Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with peak activity typically from mid-August through October. If you live anywhere near a coast — or even a few hundred miles inland — the time to prepare is before a storm has a name. This checklist covers what to stock, how to protect your home, and what to do when a storm is actually on the way.
Why Prepare Early
Once a hurricane watch is issued, store shelves empty fast. Water, batteries, plywood, and fuel are usually the first things to go. Buying your supplies during a calm week in early summer means better prices, full shelves, and time to think through your plan instead of panic-shopping.
The good news: most of what you need is inexpensive, and the same gear covers you for tropical storms, severe thunderstorms, and extended power outages.
Part 1: Your Hurricane Supply Kit
FEMA's Ready campaign recommends being able to get through at least 72 hours without outside help. Many experienced preppers aim for a full week. Here's what to stock:
Water
- One gallon per person per day, for at least three days (more is better — aim for a week)
- Don't forget water for pets
- A backup way to make questionable water safer to drink, such as water purification tablets — always follow the package directions
Floodwater and tap water after a major storm aren't always safe. Store sealed water now, and keep a purification backup for what you can't store.
Food
- A three-to-seven-day supply of non-perishable food per person
- Canned goods (don't forget a manual can opener), peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, dried fruit
- Emergency ration bars — compact, calorie-dense, and designed for exactly this scenario
- Pet food and any infant formula or special dietary needs
Eat from your regular pantry first during a storm, so the long-shelf-life supplies stay in reserve.
Power and Light
- Flashlights and/or lanterns with extra batteries — avoid candles as your main light source; open flames during a storm are a fire risk
- A solar power bank to keep phones charged when the grid is down
- A hand-crank emergency radio — cell networks and internet often fail during major storms, and a radio that doesn't depend on the grid keeps you informed
First Aid and Health
- A stocked first aid kit — during and after a storm, emergency services may be delayed
- A 7-day supply of prescription medications
- Basic over-the-counter supplies: pain relievers, antiseptic, bandages
Documents and Cash
- Copies of insurance policies, IDs, medical records, and property documents in a waterproof bag
- Cash in small bills — ATMs and card readers don't work without power
- A written list of emergency contacts (your phone may die)
Tools and Comfort
- A multi-tool and duct tape for quick repairs
- Tarps and plastic sheeting for temporary roof or window coverage
- Extra blankets, a change of clothes in a waterproof bag
- Matches in a waterproof container
Kids, Pets, and Special Needs
- Children: pack comfort items (a favorite toy, books, card games), kid-friendly snacks, and diapers/formula for babies. Explain the plan in calm, simple terms — kids handle emergencies better when they know what's happening
- Pets: carriers, leashes, a few days of food, vaccination records, and any medications. Identify pet-friendly shelters or hotels along your evacuation route before you need them — many public shelters only accept service animals
- Medical needs: anyone dependent on powered medical devices should have a written outage plan from their doctor and know which nearby facilities, shelters, or neighbors have backup power. Keep a cooler and ice packs ready for refrigerated medications like insulin
Shortcut option: if building this piecemeal feels overwhelming, pre-assembled hurricane kits bundle the core gear — power, light, communication, water treatment, and first aid — in one purchase, sized from tropical-storm outages up to major hurricanes.
Part 2: Protecting Your Home
Walk your property with fresh eyes and ask one question about everything outside: could this become airborne?
- Bring patio furniture, grills, trash cans, and potted plants inside
- Trim dead tree limbs well before storm season — don't wait until a watch is issued, when contractors are booked solid
- Clean gutters and downspouts so water drains away from the house
- Check the roof for loose shingles
- Know how to shut off your main water valve, gas line, and electrical breakers
- If you use flood barriers or sandbags, stage them where you can deploy them quickly — not buried in the back of the garage
Renters: most of the supply checklist applies to you too. Focus on the go-kit and documents, and know your building's evacuation stairwells and shelter plan.
Part 3: Know Your Evacuation Plan
- Find out whether you're in an evacuation zone through your county or parish emergency management office — zones and routes can change year to year
- Plan where you'll go: a friend or relative inland, a hotel, or a public shelter (confirm which shelters accept pets)
- Keep vehicles fueled when a storm is in the forecast, and move them to higher ground if flooding is possible
- Prepare a go bag — a smaller version of your supply kit you can grab in minutes: water, snacks, medications, documents, phone charger, and a change of clothes
The rule that saves lives: never ignore an evacuation order. No house is worth the risk, and emergency crews can't always reach you during the worst of a storm.
Part 4: When a Storm Is Approaching
1. Charge everything — phones, power banks, laptops, rechargeable lights
2. Fill bathtubs and containers with water for flushing and cleaning (keep sealed drinking water separate)
3. Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings — a closed fridge keeps food safe for about four hours; a full freezer can hold for up to 48 hours if unopened
4. Secure outdoor items and board windows or deploy shutters if you have them
5. Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from power surges when electricity returns
6. Stay informed via local emergency alerts and your hand-crank or battery-powered radio
Part 5: During and After the Storm
- Shelter in a small interior room away from windows
- Never run generators, grills, or fuel-burning equipment indoors or in garages — carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly
- Wait for the official all-clear before going outside or returning to an evacuated area
- Photograph all damage before you touch anything — your insurer will need it
- Avoid floodwater, which can hide debris, sewage, and downed power lines
- Check on elderly neighbors once it's safe to do so
The Bottom Line
Hurricane preparedness isn't about fear — it's about refusing to be caught off guard. A weekend of preparation buys you calm when everyone else is scrambling. Start with water, food, light, power, and a way to hear emergency information, then build from there.
Browse our hurricane kits to cover the essentials in one step — from the $84.99 Tropical Storm Outage Kit to full Category 4–5 protection — or shop power & light and water & filtration gear to build your own kit.