How to Select Hurricane Supplies

Selecting hurricane supplies may seem like quite a chore, but it's relatively easy if you have an organized method. Get organized, categorize and make lists to make this chore go quickly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Food and Drinks

1. Stock your pantry with non-perishable foods for every member of your family, including pets. Make sure you stock at least seven days worth of food.
2. Include canned foods and food in pouches. Buy protein rich foods like tuna or salmon, peanut butter, beans and peas. Add canned fruit and vegetables as well. Other foods to buy might include canned spaghetti dinners or canned chicken and dumplings.
3. Buy crackers in place of bread. Snacks like peanuts or corn chips in containers are better than bagged snacks. Bagged snacks can be kept fresh in airtight containers.
4. Remember to stock special foods such as infant formula or baby food for infants and toddlers, diabetic foods for a diabetic and pet foods for your pets.
5. Add miscellaneous foods such as packaged or canned milk, powdered milk, juice, and instant coffee or tea. Some may want to add a bottle of wine or six pack of beer.
6. Stock enough water for at least a seven day supply. The minimum amount every person needs is one gallon per day. The water will be used for drinking, brushing teeth and personal cleanliness. Bottled water may be preferred for this, but tap water can be used as well. Don't forget your pets need water too.
7. Remember to stock up on items for cooking and serving the food and water. You will need disposable plates, cups and silverware. Buy paper towels instead of napkins. Paper towels can do double duty for cleaning messes. Find a few old pots and pans to cook with and utensils such as spatulas, wooden spoons, knives and a manual can opener. You will also need a portable grill, charcoal, lighter fluid and matches. Aluminum foil can be used for cooking and covering food.

Personal Hygiene and First Aid

8. Add hygiene products for babies, such as diapers, creams and baby wipes. Hemorrhoid creams or ointments may be important to someone in your home. Don't forget feminine products for women and everyone needs toilet tissue.
9. Add toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo, soap and deodorant. If used, add denture products and contact lens products to the list.
10. Make a temporary toilet by adding heavy-duty garbage bags and a sturdy garbage can to the list. A personal potty can be made by placing a garbage bag in and using the garbage can to sit on; or place a bag in the toilet itself unless the toilet is backed up.
11. Prepare a well-stocked first aid kit. Add insect repellent, sunscreen, sore muscle rubs and over the counter medications as well as prescription medications to the first aid kit.
12. Keep some of your family's clothing and personal comfort items handy. Have a few changes of clothing for each person, pillows, blankets and sleeping bags. Air mattresses store easily and offer a softer place to sleep than the floor.

Battery Operated Needs

13. Place a battery operated radio in your supply kit with fresh batteries. This is a vital source of weather, police and emergency information for you and your family.
14. Keep at least two flashlights in your supply kit with fresh batteries. There are also battery operated tap lights and lanterns available and hand crank radios and lights.
15. Buy extra batteries for radios, flashlights and cell phones. Make sure you have a phone that can be plugged in, as a portable will not work if the power is out and a cell phone tower may have been damaged.

Cleanup Supplies

16. Anticipate extra clean up and the supplies needed, especially for outdoor cleanup. Gloves, long-sleeved shirts and boots are important to wear while cleaning up outdoors.
17. Buy extra large garbage bags that are heavy duty. You may need to pick up branches, broken flower pots, stray roof shingles and pieces of wood. It's best to buy the heaviest thickness of trash bag.
18. Add long-handled rakes and shovels to your list. Hand tools such as hammers and saws will also be needed. Fully charged battery operated tools, such as a screw gun, will come in handy. Don't forget nails and screws.
19. Include tarps to cover your roof if necessary and plywood pieces to patch the exterior of your home temporarily. Duct tape can help to seal leaks temporarily as well.
20. Buy lots of bleach. Make sure it is unscented. Bleach can be used to purify water, clean mold and sanitize toilets. Bleach can also be used for general clean up and to clean any organic material away.

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