Here are items you absolutely need in a hurricane, followed by what would be useful but not essential, as well as a couple of luxuries.
Essentials
- Cash or travelers checks
- Fire extinguisher
- Clean containers to store drinking water (and fresh water): 1 gallon perperson per day
- Food (canned and dried goods are best)
- Manual can opener
- Hand tools: hammer, nails, ax, knife, pliers, handsaw, screwdrivers
- Electric drill with screwdriver bits to install bolts for window protection
- Unscented household bleach to purify water, 8 drops per gallon of water
- Soap and plastic container
- At least one flashlight per person with spare batteries
- Spare batteries for other needs
- Battery-operated radio, with weather band
- First-aid kit: bandages, gauze, scissors, petroleum jelly, antiseptic spray,hydrogen peroxide, antacids, aspirin, thermometer, rubbing alcohol
- Extra prescription medicine
- Matches (wooden ones are best). Waterproof matches run $1.50 for four smallboxes.
- Disposable eating utensils and plates
- Toilet paper
- Mosquito repellent
Useful
- Gallon-size freezer bags to fill with water to make ice
- Needle and thread
- Whistle or air horn
- Disinfectant
- A gas grill or Sterno stove with extra fuel (Do not take gas grills indoors.)
- Snake-bite kit
- Heavy duty work gloves
- Lantern with extra fuel
- Large trash bags
- Rope or heavy cord, 100 feet
- Tarpaulin, canvas or anything to make a temporary roof repair
Luxuries
- Chain saw and extra fuel
- Backup generator