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In Houston hurricane season runs from June through November. In my experience the worst storms have always been in August and September, but it is a good idea to be prepared early.
There are many guides available online with good advice about how to prepare for a hurricane. Personally I like to focus on gear that I can also use when traveling or camping. I hope this gives you some ideas as you are coming up with your hurricane preparedness plan.
Get Informed
Find out the most reliable sources of weather and safety information for your area.
For Houston, we are lucky to have Space City Weather. It is a website that has detailed reporting about upcoming storms. Find a local weather station that you like, and be sure to follow them on your phone.
Along the Gulf Coast most city and county governments will have an Office of Emergency Management (OEM) which will put out important information about emergency resources and advice for your specific area. If you are a Houstonian, look at the information provided by the Houston – Galveston Area Council.
FEMA is the agency that handles emergency preparedness and response across the entire United States.
Make a Plan
Find out if you are in an evacuation zone, and if so which zone you are in. If you are in an evacuation zone, plan your emergency evacuation routes and destination in advance. Familiarize yourself with the different roadways, and keep a current paper map in your vehicle.
Make sure your family knows the plan.
Prepare your emergency kit in advance. When a storm is already in the gulf, local stores may sell out or charge extra.
Make the choice about an evacuation early. Follow the guidance given by local officials about your evacuation zone. Sometimes choosing to evacuate is more dangerous than staying where you are.
If you think you are in an area that needs to evacuate, make the choice and leave as early as possible. Last minute evacuations can be dangerous due to the risk of being stuck in a traffic jam on the road when the storm hits. Hotels in San Antonio and Dallas will book up quickly, stay with friends or relatives if possible.
Prepare your Paperwork
Make a copy of any important documents that you have, and put it in a gallon sized Ziplock bag or other portable waterproof container. Some of these documents may include insurance information, deeds, wills, birth or death certificates, passports, social security cards, or licenses. Include a physical list of emergency phone numbers and the names of any prescription medications people are taking.
Take a photo of these documents as well, so you can access the information on phone if you are evacuating.
Have an amount of cash on hand in small bills. Payment terminals rely on electronic systems that can get knocked out in a storm. Some stores and restaurants may be able to open up early, but only accepting cash. Being able to buy a hot meal can do a lot for your mood if you’ve been living off of shelf stable food for a few days.
Get Gas
During storm season try to fill up your car when it gets down to half a tank.
During widespread power outages even gas stations that have gas might not be able to run the gas pumps without electricity.
When a storm is in the gulf, gas stations can start to run out of gas and the ones that do have gas will be expensive.
Even if you don’t plan on using your car to drive around, you may need to rely on it for air conditioning or to charge electronics.
Get your Gear in Order
Every family is going to have different needs for hurricane supplies. If you have small children, seniors, or pets, you will need to make sure that you are considering their needs for a storm.
First Aid Kit
Have a first aid kit for your home, and bring it in your car if you evacuate. Be sure to include any medical supplies your family uses.
Make sure you have all of your prescriptions filled. If a storm hits you might not be able to get to a pharmacy.
Water for Hurricanes
The general advice is to have seven gallons of water per person, and more if you have pets. This is a lot of bottled water to buy! While it is nice to have some disposable water bottles, I try to mostly use refillable bottles. When I know a storm is coming, I start filling them up.
Water Bottles
Ozarka has larger bottles of water, and I also tend to find that Trader Joe’s has some of the cheaper bottles of water.
I have several of these refillable Vapour water bottles that are my favorite for carrying around with me when traveling. When they are empty they roll up small enough to put in a day bag. While they are great for walking around and easy to clean, I do wish they were available in larger sizes.
For years I recommended Platypus water bottles, but now I am liking the Hydrapak water bottles so much more. They are very durable and the larger opening makes them much easier to clean and dry.
Refillable Water Jug
I supplement my bottled water with a large refillable water jug. I get a lot of use out of mine, because I take it with me in the car every time I drive to West Texas or any other remote area. I also always take it with me on camping trips. Most state parks or national parks have stations where you can refill them. This jug is great for long car trips, because it seals well. It does not keep the water cold though.
5 Gallon Igloo Water Cooler
It can be incredibly hot after a hurricane, and you might not have power. I fill up my 5 gallon Igloo water cooler and leave it on the kitchen counter. Fill it with as much ice as possible before the storm makes landfall, and you will be able to drink ice cold water for a long time. I find that the best way is to fill up a mixing bowl with water and freeze it to make a large block of ice to put in the cooler. I frequently take this cooler with me when camping, where I can then set it out on a picnic table. It is not the best for other road trips, because the top doesn’t seal as well.
Electronics for Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricanes can knock down power lines and it can take a long time for power to come back. I did not have electricity for two weeks after Hurricane Ike hit Houston. It was dark, hot, and very quiet. Luckily we have much better options for battery powered supplies now. The heat in Houston in August and September can be very dangerous. If you do not already have a rechargeable fan, I highly recommend them.
Battery Powered Fans
One of my favorite pieces of hurricane preparedness gear is my large battery operated fan. I didn’t expect that it could be as powerful as it is. I like that it also has a light, and can be charged off of a USB cable. I can also use the battery of the fan to charge a cell phone in an emergency. I bring this with me whenever I go camping, or drive through remote areas in the summer.
I also have this smaller rechargeable fan which I purchased after it was recommended to me by a friend who works outside all day in Houston. If I were to purchase one fan for hurricane preparedness I would go with the larger fan, but this smaller one is really great as well. The battery lasts a really long time, and it can easily fit in a backpack. I take it with me when camping or when I film walking tours.
Rechargeable Lights
Rechargeable lamps are an important safety item when there are power outages. Even when it is not a full hurricane it is not uncommon to lose power for a few hours after a big thunderstorm. After a hurricane it is eerie how dark that city is. Having a good way to light up your home will keep you safe and improve morale. I like that these are not a single purpose item, because I also take them camping. Look for an option that is bright and has a long battery life, because it can be days before you might be able to recharge it.
Good flashlights are getting smaller and cheaper. I like this Wurkkos flashlight because it fits in my pocket and has a setting that lights up a whole room. I also have this small Wuben flashlight which is affordable and very portable. Both flashlights are magnetic and can be attached to a car or the fridge. I always keep one of them with me when traveling anywhere, and have gotten a lot of use out of them.
Rechargeable Batteries
These rechargeable power banks will be able to keep your phone charged if there is an emergency. I was very grateful to have some during recent power outages. I also use them when traveling and to charge camera gear. Rechargeable fans and lights can also be powered off of these batteries.
If you have a larger budget you can also get much bigger power stations such as this Jackery one which has a much bigger capacity. Some of them have a lot of capacity, but can also get very expensive and probably only make sense if you intend to use them for a lot of hunting or camping trips as well. It is a good option for apartment dwellers who want to be able to charge things, but don’t have the option of getting a generator.
You will need to have enough food on hand to feed everyone in your home for a few days.
Shelf Stable Food
The first few days after a large storm hits people will start grilling and cooking all of the food in their freezer and fridge. You can fill them with ice to make them function as a large cooler, or buy a specific cooler to help preserve the food you already have.
It is smart to have some shelf stable food to eat in case it takes longer for the power to come back. Candy bars, chips, and granola are popular choices, but try and have some healthy things too. If you are using canned food make sure you have a manual can opener.
Entertainment during a power outage
Do not underestimate the importance of entertainment. If you do not have power for several days people will get hot, bored, and cranky. Bored people can make bad choices.
Paperback books, puzzles, and board games can be a life saver. Be sure to download music, audiobooks, and podcasts onto your phone before the storm hits. A battery powered speaker can make a big difference in people’s mood.
Dutch Blitz, Cover your Assets, and Regicide are card games that my family really enjoys. Regicide can be played on a normal deck of cards.
I personally really like to to jigsaw puzzles, and a storm is a great time to do them. You can get a jigsaw puzzle with images of the National Parks or even of Texas.
I also love my Kindle, and bring it with me traveling all the time. They stay charged for a very long time, and you can put a lot of books on them, including digital books from the library.