Hurricane Prep Guide

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Hurricane preparedness is important no matter where you live in the South East. Residents of Florida, Georgia, North & South Carolina and all the states in the gulf know it’s important to be prepared for Hurricanes. The basic idea with hurricane prep is to prepare for 2 things, the hurricane itself (Wind & Water) and the aftermath of the storm (Food, Power & Communication). Here we will cover what you need to do to prepare for the storm and the potential two week isolation and power outage that may follow. Aaaannnndddd… we may try to have a few laughs along the way.

The Storm

Hurricanes vary in strength and are put into categories 1 through 5 based on their sustained wind speed.

  1. 74-95 mph
  2. 96-110 mph
  3. 111-129 mph
  4. 130-156 mph
  5. Over 156 mph

The Flooding

It’s important to remember wind speed is not the only threat from hurricanes, hurricanes can drop 10 or more inches of rain overnight and cause a massive amount of flash flooding, and in some areas the flash flooding can happen a day or two after the hurricane has passed. So don’t think a category 2 isn’t serious.

First do your research find out if your house/town is subject to flooding. It’s not strange for entire towns to flood during or after a large hurricane. Second prepare your home by doing these important things.

Protect your Windows:

If you have storm shutters use them, you can also use plywood to cover your windows, but don’t waste time taping X’s on your windows that little trick does not help.

  • Window Protection Film – This film is also good to help prevent break-ins. The film comes in different widths and lengths so get the one that best suits your needs.

Clean your Gutters:

If you don’t have gutter guards you’ll want to ensure your gutters are clear before a hurricane, if the gutters or down tubes clog water can easily spill over the edge of your gutters and flood/wear away at your foundation and cause flooding in your basement.

Pick up in the Yard:

Walk around your yard and secure anything that could get caught by the wind and hurled in your home or a neighbors home. Secure your trashcans, bring in any flags or other decorations. Any furniture on the porch should be brought in or otherwise secured.

 

Do your Chores:

There are many small things you will need to do as part of your hurricane prep, here is a list to start with. We recommend you sit down, take a few minutes and write out your personal list and keep that list handy below we have a few of the MUST DO’S and above we have a more complete list brought to you by DrugStoreDivas.net.

  • Finish your laundry
  • Clean out the refrigerator and freezer
  • Take out the trash
  • Fill your bathtub with water (this is to aid in bathing & refilling the tank on the toilet to enable flushing)
  • Hit the ATM
  • Fill your car with gas
  • Fill all your prescriptions
  • And anything else you may need in the next two weeks

The Aftermath

So now that we’ve prepped for the actual storm lets talk worst case scenario and how to get through two weeks without power while being isolated by multiple trees blocking roads in and out of your community/town. In the potential chaotic aftermath of a hurricane (remember Katrina in New Orleans) you’ll want to stay home and relax knowing everything is being done to return normality to your area. If you have all the food and water you need for 2 weeks and a few luxury items like baby wipes and a deck of cards, you’ll be more than able to ride it out in your own home without depending on group shelters and food drops.

Food:

You’ll want plenty of food with a longer shelf life. I recommend buying your hurricane prep food at the beginning of the season in June/July and not eating it until the threat of hurricanes has past sometime in December. So get food with at least 6 months of shelf life. And sorry, Twinkies only last about a month before they start to go bad. Protein bars and meal replacement bars are an easy fix, but you’ll want to go with the highest calorie count that is offered, so don’t get the diet bars that are only 100 calories. Also confirm the “best by” date.

Pro Tip: Stored properly most pasta has a 2 year shelf life.

  • Propane Stove –  If you have a gas grill outside that’s great, but a backup propane stove can really come in handy for quick and easy cooking.
  • Mountain House Essential Bucket – Good for 30 years. Great for camping or hiking. Even backyard camping with the kids.
  • S.O.S Rations Bars – No heat is needed. Good for 5 years. Taste is acceptable. It’s all about fueling your body’s needs. Each package contains 9 bars that are each 400 calories. You can get by eating 3 bars a day so each package is 3 days worth of food. This link give you about 2 weeks worth of food for 1 person.

Water:

It’s recommended to have a gallon of water per person per day, and that can add up quick even if you’re just prepping for 2 weeks.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget about your pets, they need water too!

  • 5.3 Gal Water Storage – For a person to get through 2 weeks with no water it’s recommended to have at least 14 gallons of water. Three 5 gallon jugs make that an easy task. Else hit the stores and try your luck that Walmart isn’t sold out of bottled water.
  • LifeStraw – This is another great camping tool. But in this situation, it basically allows you to drink out of the bathtub without any worries.

Communication:

This is the one thing that will keep you sane and give you hope throughout a crisis. Here are 2 really good options.

Pro Tip: If you’re not already friends with your neighbors, DO IT NOW!

  • Emergency Hand Crank Radio w/ AM, FM, & NOAA Weather Alerts – This little guy has so much packed into it including an LED light, solar panel, hand crank, 1,000mAh power bank, and AM/FM radio to go along with the emergency weather alerts.
  • Walkie Talkie w/ NOAA Weather Scan – This walkie talkie doesn’t power itself but it is rechargeable if you have a solar panel or extra batteries. But it does allow communication between the two handheld devices and it works up to 36 miles (under perfect conditions). Most importantly it also picks up NOAA alerts.

Hygiene:

Maintaining proper hygiene during disasters isn’t on everyone’s top 10 list but it should be, it’s a great preventative for infections, diseases and keeps up moral. Aside from brushing/flossing your teeth the main thing is just being clean, feeling clean and smelling good.

  • Baby Wipes – There really is nothing better than a nice little baby wipe bath when you haven’t had a shower for a few days. Keep it simple and get the unscented/sensitive skin wipes just to be on the safe side.

Power:

Going without power for extended periods of time is somehow both boring & scary. It’s nice to be able to charge up phone, walkie talkie, flashlight or whatever you need so you can have it when you need it most. Here is how I’ve solved the problem for my power needs. It’s not necessarily cheap, but depending on your needs it can be a lifesaver in the right situation. These two items are easy and intuitive to use.

  • Foldable Solar Panel – This 50w solar panel will charge up to 3 devices as well as charge your power station so long as the sun is doing its thing!
  • 240Wh Power Station – Most people don’t need a 400-500Wh power station. This 240 will meet the needs of 95% of us. And this station combined with the solar panel make your entry into renewable energy easy and affordable. It also really helps out in a power outage.

Entertainment:

Keeping your mind busy is the best way to pass some time. Here are a few great ways to fight the boredom.

Pro Tip: Getting drunk is not a good way to keep yourself entertained.

  • Push-ups – If they’re good enough for inmates, they’re good enough for hurricane survivors!
  • Solitaire – It’s called Solitaire for a reason…
  • Read – Try reading about something you don’t know about, maybe order a survivalist book from Amazon.
  • Write / Color – I can color all day!
  • Puzzles – Yup, can’t get enough of these things either.