Hurricanes/Tropical Storms

Hi Ryan. Someone made a good list on this forum a while ago. There were things that I didn't even think of. Things that come to mind are:

Perscription medicines
Lots of bug spray
We store a few weeks of food and water
Food and water for pets
Flashlights and batteries
Battery operated radio
Important documents in a waterproof container
A safe interior room in your house or a safe house with friends
A plan on where to go in your house or a friends house
Medical supplies in case of injury

I have a ditch bag ready to go with documents and medical and food supplies that I keep ready all the time. I throw it in the trunk of my car when we go anywhere. it has water, energy bars, sunscreen, first aid supplies and a little cash. It's amazing how many times I have had to use it. I have a child and he's always into something.

Well, which island are you on and what are your living arrangements? If you're a young couple renting an apartment you could do very well with a small suitcase style generator, some rechargeable battery operated fans, LED bulbs in your preferred lamps, etc. If you're a homeowner or in a family way, you'll appreciate larger electrical capacity to run a water pump and washing machine at the same time. Pitcher water filters are always a good idea, especially during storms. This assumes you have a gas stove, of course.

A great way to store stuff you want to keep dry is in 5 gallon buckets with lids. I get them free from contractors, painters and restaurants. Holds a great amount of stuff in a easy to carry form. I have one filled with first aid, one with food, one with flashlights, batteries, radio, walkie talkies (16mile), tools, and other things I think I may need, and one with clothes. They are easy to strap down through their handles. Just write what is on them on the lid and everything inside is going to stay dry as long as you snap the lids on all the way. I do have an opener for them, that is tied to one, to make it easier to get in. You can get the bucket openers at Home Depot I believe.

sanitary products/diapers, cash , baby wipes for a quick wash

diapers ...

Even if you don't have babies, diapers can be a great sopper-upper. I always keep a big pack of the largest to be found on hand. During heavy rains when window and slider door seals (and even the best roofs) can often leak, lay them down and you'll be amazed at the amount of water they can absorb. When they're fully bloated just toss them into the sink and, once the worst is over, you can just hand-wring out the excess water and then dump them. Much more effective and labor-saving than using even the heaviest mop and bucket routine!

Chamois cloths and sponges are even better, because you can re-use them instead of adding more trash to the landfill. Chamois cloths especially because they absorb a ton of water, too.

Hey, finally a use for that ShamWow! Thanks islandjoan! 😀

Chamois cloths and sponges are even better, because you can re-use them instead of adding more trash to the landfill. Chamois cloths especially because they absorb a ton of water, too.

They're fine for smaller jobs but I've been faced many times with MAJOR leaks which in no way could have been dealt with by chamois and/or sponges. I'm all for conservation and living green but ...

I always keep diapers in my first aide kit for any big bleeders! They are clean and ready to go when you need them. Pair one with some vet wrap and you have a bandage that can handle even a chain saw accident. 😐

hey Old Tart - for MAJOR leaks, you would be best served by a wet/dry ShopVac! (of course provided the power is on...hmmm) Or, get those repairs done now before hurricane season starts, to mitigate whatever causes the major leaks.

JulieKay - I miss the ShamWow guy! haha!

hey Old Tart - for MAJOR leaks, you would be best served by a wet/dry ShopVac! (of course provided the power is on...hmmm) Or, get those repairs done now before hurricane season starts, to mitigate whatever causes the major leaks.

Yes, I have a large wet/dry vac but of course in a power outage (and for the benefit of those who've never gone through a major hurricane here, WAPA shuts down the grid until the worst is over) that's no help. And the leaking roof in a few of those circumstances was indeed a major issue which was a perpetual work in progress. But even in "normal" conditions when one's roof is solid and one thinks one's sliders and windows are well sealed, hurricane force winds and driving torrents of rain can create havoc. I learned the diaper trick many years from a seasoned local so like to pass it on as it's been invaluable for me over the years.