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Building a Hurricane Emergency Kit

Having a hurricane kit stocked with emergency essentials is a huge part of how to prepare for a hurricane. At Tractor Supply, we’re here to support you when Life Out Here puts you in the path of an extreme weather event, such as a hurricane. Learn more about the hurricane supplies you should have on hand in case a hurricane is in your forecast. 

Considerations for Your Home’s Exterior

No matter the size of your yard or lawn, properly preparing it for a hurricane is a must. Your hurricane prep supply list should contain items such as:

  • Straps, tie-downs and tarps: You’ll need these to cover and secure anything that might blow around loose in your yard or lawn. This is to prevent damage to your home and vehicles, as well as those of your neighbors, and it will help everyone in the vicinity be safer during the storm. 
  • Sandbags and flood barriers: Self-inflating flood bags, sandbags and other flood barriers can help deter floodwaters from seeping into your basement or foundation, as well as ground-level doors and windows. 
  • Storm shelter: These bunker-like structures can be installed in your yard. They are designed to protect occupants from heavy rainfall and high winds. Make sure the storm shelter is intended for use during a hurricane or tornado, as tornadoes and waterspouts are often spotted during hurricanes and tropical storms. 
  • Plywood boards and storm shutters: Boarding up windows and doors can help prevent broken glass from flying debris. Plywood boards and storm shutters are an effective means for this hurricane prep task. 
  • Hardware: Hurricane prepping requires the right hardware to help you efficiently complete tasks, from fasteners to adhesives and sealants. You’ll need to seal any holes along your roof’s flashings, chimney or vent pipes, clean out gutters and board up windows and doors, so make sure you have the right hardware for your specific exterior prep needs. 
  • Winches: These tools are very helpful when utilizing ropes, chains and cables, as they can loosen or tighten a cable while keeping the excess material out of the way. Electrical winches and hand winches both assist in getting the job done, and cable pullers are also an option. 

Items for Indoor Hurricane Prep 

Once you’ve squared away your yard and home’s exterior, it’s time to focus on how to get prepared for a hurricane inside the home. Before factoring in the daily essentials, make sure to address items that will help you stay functional during a power outage, including:

  • Generators: As the ultimate backup power source, generators keep appliances and devices in your home powered and running during an electricity outage. Tractor Supply can help you find the right electric generator, gas generator, battery generator, natural gas generator, dual fuel generator or liquid propane generator, depending on your needs. Read our generator FAQs to learn more about choosing the right type. 
  • Flashlights and lanterns: During a hurricane and its aftermath, the electricity could be out for a long time. Have enough flashlights and lanterns on hand to navigate your home and yard safely. 
  • Batteries: Have enough batteries to keep flashlights, lanterns, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors working throughout the hurricane and until power is restored.
  • Propane: This fuel source can power generators, grills and lighting equipment during an electricity outage. 
  • Heat and fire sources: Fire starters, lighters, matches and lighter fuels can all be used to light a fireplace, grill and other heat sources. Be sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby. 
  • Battery chargers: Make sure you have a functioning battery charger for all of the devices in your home, from tablets to drills. Charge them thoroughly in the days leading up to the storm so you’re not caught without power and charge-less tools. 
  • Emergency tools: Multi-purpose tools and knives should be part of your hurricane kit. For instance, you might need to shut your electricity or utilities off with pliers or wrenches, and a multipurpose emergency tool is designed to help with preparation for a hurricane or another extreme weather event. 
  • Coolers: Make sure your freezer is stocked with ice and have coolers on hand to preserve your food for as long as possible if the power goes out. 
  • Safe or gun safe: Have a secure, waterproof and fireproof place for your valuables, cash, checks, important personal documents and related items. Consider a traditional safe or gun safe depending on your needs.  
  • Water pumps and sump pumps: Water pumps can help to relocate water from the inside of your home to the outside during a flooding event. If your home has a sump pit and doesn’t already have one, consider installing a water sump pump. By drawing water from a sump pit, this device prevents flooding and moisture from accumulating in basements and crawl spaces. 

What You Need for Evacuating or Staying Home

Whether your area is under evacuation orders or you’re staying at home during the storm, you must be prepared to be without electricity and outside assistance for days – or even weeks – at a time. Your hurricane preparedness list should include everything you and your family depend on from day to day, such as:

  • Emergency foods and water: Have enough food and water for each family member to last at least seven to 10 days. Consider non-perishable meal kits and snacks, stock up on bottled water and fill all reusable water bottles and canteens with water for drinking or brushing your teeth. 
  • Dining items: Have a manual can opener handy, and invest in disposable plates, napkins and silverware. If the water supply to your home has to be shut off, you won’t be able to wash dishes. Consider biodegradable options that have a more minimal impact on the environment. 
  • Water for sanitation: Have buckets of spare water in the bathroom and bathtub for flushing toilets and bathing during a power or water outage. 
  • Emergency radio: Stay informed about the status of the storm, road closures, evacuation orders and other pertinent information with an emergency radio. 
  • First-aid kit: Have a fully stocked first-aid kit with whistles or flares in case you need to ask for help. It should also contain dust masks. 
  • Health and hygiene essentials: Include items like medications, supplements, vitamins, feminine products, contact lenses with lens solution, prescription eyeglasses, baby supplies, pet supplies and more. You should also have soap, hair and dental care products, hand sanitizer, moist towelettes and numerous changes of clothes for each person.

It’s also recommended to keep a hurricane kit in every vehicle your family owns. In addition to daily essentials, your car hurricane kit should contain:

Hurricane Cleanup Supplies and Tools

The effects of a hurricane can be felt far beyond the United States’ coastal areas. As storms move inland, the threat of high winds, flooding and even tornadoes increases in landlocked states. No matter where you live, be ready to clean up after a direct or indirect hit from a hurricane. Have the following on hand: 

  • Cleaning supplies: Be prepared with trash cans, recycling bins, brooms and other cleaning tools, as well as soaps and cleaners. You should also have moisture and odor control products at the ready. 
  • Work gloves: Protect your hands from chafing, chemicals and cuts while cleaning up your home or yard after a hurricane. 
  • Fans and blowers: When a hurricane leaves behind moisture buildup or standing water, running fans and blowers help to dry out the space.
  • Wet-dry vacs: If you experience in-home flooding, a wet-dry vacuum can prove to be a great investment when it comes time to clean up. 
  • Dehumidifiers: These devices draw water out of the air to help reduce humidity and moisture levels. 
  • Pressure washers: Get the exteriors of your home, garage and other structures back in tip-top shape with the assistance of a pressure washer. 
  • Chainsaws: Tree limbs and other flying debris may be too large to remove, so have a chainsaw on hand to help you get the job done. 

Don’t Delay – Get Hurricane Supplies at Tractor Supply 

Hurricane season begins on May 15 in the North Pacific and June 1 in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Now is the time to prepare for the threat of the next storm, no matter where you live in the United States. Stemming from tropical storms that form in the ocean, hurricanes have a minimum speed of 74 MPH. Using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, hurricanes are rated from Category 1 to Category 5, with Category 5 storms being the most severe and having winds exceeding 157 MPH. Many threats accompany hurricanes, from high winds and heavy rainfall to storm surge and tornadoes. 

With over 85 years as America’s largest rural lifestyle retailer, we’ve seen our fair share of extreme weather events, including hurricanes. We strongly believe that every household should have a hurricane preparedness plan in place, which includes having all the necessary supplies to weather the storm. Our knowledgeable team is dedicated to helping you prepare for hurricane season year after year. Get your hurricane supplies now by shopping online or visiting your local Tractor Supply store. 

 

Please note: This information is general and is not intended to replace or override any of the advice, warnings or information given by local officials, FEMA, NOAA or any other official regulatory organization or government branch regarding storm safety in the form of thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, hail storms, floods or any other natural disaster or man-made disaster. Always follow take-cover recommendations, evacuation orders and any other advice given by local officials for your area, regardless of whether it is similar to or different from the information on TractorSupply.com.