If you’re planning to relocate to Florida or any state along the Gulf Coast, hurricanes will be an unfortunate part of your reality. Thankfully, there are safety measures and protocols in place that make living in an area with hurricanes relatively safe. But it’s also vital that each individual takes it upon themselves to stay prepared.
That’s why hurricane survival kits are essential to life in northeast Florida. And if you’ve never created one, don’t worry! Here’s a comprehensive guide that illustrates how to create and maintain your very own hurricane survival kit, just in case.
Hurricane Survival Kit Basic Essentials
When making your hurricane survival kit, you have to start with the bare essentials. You need to be prepared for several potential outcomes, including flooding, power outages, and heavy winds. Here are the basic essentials you’ll need for your hurricane survival kit:
- Non-perishable food, like canned goods and dry foods.
- Water – a gallon per person for at least five to seven days.
- A hand-crank or battery-powered radio.
- An NOAA Weather Radio.
- A flashlight.
- A fully stocked first-aid kit.
- Extra batteries in all sizes (AAA, AA, C, D, etc.).
- Moist towelettes for personal sanitation.
- Cell phones with backup batteries and portable battery chargers.
- Prescription and non-prescription medications.
- Important family documents, including insurance policies, identifications, birth certificates, and banking records.
If you have infants or young kids, you’ll want to keep an extra stash of baby formula, diapers, bottles, diaper rash cream, and wet wipes. And if you have any pets, you’re going to need all of the supplies to keep them safe and well-fed. That may include leashes, collars, cages, kennels, food, water, and more, depending on the types of pets you own.
Make an Emergency Plan and Stay Prepared
The hurricane survival kit supply list can go on, so it’s best to customize your hurricane survival kit for your family. Start with the bare necessities and expand your kit based on your means and desired comfort level. While there’s little chance you’ll have to use it, you’ll be thankful that it’s there if the worst-case scenario happens.
And don’t stop at just making a kit. You should also create an emergency plan, share it with the whole family, and make sure everyone fully understands it. This is essential, especially if you have children. If you and your family feel prepared and safe, even during an emergency situation, you’ll be able to stay calm and level-headed, which can alleviate a lot of the stress associated with the event.
3 Tips for Maintaining Your Hurricane Survival Kit
Of course, creating an emergency plan and hurricane survival kit are just the first steps in staying prepared. You also have to maintain your emergency kit over the years, whether you’ve used it or not. Here are three tips for maintaining your hurricane survival kit.
1. How to Keep Food Items
Be sure to keep canned food in a cool and dry place, like a cabinet or storage locker. Ensure that none of the items have large dents or leakages to avoid food contamination. Also, boxed, dry food should be kept in sealed plastic or metal containers, which should also be kept in a cool, dry place.
2. Check for Expired Items
Be sure to periodically check the condition and expiration dates on your food. This is another way to avoid food contamination and ensure that your emergency goods aren’t spoiled. When something has gone bad or spoiled, replace it.
3. Check for Expired Batteries
This also applies to batteries and other electronics. Check periodically to ensure the batteries you keep in your hurricane survival kit are still good. Bad batteries will start to corrode or leak fluid, so be diligent.
Are You Thinking About Moving to Northeast Florida?
We’ve talked a lot about hurricane survival kits, but it’s important to remember that those are just for emergency situations. No matter your area, you have to be prepared for emergencies, should they arise. In Northeast Florida, that means hurricanes, but don’t let that scare you.
There’s a lot more to life in the sunshine state than just hurricanes. And as long as you’re prepared, you don’t have anything to worry about! If you’re interested in seeing homes for sale in Northeast Florida, contact the Welch Team today.
