Don't Worry - Be Ready

If a big storm is coming, being prepared can get your family through it relatively unscathed. The most important part of being prepared is coming up with a plan and talking about it before it’s bearing down; the following link https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes is a near-comprehensive starting point for your household planning. 

You want to do your best to protect your home and belongings before high winds and heavy rains arrive, so that you can focus solely on getting out of harm's way if it comes to that. We’ve put together some checklists below that, while not comprehensive, will go a long way toward being ready, come what may. Click the button for those items we have available online.

Prep To Protect Your House

You’ll want to have the following items on hand and perform a few tasks before any storm watches so you’ll have plenty of time to batten down your hatches, come what may.

Storm shutters

Plywood, boards for windows

Wrench or pliers for shutting off utilities

Water alarm & sump pump with battery

Install check valves to prevent wastewater from backing up

Sandbags

Plastic sheeting, tarps, heavy-duty garbage bags

 Go-Bags

You may need to evacuate on short notice, so having a stash of essential items ready to go ahead of time will take a lot of stress out of having to move fast; you can gather and store these items in your car when your area is placed under a storm watch for maximum readiness.  

Prescription medications

Important docs in waterproof, portable container/saved digitally

First aid kit, personal sanitation needs & moist towelettes

Extra glasses or contacts and solution

Pet food and supplies

Baby supplies — formula/bottles/diapers/wipes

Cash

Blankets/sleeping bags

Extra clothes

Paper/pencil

Paper plates/forks/cups/knives

Water for 3 days — 1 gallon per person per day, extra jugs

Food for 3 days — nonperishable

For The Immediate Aftermath

In addition to checklists above, you’ll want to be ready for what happens in the immediate wake of a storm if you shelter in place; power, water, and gas utilities may be damaged, so self-sufficiency for the first few days after a storm will ensure you’re safe and healthy while recovery efforts mobilize. Some are redundant, because backup is important.

Water for 3 days — 1 gallon per person per day, extra jugs

Food for 3 days — nonperishable

First aid kit, personal sanitation needs & moist towelettes

Fire extinguisher

Flashlights, batteries

Hand-crank radio

Duct tape

Generator, fuel, gas cans & extension cords — Make sure it’s in good working order

Dust masks

Grills, charcoal, propane

Matches in waterproof container

Cell phone chargers & backup battery

Rakes, shovels, chain saws