JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Each hurricane season, a key part of every family’s hurricane preparedness plan should be to assemble a hurricane kit. The kit provides important supplies for your family, whether you remain at home during the storm or need to evacuate.
Christian Smith, regional CEO of the Red Cross of North and Central Florida, helped explain some of the key parts of a hurricane kit and shared some valuable lessons, as we shopped at a hardware store and then at a grocery store.
“I think the best thing to do first is to think about what kind of container we want to put everything in,” Smith explained.
MORE: Download & Save The Weather Authority’s Hurricane Survival Guide
She said the size of the container will depend on the size of your household and how much you need in the kit, adding that a container with wheels - such as a large, heavy-duty trash can, is best.
Some of the essentials that you can pick up at the hardware store include:
- Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Work gloves
- General tools
- Duct tape
- Plastic sheeting and tarps
When it comes to buying groceries for your hurricane kit, Smith said that shopping trip is a great opportunity to bring your kids along.
“You’re like, ‘I don’t want my kids in the grocery store,’ but... if you have a purpose, and everybody’s got their own - and give them a role - then this is perfect for them,” Smith said.
Smith also emphasized the importance of buying foods that your family already likes -- with the lesson that if you don’t like something now, you’re not going to want to eat it in a hurricane.
At the grocery store, a great place to start your shopping is with canned items, as they have a long shelf life and can be eaten right out of the can. Some options there include:
- Soups
- Beans
- High-protein items, such as canned chicken and canned tuna
- Pastas (like Spaghetti-Os)
- Fruits
While some of these canned items may have a pop-top, others will require a can opener, so it’s important to make sure a manual opener is part of your kit.
Staples like peanut butter and jelly make for easy sandwiches in a hurricane, but hold off on stocking up on the bread until closer to when you will need it.
Snack bars and similar items are another great element for a hurricane kit, providing energy and comfort. But some of those items may have a shorter shelf life, so be sure to check expiration dates.
Water is another crucial part of your kit. You’ll want one gallon of water, per person, per day, for at least three days. That water is used not only for drinking, but also for cooking, cleaning, and flushing toilets.
While you may think of just stocking up on one-gallon jugs, Smith explained that buying some of your water in smaller bottles can make things easier.
She also emphasized that not all of your water supply needs to be purchased: “Fill up your bathtubs and your sinks so that you can use that water to flush your toilet.”
If your family includes babies or pets, that requires special consideration.
- Baby items: Formula, diapers, bottles, wipes, and medications
- Pets: Medication, food, water, kitty litter
The hurricane kit also needs a first aid kit, which you can either assemble from supplies you already have, or purchase as a pre-packaged kit. Essentials include bandages, gauze, antibiotic ointments, and other supplies, as well as over-the-counter medicines. Be sure to check expiration dates on things like ointments and medicines.
If you want a printable list you can take with you to the store as you check items off, check out page 18 of The Weather Authority’s Hurricane Survival Guide.