This post is sponsored by the Storm Basics promotion at Publix. The opinions and text are all mine.
I was born in Georgia, but spent the biggest chunk of my childhood on the gorgeous gulf coast of Florida. We were always very prepared for hurricane season and I remember seeing my parents with their system of preparation each year. When hurricane Erin hit in 1995, we had no power for 3 days. It was hot, humid and basically miserable, but we weren’t hungry! My parent’s stockpile kept us set during those days and that memory really stuck with me.
In 2012, we were living in Virginia, in our first purchased home, when Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast. Our entire basement flooded and we were overwhelmed with the massive amount of cleanup that had to happen. That moment made me realize that you don’t have to necessarily be right on the gulf or ocean to have devastating effects from hurricanes.
I have taken things I learned from my parents and created a stockpile to be prepared for hurricane season. Interestingly enough, I had to go into my stockpile in the last few months to use some things that have been hard to find during the pandemic. Just goes to show that it’s always a great idea to be prepared!
Hurricane Season Preparation Checklist
Stock Up
We stock up and keep everything in a location where it won’t get accidentally used. For us that’s the top shelf of our garage shelving. It’s accessible, yet not in pantry reach, so kids aren’t grabbing things that I don’t want used up.
Here are the things I keep in the stockpile:
Water –
Oftentimes, water will be cut off during a hurricane. We fill bathtubs with water and water bottles before a storm comes in, but having bottled water is easy and convenient.
Batteries –
A no brainer; Energizer batteries are essential for your flashlights!
Canned Food –
Veggies, fruits, beans and meat are good canned options that are easy to keep on hand. Just remember to have a non-electric can opener!
Other Dry Goods –
Rice, pasta, beef jerky and peanut butter are all great options that last a long time.
Paper Products and Cleaning Products –
When our basement flooded, we had a lot of cleaning to do. I was grateful for plenty of supplies on hand then and even now as it’s been hard to find some cleaning products!
You’ll need to pick a regular time to check expiration dates on all your stockpiled products and a good time for that is now! Right when hurricane season is starting is a perfect time and today was the day for me. When you check your dates each year, exchange older products with new ones. Right now is a great time to stock up at Publix during the Storm Basics promotion! They have many products (with the promotion running now through 9/11/20!) that I keep in my stock, including Oberto Beef Jerky (on sale for $4.99, plus an extra $1 off with the digital coupon), Deer Park water bottles (6 packs 2 for $3), Libby’s vegetables (10 for $10) and of course, Energizer batteries ($2 off any 1 Energizer Max AA/AAA 8-pk., C/D 4-pk or 9V 2-pk)!
Organize Documents
We keep a lock box in the house with all our important documents – birth certificates, social security cards, etc. I also have a bag full of important papers, letters and nostalgic things that I would hate to ever lose. This is so important for generally being able to find things, but in case of emergency, you can grab the box/bag and get out.
Put irreplaceable items in a waterproof tote
Photos, heirlooms and other things that are sentimental and irreplaceable should be kept in a waterproof container. We learned this the hard way when we lost several very important things in our flood. We were able to quickly get to photos and save get them, but I wish I had some of our other special things in waterproof tubs or had them separated to save.
I hope this post helps you feel a bit better about hurricane season and for stormy seasons in general. Being prepared is never something you will regret!
Make sure to check out the Storm Basics promotion at Publix, now through 9/11/20. You can grab an Extra Savings flyer in store, or online, to see all the products that will help you create a preparation stockpile! If you don’t see the Extra Savings flyer in the kiosk at the entrance to the store, ask someone at customer service for a flyer! Look for the at-shelf signs located throughout the store which highlight the savings during the promotion.