Hurricane Survival Kit: Complete Before, During & After Guide
A hurricane preparedness kit is different from a standard emergency kit in one critical way: you often have days of advance warning. This warning time is both an advantage and a trap: it creates time to prepare, but also time to procrastinate. The households that survive hurricanes well are those who complete their preparations before a storm is named, not the ones racing to cleared-out store shelves 48 hours before landfall. This guide covers what to have, what to do, and in what order: before, during, and after the storm.
Before the Hurricane: Preparation Timeline
Well Before Hurricane Season (Year-Round)
- Assemble your hurricane supply kit; check and replenish annually before June 1
- Know your evacuation zone (find your county’s zone map at your local emergency management website)
- Identify multiple evacuation routes: not just one; routes flood and close
- Document your home and property contents photographically for insurance claims
- Install hurricane shutters or purchase plywood cut to your window dimensions
- Trim trees within 30 feet of your home: dead branches and overhanging limbs are major damage causes
When a Hurricane Watch Is Issued (48+ Hours Out)
- Fill your vehicle’s gas tank: stations run out in the first 12–24 hours of an evacuation order
- Withdraw cash: ATMs empty quickly during mass evacuations
- Install hurricane shutters; move outdoor furniture inside
- Fill bathtubs and sinks with water (backup for water supply disruption)
- WaterBOB bathtub water storage liner: fills 100 gallons from a bathtub faucet in 20 minutes
- Confirm your evacuation decision: if you’re in an evacuation zone and a Category 3+ is forecast, leave early
When a Hurricane Warning Is Issued (36 Hours Out)
- If evacuating: leave now: do not wait until the last moment; roads become gridlocked and dangerous
- If sheltering in place: complete all exterior preparations; do not go outside once winds reach 40 mph
- Charge all devices; charge your solar generator/power bank
- Prepare a safe room (interior room, lowest level, away from windows)
Hurricane Supplies Checklist
Water
- 1 gallon per person per day × 7 days minimum (FEMA recommends 14 days for hurricane zones)
- WaterBOB or AquaPod bathtub water storage bag: 100 gallons from a bathtub faucet
- Water purification tablets or filter (Sawyer Squeeze) for backup
Food
- 14-day supply of non-perishable food requiring no cooking or minimal water
- Manual can opener × 2
- Propane camp stove + 6 fuel canisters (for cooking if power is out)
- Cooler (large) + ice: for refrigerated medication and perishables in first 48–72 hours
Power & Lighting
- Flashlights × 3 + lanterns × 2 + headlamps × 2 (one per person)
- Batteries (AA/AAA lithium) × 48
- Portable power station (EcoFlow Delta 2 or similar) for medical devices, phone charging
- Portable generator (outside only) if running refrigerator or sump pump
- CO detector × 2 (if using generator)
Communications
- NOAA weather radio (hand crank + battery) × 1: primary emergency alert source
- Walkie talkies × 4: for family communication if separated
- Phone numbers written on paper (phones may be inaccessible)
- Out-of-state contact person designated
Safety & Tools
- Chainsaw (or handsaw): for clearing fallen trees after storm
- Tarp (20×20 ft, heavy-duty) × 2: for temporary roof repairs
- Rope and bungee cords
- Work gloves × 2 pairs
- Protective eyewear
- N95 masks × 20: mould spores after flooding are a serious respiratory hazard
Documents & Finances
- Insurance documents (copies in waterproof bag)
- ID documents (passports, birth certificates) in waterproof sleeve
- Cash ($500+ in small bills): ATMs and electronic payments fail during outages
- Prescription medications (30-day supply) + medical devices + chargers
Sheltering in Place: Safe Room Setup
If you choose to shelter in place or are unable to evacuate, designate a safe room before the storm:
- Location: Interior room, lowest floor (not basement in flood-prone areas), away from all windows and exterior walls
- Supplies in the safe room: 3 days of food and water, flashlights, phone, NOAA radio, first aid kit, medications, and something to do (books, games: you may be there for many hours)
- Tornado-style interior rooms (bathroom, closet, under stairs) are safest for wind protection
- Do not open windows or doors during the storm; do not go outside during the eye of the storm (the calm period before conditions deteriorate again as the other eyewall passes)
Evacuation Planning
Have multiple routes planned and know your destination before you leave:
- Primary shelter option: A hotel or motel inland (book immediately when a watch is issued: rooms fill within hours)
- Secondary option: Family or friends inland
- Public shelter: Locate your nearest official public shelter at your county’s emergency management website: pet-friendly shelters are listed separately
- Fuel: Plan your route assuming some gas stations will be closed or out of fuel. Carry a 5-gallon fuel jerry can as emergency reserve.
- Pets: Most public hurricane shelters do not accept pets: make alternative arrangements well in advance
During the Hurricane: What to Do
- Stay in your safe room until local authorities declare the storm has passed
- Do not go outside during the calm of the eye: the most dangerous eyewall winds follow shortly
- If flooding begins inside your home and you cannot exit: move to the highest floor; do not enter the attic unless you have a way to break through the roof (axe or saw kept in the attic for this scenario)
- If swept into flood water: float on your back, feet forward; do not fight the current; look for something to grab
- Monitor your NOAA radio continuously for updates
After the Hurricane: Return and Recovery
- Do not return home until local authorities announce it is safe
- Assume all floodwater is contaminated: no wading without waterproof boots and protective clothing
- Do not eat any food that has come into contact with floodwater
- Check for structural damage before entering: a structurally compromised building is dangerous
- Document all damage with photographs before cleanup for insurance purposes
- Wear N95 masks during cleanup: mould spores develop within 24–48 hours in flooded structures
- Run generator outside only: CO poisoning deaths spike in the days after hurricanes
Recommended Products
WaterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage (100-Gallon Bathtub Bladder)
The WaterBOB is the single most impactful hurricane preparedness purchase for most households: it fills a standard bathtub with up to 100 gallons of clean, potable drinking water from the faucet in under 20 minutes and keeps it clean and potable for up to 4 weeks. Municipal water is typically safe in the first hours before a hurricane (and may be contaminated afterward due to storm damage to water treatment systems): filling the WaterBOB when a warning is issued provides a clean water supply independent of the municipal system. A family of four uses 4 gallons per day for drinking and cooking: 100 gallons = 25 days. This is one of the most-recommended items by hurricane preparedness experts.
- 100-gallon bathtub bladder; fills in 20 minutes from faucet
- Keeps water clean for 4 weeks; pump included for access
- One-use item: stock 2 for multiple bathrooms
EcoFlow Delta 2 Portable Power Station (1,024Wh)
The EcoFlow Delta 2 is the power station most consistently recommended for hurricane preparedness: it handles the critical power loads that matter most during a multi-day outage: CPAP machines (multiple nights), phone and laptop charging (all day), LED lighting, and medical devices. Its 1,800W AC output with 2,700W X-Boost surge handling allows it to run a refrigerator in short cycles to preserve food. It recharges in under an hour from AC, charges via solar panels (useful after the storm when grid power is still unavailable), and can be used safely indoors (no CO unlike gas generators). For a family that wants backup power for the first 3–5 days after a hurricane, the Delta 2 is the right solution.
- 1,024Wh LFP battery; 1,800W AC output
- Runs CPAP, devices, lighting; safe for indoor use
- Solar rechargeable: useful after storm when grid is still down
Duck Brand Heavy Duty Self-Adhesive Window Film: Hurricane Protection
Hurricane window film (applied to the interior surface of glass) holds shattered glass together during a storm, preventing the sharp projectile shards that cause lacerations and the sudden pressure change when a window fails. It does not prevent breakage, but it significantly reduces injury from broken glass and slows the pressure differential that can cause structural failure. At under $30 per roll covering multiple windows, it is one of the most cost-effective hurricane safety measures for renters and homeowners who cannot afford impact-resistant windows. Apply before hurricane season for permanent year-round protection.
- Holds shattered glass in place: prevents projectile shards
- Self-adhesive; applies to interior glass; transparent
- Cost-effective window protection for renters and homeowners
Hurricane Preparedness FAQ
When should I evacuate vs. shelter in place during a hurricane?
Evacuate if: (1) you are in an official evacuation zone for the storm’s forecast track; (2) you are in a mobile home or manufactured housing (never shelter in place in these during a hurricane); (3) you are in a low-lying area prone to storm surge flooding: storm surge, not wind, kills the most people in hurricanes; (4) local authorities order mandatory evacuation: this order reflects professional risk assessment and should be followed. Shelter in place if: you are well inland, in a solidly-built structure above storm surge risk, and a Category 1–2 is forecast. When in doubt: leave. The consequences of unnecessary evacuation are inconvenience; the consequences of not evacuating when you should have are potentially fatal.
How much water should I store for a hurricane?
FEMA’s minimum recommendation is 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days; their extended recommendation for hurricane-prone areas is 1 gallon per person per day for 14 days. A family of four for 14 days = 56 gallons minimum. The most practical approach: a WaterBOB bathtub liner (100 gallons) filled when a warning is issued, plus pre-stored 5-gallon water jugs for everyday use. After a hurricane, municipal water may be under a boil order: assume your stored water is your only safe water source until local authorities lift the order.