All Floridians are well aware that hurricane season is no joke. That said, many of us are left unprepared when disaster finally strikes, allowing panic to set in. We recommend a proactive approach to hurricane preparedness by preparing an emergency Hurricane Preparedness Kit. From non-perishable food items to batteries and toilet paper: having a pre-prepared emergency kit will allow you to focus on getting your family to safety rather than scrambling for the necessary items to take with you.
We recommend using a 5-gallon bucket with lid or airtight container that will keep your emergency items dry during the harshest of conditions. Fill the bucket with all necessary emergency items and keep it in an easy-to-grab location. We’ve outlined our suggestions below:
Keep these essential items in your bucket near an exit door in your home or in your vehicle:
- Batteries
- Battery powered AM/FM radio
- Blanket
- Can opener
- Cash
- Change of clothing
- Duct tape
- Dust mask
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Games and toys
- Gloves
- Hand sanitizer
- Keys (home and car)
- Large plastic trash bags
- Local map
- Medications
- Non-perishable food
- Permanent marker
- Pet supplies
- Photos of family members and pets
- Pocket knife
- Portable phone charger
- Ponchos
- Rope/paracord
- Soap
- Special family needs (diapers, feminine hygiene items, etc.)
- Tarp
- Toilet paper
- Toothbrush
- Towel
- Water
- Waterproof bag with family documents, including driver’s license, insurance information, out-of-area contact, etc
- Whistle
Check out the Department of Homeland Security’s ready.gov for more tips on building your Hurricane Preparedness Kit and preparing your family for the worst the weather can offer this season.
