Hurricane emergency kit checklist
FEMA's Ready.gov basic kit starts with water, food, a battery or hand-crank radio, a NOAA Weather Radio, a flashlight, a first aid kit, spare batteries and a whistle, packed in airtight bags in one or two easy-to-carry containers. For a hurricane, also know your evacuation zone and never drive through floodwater.
The basic kit
Ticks save on this device. List from FEMA's Ready.gov. Pack everything in airtight plastic bags inside one or two containers you can carry.
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day (see how much to store)
- Food that keeps, for several days
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight
- First aid kit (see the Red Cross list)
- Extra batteries
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape
- Scissors
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
Add these for your household
- Prescription and non-prescription medications
- Glasses and contact lens solution
- Soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes
- Baby formula, bottles, diapers and wipes
- Pet food and extra water for pets
- Cash
- Important family documents in a waterproof bag
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- A full change of clothes and sturdy shoes
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine and personal hygiene items
- Plates, cups, utensils and paper towels
- Paper and pencil
- Games or books for children
From FEMA's Ready.gov. The CDC says a 2-week water supply is better than 3 days if you can manage it.
The hurricane rules
- Know your evacuation zone. Learn your routes and where you will stay, and if you are told to evacuate, go immediately (Ready.gov).
- Turn around, don't drown. FEMA says just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away (FEMA hurricane sheet).
- If you stay, shelter from the wind in a designated storm shelter or an interior room.
- Generators outdoors only. See generator safety.
Keeping the kit ready
- Keep canned food somewhere cool and dry, and boxed food in sealed plastic or metal containers.
- Replace anything that expires.
- Review the kit once a year and update it as your family changes.
- Keep a smaller kit at work and one in the car.
From FEMA's Ready.gov.
Common mistakes
- Waiting for the warning. By then the shelves are empty and the lines are out the door.
- Storing only 3 days of water. The CDC says aim for 2 weeks if you can.
- Keeping documents in a drawer that floods. Bag them and keep them with the kit.
- Relying on your phone for alerts, then losing signal and battery. A NOAA radio does not need either.
- Driving through water on the road. FEMA says 1 foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
Gear for this
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NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
On FEMA's basic list. It wakes you for warnings even with the cell network down.
LED headlamps and flashlights
Headlamps keep both hands free when you are moving things in the dark.
Power bank or small power station
Keeps phones alive for days. FEMA lists a backup battery.
Waterproof document pouch
For IDs, insurance and deeds. FEMA lists important family documents.
Manual can opener and emergency whistle
Two cheap items on FEMA's list that people forget.
Questions people ask
What should be in a hurricane kit?
FEMA's basic list starts with water, food, a radio, a NOAA Weather Radio, a flashlight, a first aid kit, batteries and a whistle. Add medicines, cash, documents and pet supplies.
How much water do I need for a hurricane?
At least 1 gallon per person per day. The CDC says aim for a 2-week supply if you can.
Can you drive through floodwater after a hurricane?
No. FEMA says 1 foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away. Turn around, don't drown.
Sources
- Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
- Ready.gov (FEMA): Hurricanes
- FEMA: Hurricane information sheet (PDF)
- CDC: How to Create an Emergency Water Supply
Related entries
- W-02How much water to store for an emergency1 gallon per person per day. Work out your household total in 10 seconds.
- P-01Portable generator safety: where to put it and how not to dieOutside only, more than 20 feet from the house, never in the garage.
- A-01What to put in a home first aid kit (Red Cross checklist)The 19 items the Red Cross recommends for a family of four. Tick them off as you go.
General safety information only, not medical or professional advice. Rules can change, so check the linked sources and follow your local officials. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.