Hurricane Prep Suggestions

Tropical Weather Discussions and Analysis
Post Reply
User avatar
sambucol
Posts: 1103
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 5:43 pm
Location: Mont Belvieu
Contact:

Is anyone putting together their hurricane supplies now or waiting until the season is underway? After Ike, is there anything you will include in your supplies that you didn't include before Ike?
User avatar
wxman57
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 2621
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:34 am
Location: Southwest Houston (Westbury)
Contact:

I think that this post should be "stickied" as a hurricane prep item:

First of all, I converted a part of my preparedness talk to a PowerPoint show. If your browsers won't open it correctly, then right click on the link below and click "save target" (Internet Explorer) or "save link as" (Firefox) and put it on your hard drive. You'll need the free MS PowerPoint viewer to watch it. Unfortunately, you can't see all my notes in such a show, but most people don't have PowerPoint to view the actual presentation.

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/Hurr.pps

As I have to travel around the country giving hurricane preparedness presentations each spring, I have a quite comprehensive kit. It's so heavy (without the kit with the battery supply) that I bought a special dolly to carry it around. Here are a few pics:

Image

Image

Below is a list of items for your hurricane kit. I have every item below in my kit (minus the AC and 5 gal. gas cans which are in the garage, of course). I never by water, I use giant water containers from http://www.mywatersafe.com The 65 gallon unit sits in your bathtub. I also have a few 5-gal collapsible containers that fit in a sink, and a 55-gal portable unit that you can put in the bed of a truck. Since I know the lady who sells them, she supplies me with whatever I need and I give her plugs at my talks.

One new item for 2010 is a portable TV with replaceable AA batteries. It's the first one on the market:

http://www.radioshack.com/pwr/product-r ... al-TV.html

Other such TVs released in 2009 require AC power to charge the built-in batteries.

I also got a new headlamp, the Petzl Tikka XP 2 (3 AAA batteries). It's VERY bright:
http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/produ ... 217402/N/0

Hurricane Kit/Ride Out Items
1. Flashlight(s), Lantern(s) (1 per person)
2. Extra bulbs for flashlights / lanterns
3. Collapsible water containers (enough for 7 days at 1 gal/day per person)
4. Portable radio and/or TV (I have Auvio 3.5" that uses AA batteries)
5. Weather radio
6. At least 2 sets of extra batteries for all electronic devices
7. Digital antenna for TV (if you have a generator)
8. First aid kit
9. Corded telephone with long cord
10. Toolkit - hammer, screw drivers, pliers and assorted nails/screws
11. Fire extinguisher (ABC type)
12. Manual can opener
13. Battery-operated fan
14. Duct tape
15. Blue tarp (15x20ft) and 100ft rope or cord
16. Gloves
17. Eye protection glasses
18. Automobile power inverter
19. Rain gear (poncho/raincoat)
20. Matches / lighter
21. Pocket knife/multi-tool
22. Plastic garbage bags
23. 5-gal gas cans (2-4) for car/generator WITH funnel (if needed)
24. Disposable camera
25. Battery-powered alarm clock (can use cell phone)
26. Outdoor extension cords (2-3 50ft)
27. Small window AC unit
28. Generator and 4-8 quarts of extra oil
29. Whistle
30. Plastic sheeting
31. Tree saw / axe / hatchet

Personal Items:
1. Prescription medications (2-4 week supply)
2. Non-prescription drugs (aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever)
3. Mosquito repellent / sunscreen
4. Pet medications (2-4 week supply)
5. Pet cage (if traveling with pet)
6. Emergency phone numbers
7. Important documents (insurance/passports/Soc. Security card, medical records)
8. Home PC backup disks/drive
9. Moist wipes
10. $100-$300 in extra cash (small bills)
11. Extra set of car/house keys
12. Disposable diapers
13. Feminine supplies
14. Personal hygiene items (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap)
15. Toys/games for kids (deck of cards)

Food / Water:
1. Water – 1-2 gal/person for 7 days
2. Nonperishable food – enough for 7 days
a. Peanut butter
b. Bread
c. Canned goods (fruit/vegetables/soup/meat/tuna/beans)
d. Dried fruit
e. Powdered milk
f. Energy bars / breakfast bars
g. Snacks (cookies / crackers / chips / nuts / candy)
h. Boxed juices / energy drinks
i. Cereals
j. Dry & canned pet food
k. Baby formula
3. Camp stove and extra fuel
4. Ice chest(s)
5. Waterless soap
6. Extra charcoal/propane for BBQ pit
7. Disposable plates/cups/utensils/napkins
8. Salt/pepper/sugar
9. Aluminum foil
10. Garbage bags


URLs Cited in my Hurricane Talk

1. http://www.securedoor.com/ -- Garage door bracing hardware

2. http://www.readytown.com -- Hurricane planning widget for businesses

3. http://mywatersafe.com/ -- Water storage containers

4. http://www.readykit.com/ -- Hurricane preparedness kit

5. http://worldprep.com/ -- Hurricane preparedness kit

6. http://www.hurricanestore.com/kits.html ... agodNhJncA
The Hurricane Store – preparedness kits, flashlights, tools, etc.

7. http://www.radioshack.com -- Battery-powered Auvio 3.5” TV

8. http://www.batterysavers.com/ -- Battery-powered devices

9. http://www.just-mobileonline.com/produc ... ies_9.html -- Just Mobile “Gum Pro”

10. http://www.solio.com/charger/solio-char ... esium.html -- Solio Mag solar charger

11. http://luckypacks.com/EXTERNAL-IPHONE-B ... Ah-p5.html --
U20 I-UP 5400 external battery pack/charger for phones and other devices

12. http://www.mountaingear.com/ -- Search for “Headlamp”

13. http://www.lashen.com/vendors/tripplite ... esktop.asp -- Line conditioner

14. http://www.tripplite.com/ -- Automobile power inverter

15. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml -- NHC hurricane preparedness web site

16. https://www.meted.ucar.edu/loginForm.ph ... 2Fchp%252F# -- COMET hurricane preparedness module (requires free registration)

17. http://www.ready.gov/ -- FEMA hurricane preparedness site

18. http://www.hcfcd.org/tropicalweather/evacuation.html -- Harris County Flood Control District evacuation plan for Houston/Galveston

19. http://www.readyhoustontx.gov/ -- Houston’s hurricane preparation web site with a “Make a Plan” widget.

20. http://www.hawkeyemedia.com/bolivar -- Aerial photography of Bolivar Peninsula

21. http://www.houstonhidefromthewind.org/ -- Houston’s predicted maximum sustained wind data by zip code
Last edited by wxman57 on Sat May 01, 2010 12:15 pm, edited 3 times in total.
User avatar
srainhoutx
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19673
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:32 pm
Location: Maggie Valley, NC
Contact:

wxman57 wrote:I think that this post should be "stickied" as a hurricane prep item:
Done. ;)
Carla/Alicia/Jerry(In The Eye)/Michelle/Charley/Ivan/Dennis/Katrina/Rita/Wilma/Humberto/Ike/Harvey

Member: National Weather Association
Facebook.com/Weather Infinity
Twitter @WeatherInfinity
User avatar
wxman57
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 2621
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:34 am
Location: Southwest Houston (Westbury)
Contact:

srainhoutx wrote:
wxman57 wrote:I think that this post should be "stickied" as a hurricane prep item:
Done. ;)
Thanks. I also started a new "Preparing Your Hurricane Kit" thread on S2K in the preparation forum (with the info posted here).
User avatar
srainhoutx
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19673
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:32 pm
Location: Maggie Valley, NC
Contact:

Thanks for the info wxman57. Let's hope we do not need them this year. Although September could get interesting as usual. Gathering some thoughts for Prediction thread. Hopefully you will share your thoughts as well in the not too distant future. :mrgreen:
Carla/Alicia/Jerry(In The Eye)/Michelle/Charley/Ivan/Dennis/Katrina/Rita/Wilma/Humberto/Ike/Harvey

Member: National Weather Association
Facebook.com/Weather Infinity
Twitter @WeatherInfinity
Cycloneye
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:18 am
Location: San Juan,Puerto Rico
Contact:

I always start to prepare early before the season starts to not then be in a rush if there are threats here. I know that this season will have some threats to the Eastern Caribbean islands but also many may be fishes. Lets see what this upcomming season has instored for all of us in the basin.
User avatar
wxman57
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 2621
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:34 am
Location: Southwest Houston (Westbury)
Contact:

Once you make a hurricane kit, there isn't much to prepare before each season. My hurricane kit stays in the closet all year long. The only preparation is in removing all batteries from flashlights, lanterns and other electronic devices (fan, TV) after the season ends and storing them separately in ziplock bags. You don't want to store anything with batteries in them. Really, the only reason I put batteries in there before the season is because I'm demonstrating the devices at talks.

The total cost of my kit is probably around the $500-$600 range (plus around $1000 for the big generator and window AC unit), but I didn't spend all that at one time. Each year, you can add a few things. This year, I added the small TV, another headlamp, a few LED lanterns, a big blue tarp with 100ft of rope and another crank light that I got free at the national hurricane conference.

Things not in my kit include 2 generators, a small window AC unit, heavy duty extension cords and various hand tools that I keep in the garage. I had a small generator (about 2000 watts) that I won at a hurricane conference. Problem was, it only ran 1.5 hrs on a tank of gas. My new 5500 watt generator (pictured in the slide show) runs 11-12 hrs on a tank. Both generators have empty gas tanks and fresh oil. My plans are to install a transfer switch so I can just plug my generator into the switch and power up my whole house, eliminating all extension cords. Cost will be about $500 to have one put in.

Hopefully, I never have to use my hurricane kit for its intended purpose.
User avatar
Katdaddy
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 2516
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:18 am
Location: League City, Tx
Contact:

Hurricane prepardness time is now. For the Houston-Galveston area Storm Guardian Generators will make life easier and cooler when it counts.

http://shop.stormgg.com/index.php
unome
Posts: 3059
Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:11 pm

Very glad to see the link for this Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide staying at the top of NHC's page

http://www.weather.gov/os/hurricane/res ... ones11.pdf
unome
Posts: 3059
Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:11 pm

not sure if this is the right spot to post this, but it is good info - a 72-pf PDF

NWS Tropical Product Suite Access, Display, & Recent Changes - NWS Webinar for Tropical Product Users – March 9, 2018

https://www.weather.gov/media/wrn/calen ... ebinar.pdf

also a trove of resources here: https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane
User avatar
Rip76
Posts: 1946
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:38 am
Location: The Woodlands
Contact:

CrashTestDummy
Posts: 193
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2016 3:44 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas
Contact:

And don't forget to check those kits every year, especially the first aid kits and battery-powered equipment. We've discovered that the adhesive on 'band-aids' don't like heat-cycling much. We have a first aid kit we take to races with us and the simple act of keeping them in our truck in the parking lot renders them useless after about a year. So they get tested at the beginning of each year and replaced when they fail to work.

Pills, like aspirin and Benadryl should also be replaced annually, as aspirin, particularly, degrades with moisture. The humid atmosphere found in the southern US will kill them quickly unless you store them in glass containers with metal caps. Plastic containers will transpire moisture.

I'd also keep the batteries OUT of the battery-powered equipment until needed. I'm finding that the batteries tend to leak, and can ruin your equipment. I'm finding AA batteries particularly troublesome (I had a set leak in a label maker within 1 week of installing them. Now Duracell batteries are off my list to keep).

I recommend storing them in a plastic bag so they're not leaking inside your flashlights/radios, etc., and so you can keep an eye on them for any leakage.

Edit to add: many of the URLs listed in post number 2 above are no longer valid.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

"You can learn a lot from a Dummy."
Post Reply
  • Information
  • Who is online

    Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot] and 3 guests