Natural weather disasters hit the USA all the time and with hurricane season in full swing, you should always be prepared with a hurricane preparedness kit. Even if you don’t live in the path of a destructive hurricane, having a disaster kit and survival plan in place, is a good practice everyone should adhere to.

When putting your kit together, there are things you MUST have to ensure your safety and well being and other conveniences it would be nice to have that are not essential. Remember that you might be in your home without running water, electricity, heat, air conditioning or access to food beyond what you have with you.  Planning for 7-10 days is recommended.

In this Costimate, we’ll help you figure out the things you need for a hurricane kit, as well as the items needed for pets, babies and much more. If you have a large enough budget, we’ll share some of the items that while not a necessity, can definitely make your life much more livable when a hurricane, flood, or any other natural disaster takes aim on you.

Essential Emergency Kit Checklist

These are items you should not do without and their costs:

Food, water and cooking supplies:

• $28-$49 per person | 7-day supply of non-perishable food that does not have to be cooked
• $3-$5 per person per day | 3-5 Gallons of fresh water
• $10-$20 | 2 Hand-operated can openers
• $2-$4 each | Packages of disposable cups, plates and utensils
• $5-$10 | Napkins and/or paper towel for a household of 4
• $12-$20 | 3-quart pot or pan to boil water
• $20-$60 | Propane camp stove, depending on how many burners and features it has
• $3-$4 per day | 2lb Propane bottles, one per day to prepare two meals
• $25-$40 | Full 20lb or 30lb propane tanks if you have a propane grill
• $2-$4 | Utility butane lighter
• $25 – $50 each | Full tank of gas in all vehicles.

Note: Propane produces poisonous carbon monoxide, so the area should be vented if cooking indoors.

Baby needs:

• $12-$20 | 7-day supply of baby formula
• $1-$2 per day | Bottled water
• $5-$14 | Extra bottles, washed and ready to use
• $16-$24 | 7-day supply of diapers and baby wipes

First Aid:

• $18-$33 | Large first aid kit with basic supplies for minor injuries
• $3-$8 | SPF 30 or higher sunscreen
• $3-$10 | Bottle of insect repellent
• $15-$40 | Basic fire extinguisher tested to be in working condition

Note on medication: When your first hear news of an approaching hurricane, make sure you have at least a 7-day supply of medication beyond the expected date of the hurricane arriving. If you have a life-threatening condition and are dependent on medicine or electronic equipment, plan to evacuate to a safe place well before the hurricane arrives.

Note on cash: Have extra cash available because stores might make cash sales even if electronic sales are not possible or ATMs are not functioning or are out of cash. However, do not rely on buying what you MUST have after the storm hits. It likely won’t be available.

Lighting:

• $3-$20 per flashlight | 1 or more flashlights for each person in the household (minimum 2 flashlights)
• $4-$6 per flashlight | 1 or 2 extra sets of batteries

Communication:

• $15-$100 | Quality battery-powered radio
• $8-$16 | 3 sets of batteries

Pet needs:

• $3-$5 per day | 7-day supply of food and water
• $36-$100+ | Carrier or crate for transporting pets when evacuating

Note: Be sure to have a 7-day supply of pet medications

Nice to Have Prep Items for your Home

If you plan to try and spare additional damage to your home during the aftermath of a storm, it’s important to have some basic supplies on hand to repair the roof, close off broken windows, remove fallen trees, etc.

• $15 – $45 Each | Large waterproof tarps, to cover the roof or an exposed area if the wind or weather breach the roof or side of your home. Covering with a tarp is only a temporary measure, but can prevent thousands of dollars of added damage, as well as help to preserve keepsakes in your home by preventing water from coming in.
• $15 – $25 Each | Sheets of 1/2 or 5/8 inch plywood to cover broken windows, doors, etc.
• $15 – $60 | Assortment of various screws, nails and other fasteners to hold down tarps, secure plywood if needed, etc.
• $400 – $14,000 | Backup power generator for temporary or whole house use during a power outage.
• $25 – $45 Each | Freshly filled, 5-Gallon gas cans for generator fuel, or extra LP tanks if your’s run on propane.

Convenience Items Checklist

While these items are not essential, you might find them quite useful whether you stay in your home, move to a local shelter or travel to get out of the path of the storm.

General supplies:

• $0-$10 each | Duct tape for windows to limit shattering
• $0-$8 | Box of 13-gallon to 30-gallon trash bags
• $0-$10 | Package of 4-8 rolls of toilet paper
• $0-$10 | Toothbrush, paste and carrier
• $5-$25 | Preferred personal care items
• $2-$30+ | Deck of cards, books, board games and other activities not requiring electricity

Communication:

• $6-$30 | Extra smartphone battery
• $30-$75 | NOAA Weather-alert radio
• $10 | Sheet of 20 stamps
• $4-$15 | Set of disposable pens
• $1-$10 | Paper and note cards

Safety:

• $17-$30 | Rechargeable emergency lights or lantern, fully charged
• $7-$15 | Package of medical masks
• $3-$12 | Package of nitrile gloves, qty. 15-100

Travel:

• $5-$15 | Reliable phone charger or plug-in adapter for car
• $10-$100 | Waterproof phone case
• Free-$20 | Local and regional maps showing all routes
• $15-$75 per person | Soft backpacks for food, extra clothing and personal items
• $30-$45 | Waterproof dry bags
• $20-$50 | Basic-quality waterproof footwear from boots to full waders
• $3-$25 | Medium-size cooler from Styrofoam to insulated plastic
• $1-$3 per unit | Freezable packs to keep food cold
• Free-$20 | GPS app for Android or iOS phones
• $15-$40 | Used GPS navigator for your car with updated maps (new units start at about $130)

Note: If you leave home in a vehicle, take extra clothing and a 3-day supply of food, water and medication for each person and pet. Some travelers were stranded in their vehicle awaiting rescue for multiple days during Hurricane Harvey.

Preparing for the Worst

In addition to being well prepared, it’s good to have a digital camera, video recording, or some type of evidence of the state of your home before the storm hits.

• Take pictures or record the condition of both inside and outside your home.
• Take pictures of your cars, boats, or any other property that may be damaged in storm.
• Safeguard all important documents like wills, banking information, homeowners insurance policy, etc.
• Make a list of all emergency contact phone numbers, insurance agent, work numbers, disaster relief, red cross, etc.
• Know your escape route in case it’s needed.

Important Links

• Disaster Readiness Kit – Ready.gov
• Preparation Readiness – NOAA