hurricane kit

nate1714

nate1714

Joined
Apr 16, 2005
Messages
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Well as some of the few more observant of you have realized i have moved from Chicago to Orlando and need to put together a hurricane kit...i have talked with neighbors and have heard a few good things but im open to all suggestions and it would be great if people had pics....i obviously have never had a kit to this magnitude so thanks for the help
 
Look up AdAstra on BladeForums. He's been through two hits. Done the whole FEMA trailer and everything.
 
What kind of "kit" are you interested in? I've been through a couple of minor ones, and your preps could be as much as extra fuel, generator, plastic sheeting/plywood, chainsaw, etc. Most of that is for temporary house damage or clearing the roadway. If you plan to bug out before it hits, make sure you can cover your windows with plywood and have several fuel cans to avoid having to stop on the drive north as you evac. Some basic stuff that your neighbors have probably already mentioned:

Water (enough for a couple of weeks if possible)
Food (dry, instant)
Radio
Flashlights
Batteries
First Aid Kit
Whistle (kept on all family members during the storm)

As Doug mentioned, here's the NOAA kit recommendation: Disaster Supply Kit

Just a couple major ones off the top of my head, but I'm sure you're tracking most of those anyways. Biggest decision is when to evacuate; if you wait too long, it's almost safer staying home instead of getting jammed up in a car as the high winds and flooding hits.

ROCK6
 
Wal Mart puts out a free brochure specifically targeted for Florida residents. It should be available at their checkouts.

I think the toughest part of a Florida hurricane, aside from the storm itself, is going without power for 1-2 weeks. It normally is very hot and humid right after a storm. Food and water will be available in a few days but, dang, trying to get a decent night's sleep when its 95/95 is tough.

Be aware that gasoline stations may run out of fuel a couple of days before the storm hits. Don't wait until the last day to fuel up.

Decide if you are going to ride the storm out or if you are going to bugout to the Georgia mountains. Again, don't wait until the last minute.

Good luck.

PS: keep your TP in a plastic bag. Keep it dry.
 
One very important item you dont want to be without, is CASH, as ATMs may be down for weeks, depending on the FPL situation. I have lived in Florida since 1976, and lived in Homestead during Andrew,(which totalled our house) as well as all of the other hurricanes since then, and let me tell you, Bros... It aint nice. Wilma a few years back knocked power out for 2 weeks, and ripped our roof off. Thats hot long dark nights without AC in the summertime, windows open, and loaded shotguns at the ready. Cold showers and 10 minutes later you feel like you aint had a shower in days, lol. Hurricane kits are cool and important, but nevertheless, Hurricanes are a Bitch.
 
thanks for all the good info...compared to other parts of florida i heard orlando isnt hit too often and being set in 30miles helps...is this true or to what extent is this true...
 
nate1714 said:
thanks for all the good info...compared to other parts of florida i heard orlando isnt hit too often and being set in 30miles helps...is this true or to what extent is this true...
Click to expand...

I forgot the CASH that cocomen69 mentioned. This is true for any localized SHTF scenario where power is out (tornado, earthquake, floods, ice-storms...). I try to keep several hundred dollars in the safe for "emergencies".

Depending on your location of being "set in 30 miles", it's probably good to be away from the masses, but your preparation must even be more so since responders, water and electric workers will take longer to get to your remote location (if it is remote). High winds will still knock trees down and rain will still cause flooding...the good thing is that outside of tornados, the heavier winds will be broken up as it goes over land.

ROCK6
 
Living in Houston for most of my life got me thinking on this one. We have had some pretty decent 'canes come through. My 'cane kit consisted of a couple jerry cans of fuel, cash, a change of clothes, my usual SHTF/BOB set-up, and a spare for most breakables on my truck [belts, hoses, etc] as well as plywood to board up prior to departure...
 
Went through Ivan and learned some hard lessons. For the house, store it someplace safe so even if you evac it will be there when you get back.
Gas cans, can't have enough (5-10), they will sell out immediately. Filled with gas is preferable!
Plastic sheeting to cover holes in your roof till FEMA gets your the "blue roof"
Bucket cap nails, that may not be the name but the roofing nails with the wide plastic cap so you can nail the tarp down and the wind won't shred it.
Water and food
Radio (battery powered)
Insurance papers, contact numbers, etc. Hopefully you won't need these but have them handy.
Cash, not all large bills either.
Pet supplies
Extra propane tanks, a warm meal on the grill is nice.
MREs if you can get them.
Firearm of some sort that you are comfortable, society has the potential to unhinge itself without the basics we have come to enjoy.
chain saw (trust me you will need it)
Flashlights, candles, lanterns, batteries. It gets dark at night.
I don't go the generator way because its tough to procure gas and they tend to drink alot of gas, but to each his own. If you go the generator way figure out how you will power your stuff. Lots of extension cords or back power the house (safety note: kill the main breakers or you can kill yourself!) Talk to the experts, just know how you will do it before you need to do it.
Roofing nails, extra shingles, roofing tar (caulk tubes). If you only lose a few shingles this might be all it takes to get dry again.
Good knives!

If I think of more, I will add to the list. Good luck.

Pete
 
30 miles in from the coast in FL doesn't mean much. While storm surge isn't a concern, flooding from heavy rains will still ruin your day. As for wind attenuation, the topology of our great swampy state is very flat. So, while land friction comes into play a little bit, there really isn't much to knock it down considerably. Case in point, Wilma came in from the west coast and I live on the east. It actually got stronger by the time that it arrived at my place. That was due to some anomaly that the NHC is still talking about. So, proximity on a flat state doesn't mean much.

Listen to what the other posters have stated before me. Have cash and have a plan to bug out. If you do bug out, leave early. You don't want to sit in traffic during a hurricane. If you stay the prime concerns are:

Power loss and the need to generate it
Climate and mold control
Foodstuffs and rations for at least 10 days
Plenty of clean, drinkable water. A water purifier can help.
A weapon and ammo. The have-nots will attempt to feed on those who have. That is the exception, not the rule, unless your entire community gets wiped out.

FL has mandated that gas stations and supermarkets have generators to sustain themselves, post-storm. Scope them out in advance.

Hope that this helped a little.

Chris

nate1714 said:
thanks for all the good info...compared to other parts of florida i heard orlando isnt hit too often and being set in 30miles helps...is this true or to what extent is this true...
Click to expand...
 
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