash bags as an essential for your hurricane prep, but trust us, they're vital – especially when you gotta contain storm-born trash to keep disease at bay.
7. An Epic Evacuation Plan
Protecting your home from flooding might seem like a daunting task, considering hurricanes can have a wild, unpredictable side. Embrace the unpredictability by compiling a detailed evacuation plan that includes routes for leaving, what tools and supplies need to come with you, and evacuation plans for pets, children, and the elderly.
8. Warm Clothes and Sleeping Bags
Should the power go out or shelter become a necessity, clothing and sleeping bags will ensure you stay cozy and warm. Stock up on weather-appropriate attire, including rain jackets, closed-toe shoes, and extra socks and underwear. The ESky emergency sleeping bags on Amazon are compact, waterproof, and perfect for extreme situations – without needing a whole camping setup.
9. Making Life Comfortable: Power Generators and More
Hooking Up a Generator to Your House may not be the top priority for your hurricane preparedness kit, but it does offer a certain level of comfort during tough times. Sean Gold says, "Once you're generally prepared for a disaster, investigating how to enhance your comfort through one might make sense depending on your geographical risk and financial situation."
Time to Shop for Hurricane Preparedness
Ready to Roll
Say hello to a jam-packed first-aid kit with 80 wound care supplies, including bandages, cleansing wipes, antibiotic ointment, and sterile dressings.
Waterproof Workhorse
Stash vital medical information, IDs, insurance details, and your evacuation plan in this fireproof, waterproof document folder to keep them secure from water and flooding.
Hand-crank Heroes
Check out this hand-crank emergency radio from Walmart, featuring a built-in flashlight, standing light, and phone charging ports to help keep the party alive during extreme weather events.
Meet the Brains Behind the Hurricane Prep
Sean Gold: Husband, dad, experienced prepper, USAF Veteran, and founder of TruePrepper, with a Holy Grail big ol' degree in Emergency Management.Diane Delaney: Executive director at Private Risk Management Association with a whopping 17-year stint in the insurance industry.Steve Leasure: VP of Operations for Rainbow Restoration, a Neighborly company, with restoration services covering the whole nine yards – fire damage, water damage, mold removal, smoke damage, and more.Gary Miller: Agent with Goosehead Insurance, ol' pal and your go-to guy for all hurricane-related insurance conundrums.
With your personal hurricane preparedness kit spruced up, it's time to think about future-proofing your home to withstand the rage of extreme weather events. This could involve some serious eco-home improvements, like installing generators or solar power – or even something as simple as packing tarps and sandbags to shield your home from floods and debris. Hang in there, pals – smart prepping equals smart living!
In light of the projected increase in hurricane frequency, it's important to incorporate environmental science and climate-change considerations into your preparedness efforts. For instance, a solar-powered emergency weather radio like the Midland Emergency Crank Weather Alert Radio can serve as an environmentally friendly option to keep updated on hurricane updates.
Additionally, adopting an energy-efficient lifestyle and enhancing your home with environmental-science inspired solutions can help your residence better withstand the effects of extreme weather. solar panels, generators, or even small-scale home wind turbines are not only beneficial for hurricane preparation but also offer long-term advantages for your lifestyle and home-and-garden environment.
