14 Hurricane Season Essentials to Have From $3

Many southeastern states have been battered by several powerful storms this hurricane season, sustaining damage from Hurricanes Beryl, Debby, Francine, and the most recent, Helene. As a born-and-raised Floridian, I’ve experienced firsthand what it’s like to weather hurricane seasons for over twenty years. Growing up, I observed my parents prepare their house and family to weather the storm. Now, as I prep my own Florida home against hurricane season, I continue to garner smart storm tips with every passing year.

But no storm season stands out to me more than 2004 when Florida felt the effects of five major storms in just 6 weeks. In high school at the time, I remember hunkering down in our hallway as category 4 Hurricane Charley ripped through my Central Florida hometown, uprooting ancient live oaks and trapping us on our street for weeks. Just as we got power restored (10 days later), Hurricane Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne came quickly on Charley’s heels.

The chaos of back-to-back hurricanes taught me a critical lesson: prepare for the worst. As great as hurricane forecasts can be, there’s no telling what a storm will do in its final moments — it could gain strength, veer in a new direction, or end up slowing down and sitting over your town for long rainy days when you can’t leave the house. With hurricane seasons growing longer and more unpredictable, having the right gear on hand is more important than ever. 

Long-time Floridians have a core hurricane kit (the American Red Cross has an excellent hurricane preparedness checklist) in their home at all times, a compilation of tools, essentials, food, water, and gear that is the foundation for emergencies. Don’t wait to build your own hurricane kit. There’s always a shopping frenzy before a storm and finding these items in stock at stores can be a challenge. 

Here I’ve included 12 essential items — some of which you may not have thought of — that you can purchase on Amazon to ensure you’re ready when the next storm arrives.

Water containers

Coleman Chiller 5-gallon Water Container With Spigot

Fresh water and shelf-stable food are your most important essentials to have on hand. During Hurricane Ian in 2022, the flooding in Central Florida was unprecedented. If water treatment centers lose power or experience flooding, you want to avoid drinking water from the tap. Guidelines suggest preparing three days’ worth of drinking water ahead of time, but I suggest planning for a week just in case. Experienced Floridians have large jugs to fill ahead of a storm, instead of purchasing a case of single-use plastic bottles. My mother used to freeze refillable water jugs ahead of the storm so that they’d help keep the refrigerator cooler longer after the power went out. Then, once the jugs melted, we had more fresh drinking water. Of course, you’ll also want to stock up on canned food you can reheat over a grill, and make sure you have a manual can opener. Finally, don’t forget about having enough pet food for your animals.

Dicunoy Water Container With Spigot

Grill or camp stove

Fire-Maple Fixed Star 1 Backpacking and Camping Stove System

Hot food may not be essential, but I consider hot coffee to be. Plus, you’ll want to have a way to boil water just in case you run out of your backstock. A grill or solo stove, plus extra propane tanks, are necessary to have on hand to heat food and boil water. Stock up on canned, shelf-stable soups, beans, and camp meals that won’t spoil. And, if you’re like me and a cup of hot coffee is crucial, don’t forget coffee grounds and a filter in addition to your chosen way to prepare coffee.

AeroPress Original Coffee and Espresso-style Maker

First aid kit

Poygik Premium 420 Piece Large First Aid Kit

After food and water (and coffee), you’ll want to ensure you have a first aid kit that can tend to a variety of wounds. Storms leave debris, broken glass, and emergency home repairs in their wake, which can result in cuts, scrapes, or other minor injuries. You’ll want disinfectant, sterile bandages, burn patches, antiseptic wipes, and pain reliever available. If you have prescription medication, make sure you fill your prescriptions ahead of the storm so you’re fully stocked. You should also equip your kit with an emergency whistle, which will help rescuers find you faster in an extreme emergency.

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles 2-pack

Portable battery and power bank

Anker Solix C300 DC Power Bank Station

Communication is crucial during a hurricane. A power bank ensures your phone remains charged for emergency communication and calls, even if you’re out of electricity for days. In the days after Hurricane Ian, the electric company kept me abreast of their work at power restoration via SMS text, so having my phone powered was key to staying in the know. Some power banks can be recharged using solar panels and a solar charger. Make sure your battery bank is fully juiced up ahead of the storm. 

Storm radio

FosPower Emergency Weather Radio

Smartphones basically turn back into regular phones during a hurricane: cell data service is incredibly slow (and sometimes unresponsive) during storms, because everyone is trying to use cell tower data after their electricity (and consequently WiFi) has gone out. You may stay up-to-date on the storm faster with a radio, instead of trying to refresh a webpage on your phone. A battery-operated National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio is your lifeline to important updates about the storm’s track, evacuation orders, and post-hurricane hazards. These radios also come in versions powered by hand-crank or solar panels if you don’t want to use batteries.

Portable generator

EcoFlow Portable Power Station 3600Wh Delta Pro

I consider portable generators essential for those who have medical needs that require electricity (like CPAP machines) or need to operate an air conditioning unit (again, for health reasons). Heat exhaustion can be a real danger for some, and you’ll want to think about all members of your family when preparing for the storm. Gas-powered generators are noisy, energy inefficient, and pose a carbon monoxide danger if used incorrectly. That’s why I recommend today’s powerful battery generators. They may look pricey at first, but their batteries last a long time, and they can operate as an expandable ecosystem customizable to your home’s energy needs. The most powerful ones can keep high-wattage appliances running like your refrigerator and small cooling units — which are some of the most essential appliances for staying comfortable. And, EcoFlow’s generators can be recharged with solar panels.

Portable fan

Dymuzic Portable Rechargeable Fan 

Don’t underestimate the power of a nice breeze to provide relief from hot and humid conditions. When you can’t run your AC or power your home’s overhead fans, you can circulate air with a battery-powered fan; it can work wonders on stagnant air inside a home. Plus, it’ll help you sleep better during the hot, non-air-conditioned nights after the storm. Some battery-powered fans also have charging capabilities and built-in lights, making them a versatile piece of gear for weathering hurricanes.

Flashlights and lanterns

iToncs LED Camping Lantern

Power outages are inevitable in a hurricane and navigating your home (which may be dark from boarded-up windows) is impossible without a source of light. Having candles on hand is always a good idea, but candles pose a fire risk, so I always recommend flashlights first. Flashlights are good for directed light and signaling for help, while lanterns are better for illuminating a room and providing ambient light to see by. These items are all flashlights and lanterns, and they can be recharged via solar. Look for waterproof LED lights in case you drop it in floodwaters or expose it to the elements outside. 

Xtauto Collapsible Portable LED Camping Lantern

Heavy-duty tarps and duct tape

Cartman Finished Size 6×8 Feet Waterproof Green Tarp

I remember stepping into our dark laundry room in the hours after Charley roared through, into ankle-deep water and the sound of water dripping. A large branch had pierced our roof and rain had poured in. It would be months before repairs could be made. Until then, we needed a way to patch the hole to prevent more elements from damaging the home. Because of this, having durable tarps on hand to cover broken windows or roof sections is important in the days immediately following the storm. Duct tape is also handy for securing tarps or even patching tires in a pinch.

3M Duct Tape, 3 Rolls

Waterproof document holder

Voncabay Upgraded 5200-degree Fireproof Waterproof Document Bag

Hurricanes bring floods, which means important documents like IDs, insurance policies, and titles can be destroyed if not protected. A waterproof document holder ensures your critical paperwork survives the storm. Put this document folder in your “go-bag,” which is a bag of essentials like cash, clothes, water, and personal documents in case you need to evacuate in a hurry. Always keep copies of important documents in digital form as well, stored securely in the cloud.

Dust mask or N95 mask

3M Aura Particulate Respirator 9205+ N95, 3-count

Hurricanes are a whirlwind (literally) of contaminated air. As they make landfall, they destroy homes and kick up construction materials into the air. In the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, wear a dust mask or N95 mask, especially if your area has a lot of building damage.

Hand sanitizer and sanitization wipes

Biom Biodegradable All-Purpose Wipes Starter Kit

You’ll want to be precious with your water in the days after a hurricane and reserve what you have for drinking, so you might not be able to wash your hands as much as you’d want to. Use antibacterial hand sanitizer and sanitization wipes to keep your hands clean and bacteria-free. Try these plant-based, plastic-free, home-compostable wipes that are more sustainable and better for the planet than store-bought, single-use wipes. They’re CDC-compliant and effective against 99.9 percent of bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Fire extinguisher

Kidde FA110 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher

Hurricanes often cause electrical fires, especially in areas with downed power lines or flooding. A fire extinguisher will help you respond quickly to small fires or sparks near your home. Make sure it’s rated for both electrical and grease fires.

Games, books, and cards 

Mattel Games UNO Card Game

It should be clarified: always evacuate when there’s a serious threat to your home and family. But if you choose to ride out the storm, think about what you need to stay sane after all the iPads have died. In the 2004 hurricane season, I was out of school for over two weeks, and out of power for 10 days. Don’t underestimate the fatigue that boredom brings in the wake of a storm where you don’t have WiFi or cell data: stock up on playing cards, board games, and other non-electronic ways to pass the time.

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