Preparing a Hurricane Supply Box

What to Include in a Home's Emergency Supplies for Hurricanes

Aug 18, 2009

Prepare for that next hurricane, tropical storm or other natural disaster by creating a box of survival supplies. Find out what supplies a hurricane box should include.

The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 through November 30, and for residents living in the Carribbean and on the east coast or the gulf coast of the United States, there's a chance that a tropical storm or hurricane may make landfall.

Hurricane damage can be extreme and for those residents who decide to ride out the storm, there's a chance a family could be without electricity, water and other basic services for days, weeks or even months. Downed trees and power lines, flooding and widespread damage can mean that it could take up to a week before residents see supplies and rescuers arriving in the affected region. For this reason, it's important that each and every household — particularly those living in hurricane-prone regions like Florida — has a "hurricane box" containing essential survival supplies in the event that a tropical storm, hurricane or other natural disaster strikes.

Preparing for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm

If a family does not have hurricane supplies, it's important to purchase these survival basics before a storm is imminent. Once a tropical storm or hurricane is predicted to hit a particular region, essential supplies like water, batteries and canned food can become scarce and there's a possibility that a family may be forced to go without for days or even weeks.

There are several categories of items that should be included in a hurricane survival kit:

These supplies should be kept in one area of the home, preferably indoors or in a location where they will not be exposed to heat or cold, as this can dramatically shorten shelf life of canned foods and pet foods. Most items in a family's hurricane kit can be kept inside a large 35-50 gallon plastic tub, which will protect the survival supplies from moisture and insects.

When assembling a hurricane kit, the first step is to shop for non-perishable food and water. The survival kit should include at least seven breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners for each family member. A 10-14 day supply is ideal. Canned foods work well, as do non-perishable easy-to-prepare foods like macaroni and cheese or oatmeal.

When purchasing canned foods, it's important to avoid large, bulk sizes that cannot be consumed in one sitting. Remember that refrigeration may not be available during and after the storm (unless the family has a generator), so once opened, the foods will need to be consumed immediately.

Families should have a minimum of one gallon of water per person, per day. At minimum, the hurricane survival kit should include a one-week supply of drinking water; a 10-14 day supply of water is ideal. It's also important to remember to stock water for pets. Remember that without electricity and without an emergency generator, a home's well pump will not work after a hurricane.

It's important to monitor expiration dates on foods, which should be moved to the home's cabinets for use after one year. The food supplies in the survival kit should be replaced at the beginning of each hurricane season to ensure freshness.

Survival Supplies for a Hurricane Kit

A family should have the following items on hand in the event that a hurricane strikes:

In addition, households that own an emergency generator will need gasoline. So multiple (filled) gas cans will be required. A minimum 10-day supply of gasoline is recommended when a hurricane or tropical storm is predicted to strike. To store extra gasoline, top off the car's gas tank; the gas can be siphoned out of the car's gas tank if necessary. It's also vital to keep the vehicles' gas tanks full before a hurricane due to the fact that gas stations may not be operational for days or weeks following the natural disaster.

A supply of cash should also be kept on-hand when a hurricane is predicted, as stores may not be able to accept credit cards or checks due to a lack of electricity. ATM machines won't work if the electricity is lost in a hurricane; and banks may not be open for days, even weeks.

Caring for Pets During a Hurricane

Families with pets will need extra hurricane survival supplies for their cat, dog, bird or other pet. Following a hurricane or natural disaster, getting pet supplies to a region will not be the priority. So while food for humans may be available after just a couple days, pet food can be harder to come by following a tropical storm or hurricane, so it's recommended that dog owners keep a larger supply of pet survival items on-hand.

Preparing for a hurricane, tropical storm or other natural disaster well in advance by stockpiling food and supplies in a survival kit will mean that a household is prepared for whatever nature brings to the region.

The copyright of the article Preparing a Hurricane Supply Box in Seasonal Home Maintenance is owned by Mia Carter. Permission to republish Preparing a Hurricane Supply Box in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.