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Hurricane-proof your pantry

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Hurricane season is here. It’s been here for a few months, actually. Hurricane season runs from the beginning of June through the end of November. Having lived in various cities along the Gulf Coast for the past four years and working in emergency response for a couple of them, I’ve gotten accustomed to dealing with these storms and how to prepare for them.

No one wants to think about natural disasters until they happen, and therein lies the problem. Instead of waiting until you hear a storm is impending, start prepping now. Though it may seem that this hurricane season is less bad than the past few years, it tends to intensify between August and October, so if you haven’t prepared already, now is the time.

Here’s a list I’ve compiled to get you started.

Food to always have on-hand

  • Protein
    • Peanut butter
    • Canned soup and chili
    • Canned meat (tuna, salmon, chicken, turkey)
    • Pepperoni
    • Protein bars
    • Trail mix, nuts
  • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Canned fruit and vegetables
    • Dried fruits
    • Apples (can last for months in the fridge)
  • Grains
    • Pasta
    • Granola bars
    • Cereal, granola, oatmeal
    • Crackers
  • Drinks
    • Water jugs
    • Sports drinks
    • Juice
  • Comfort food
    • Cookies
    • Chips
Here are some of the things I currently have on hand.

Other things to keep in your emergency kit

You can find pre-built emergency kits from brands like Judy or on Amazon. I don’t personally have any of these, and I don’t get paid to endorse any of them; they’re just ones I’ve found through research.

If you want to save some money and build your own kit, here are some essentials:

  • Can opener
  • Silverware
  • Canned heat
  • Flashlights / lantern
  • Water jug(s)
  • First Aid Kit
  • Battery-operated radio (I have this one.)
  • Blanket
  • Medicines & Vitamins
  • MRE’s (Meals Ready-to-Eat)
  • Phone chargers
  • Extra batteries
  • Knife/multi-tool

More things to think about

  • Losing Power: If a hurricane hits and you lose power for an extended period of time, you might have to toss a lot of food from your fridge and freezer. According to the FDA, food in the refrigerator will keep for 4 hours without power and in the freezer for 24-48 hours as long as you keep the doors shut as much as possible. This means there’s no time to look around the fridge because you’re bored or to “just see what you have” before you decide on your next snack. Other sources say only 12 hours for the freezer. (You can find more tips on food safety during power outages at the FDA site linked above.) During hurricane season, consider how much food you are keeping in your fridge and freezer. I try to keep less perishable food on-hand and make more frequent trips to the grocery store, buying only what I need for the week. Contrary advice is to keep your refrigerator full because it will keep cooler longer without power. If you do this, I’d recommend filling it with water jugs instead of more food that could still go bad before you get to eating it.
  • Evacuation Plan: Have a plan for evacuation. If you have a friend or family member that lives in driving distance, let them know you might make a visit sometime during hurricane season. If you have to evacuate, it’s nice to make a visit of it instead of having to go to a shelter or paying for a hotel. When I lived in Louisiana, I had a friend living 4 hours away in Texas which was perfect for storm avoidance. If the storm was heading her way, she could come to me; if the storm was heading my way, I could stay with her.
  • Gas: During hurricane season, I try to never let my gas tank get below a quarter tank. If you do evacuate, ensure you fill up wherever you are before heading back. I’ve seen areas hit by hurricanes not get gas back for weeks after the storm. You don’t want to get stranded.
  • Cash: If a storm creates downed power lines, businesses may not be able to accept credit until the power lines can be repaired. And if there’s not power, there is also no ATM access. Keep an emergency supply of cash in case this happens.
  • Pets and children: If you have pets or children, you should also think about what they’ll need in an emergency. Don’t let their food supplies get too low during hurricane season and have a plan for what activities and toys you can take with you to keep them entertained should you need to evacuate.

References and further reading

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Cheers!

Sarah

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