A typical hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. During this time, people regularly consult trusted experts to determine if and when a storm will come close to where they live. However, while you need to know if a hurricane or tropical storm is barreling toward you, it’s even more important to be ready and know what to do when one actually arrives.

Using Chariot Energy’s Ultimate Hurricane Preparedness Checklist, you will be able to:

Assemble a hurricane preparedness kit
Prepare your home and family if you stay in the house
Prepare your home and family if you have to evacuate
Know the local officials and resources that can help you

No one wants to experience the devastating power of a hurricane or tropical storm, but effective emergency preparedness will help keep you and your loved ones safe.

General Hurricane Preparedness Kit

Let’s be clear — you should have this kit assembled year-round, as it can also double as a general disaster preparedness kit. The items on this list are essential emergency goods that will last you three to four days no matter the situation.

Food and Water

4 gallons of water per person (1 gallon of water per person per day for 4 days)
Canned protein, fruits, and vegetables
Non-perishable high-energy snacks
Food for infants
Food for pets
Manual can opener
Plates, cutlery, cups, and napkins

First Aid Kit

Bandaids of various sizes
Bandages of various sizes
Hydrogen peroxide
Antibacterial soap
Triple antibiotic ointment
Vitamins
Non-prescription pain relief
Prescription medications
Hand sanitizer
Scissors
Tweezers
Soap
Gloves
Sunscreen
Baby supplies (diapers, wipes, etc.)

Supplies

Flashlights (1 per person)
Chargers for essential devices
Radio
Batteries for electronic devices
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Bleach and eyedropper
Personal hygiene products
Matches
Electric lantern
Pocket knife
Multipurpose tool
Rain gear
Boots
Gloves
Cash
Copies of special documents in a waterproof container
- Marriage license
- Homeowner documentation
- Insurance documentation
- Social Security cards
- Birth certificates
- Passports
- Medical records

This might seem like a lot just to have sitting around in a closet or your garage just in case something happens. But trust us — it’s easier to buy this stuff at the grocery store now than waiting until three days before hurricane landfall.

Staying Safe at Home

Once you have your kit assembled, the next section of our hurricane preparedness checklist involves readying your home. Whether your local government asks you to remain home or safely evacuate, you need to take care of your property. You also need to ensure that your family members can take care of themselves if you do “hunker down” when a hurricane arrives.

The Exterior

Install storm shutters or place fitted plywood over the windows
Clear the roof and gutters of leaves, branches, and additional nature-related refuse
Trim trees and shrubs
Caulk doors and windows
Clear the yard of anything and everything that could blow away
Turn off propane tanks

The Interior

Have entertainment options for the entire family, including pets
Turn your freezers and refrigerators lower than normal, and keep them closed as long as possible
Unplug small appliances
Turn off your air conditioner
Be sure you have multiple exits that work, including the garage door
A toolbox filled with items relevant to your home’s needs
Fill bathtubs with water for flushing and washing only

Some hurricane preparedness lists recommend that you buy a generator and keep enough fuel for a week. While we like this idea, we also realize that this expense isn’t feasible for everyone in terms of price, location, availability, and ownership situation.

Evacuation Planning

First and foremost, if the leadership of your city, county, and/or state tell you to evacuate, then do so. You are literally better safe than sorry. So, when you do need to evacuate, you need to have the following preparations in order:

For the Car

A car-ready version of the “emergency preparedness kit” above, including
- Water
- Food
- Baby supplies
- Medicine
- First aid kit
- Important documents in a waterproof bag
- Pet supplies
- Toiletries
- Sturdy shoes
- Rain gear
Evacuation route
Full tank of gas
Cash
Road flares
Maps
Personal effects
- Shelter materials listed below
- Laptop computers
- Keepsakes

For the Emergency Shelter

Bedding
3+ days of clothes for each person
Chargers for electronics
Entertainment

All of the preparations you made to stay in place in the previous section apply to evacuation preparation. Just make sure you also lock your doors.

Finally, be sure that you turn off the master breaker for your entire home before you leave. If there are power outages in your area because of the storm, you want to prevent a power surge from hurting your home when power is restored.

General Hurricane Preparedness Tips

In our experience, being ready for a hurricane boils down to the “3 B’s:”

Be attentive – Know what’s happening in your area
Be prepared – You might need to act or leave at a moment’s notice
Be communicative – Tell your friends and family members exactly what’s happening

You should also assemble essential contact information. This is important whether you’re preparing, staying safe at home, or actively evacuating because of the high winds and storm surge when the storm strikes.

Family
Friends
Employer
School
Power company
Utility company
City government
State representative
National representative
Red Cross

DO NOT rely upon the internet or your personal phone for these numbers since phone and power lines could be down. Keep a hard-copy, old-school list in a waterproof location.

If a hurricane or tropical storm hits your area, it could easily turn into a major natural disaster. The 21st century alone has seen multiple terrible storms ravage cities across America and the world. Thus, we implore you to obey all requests and directives from your governmental officials, because their goal is to keep everyone as safe as possible — before, during, and after the storm.

The Ultimate Hurricane Preparedness Checklist