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Hurricane Checklist

Buy your supplies early to prepare for the storm. Supplies will be short and lines will be long.

Food supplies
Get enough nonperishable foods now for two weeks. Then put them in a box and leave them alone. Don't buy foods that are salty or dry or high in fat or protein; they'll make you thirsty.

Water: 2 quarts to 1 gallon per person (get a week's supply)

Ice

Shelf-package juice and milk boxes

Canned and powdered milk

Beverages (powdered or canned, fruit juices, instant coffee, tea)

Prepared foods (canned soups, beef, spaghetti, tuna, chicken, ham, corned beef hash, packaged pudding)

Canned vegetables and fruits

Dried fruits

Snacks (crackers, cookies, hard candy, nuts)

Snack spreads (peanut butter, cheese spreads, jelly)

Cereals

Raw vegetables

Sugar, salt, pepper

Bread

Dry and canned pet food

Extra formula, baby food

Hardware

Hand tools - hammer, screwdrivers to use now, shovel and pickax for after the storm

Power screwdriver

4-by 8-foot sheets of plywood 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch thick to put over your windows. Make sure you ask for exterior plywood.
1/4-inch machine screw sockets and screws

Plastic sheeting to cover furniture

Rope

Sturdy working gloves

Duct tape to waterproof items. Masking tape isn't strong enough

Canvas tarps

Nails. There are many kinds, so look over your home now and determine what you will need. A nail too small, the wrong shape or hammered in wrong will fail, and that will give the storm the breach it needs to get into your home.

Baby needs

Disposable diapers

Wipes

Diaper-rash ointment, petroleum jelly

Baby medicines (pain, cold, cough)

Medicine dropper

Extra formula, baby food

Emergency toilet

Small can or garbage can with tight lid

Plastic bags for liners

Disinfectant or bleach

Deodorizer

Hurricane kit

Assemble this now. Put aside in a special box in garage. Keep heat-sensitive items inside home and rotate stock throughout season. Batteries can go in refrigerator.

Flashlights and extra bulbs

Battery-operated TV or Radio

Fully charged battery-operated lanterns. Don't get candles and kerosene lanterns. They are fire hazards.

Extra batteries

Water proof matches

Clock (wind-up or battery- operated)

Plastic garbage bags

Working fire extinguishers

Scissors

Toilet paper

Clean change of clothes, rain gear, sturdy swamp boots you won't mind throwing away later

An inexpensive rabbit-ears television antenna to use when cable goes out

Map of the area

List of phone numbers

Copy of insurance policy

Kitchen supplies

Manual can opener

Bottle opener

Matches in a plastic bag

Pocket knife - preferably Swiss Army-style

Camp stove or other cooking device and plenty of fuel. Use canned fuel, not charcoal or gas

Ice chests or coolers

Paper plates, napkins

Plastic cups, knives, forks, spoons

Medical needs

Drugstores will be mobbed just before a storm and closed for days after. Keep a 2-week supply of prescription drugs.

Medic Alert tags

Insect repellent sprays and candles

Feminine hygiene items

Insect bite lotion

Sunscreen

Soap

First-aid kit

First-aid handbook

Extra over-the-counter medicine (for colds, allergies)

Children's medicines

Aspirin

Diarrhea medication

Bandages

Adhesive tape

Cotton-tipped swabs

Antiseptic solution

Sterile rolls, bandages

Tweezers

Needles

Disinfectant

Plastic bags, jugs or containers to store water and ice.

Water purification tablets 

Plastic to line bathtub.