Essential Supplies for Hurricane Season 2022 in South Florida

Officially, hurricane season extends from June 1 to November 30, with the bulk of storms occurring between August and October. Of course, it’s entirely possible for South Florida to be threatened by a hurricane outside of hurricane season. Because of this, it’s best to be prepared year-round. At the office of Kogan & DiSalvo, our personal injury lawyers would like to take a few minutes to remind our fellow Floridians of the essential supplies and equipment you should always have on hand in the event of a hurricane. 

Essential documents and communications items 

There are certain items that all South Floridians should keep in a waterproof container that is easily moveable should your family need to evacuate. Start by taking photos of your home, vehicles, and other personal property for insurance purposes. Your waterproof document container should also contain the following: 

• Health insurance cards and other insurance documents 
• Credit card numbers 
• Copies of Social Security cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates 
• Banking information 
• Emergency contacts (in case you run out of power on your phone and can’t check your contact list) 
• Veterinary records/proof of ownership of pets 
• Copy of wills 
• Lists of medications, including dosages 
• Cellphone/charger 
• Battery-operated radio 
• Plenty of spare batteries 

In addition, consider withdrawing extra cash from the bank. ATMs may not be functioning after the storm. 

Edible items and related equipment 

When a hurricane is approaching South Florida, residents tend to go shopping en masse. It’s a good idea to stay stocked up on essential non-perishables throughout the hurricane season in case of empty shelves at the supermarket. Use the following list as your guide: 

• Water (minimum of 7 gallons per person) 
• Baby formula/food (if applicable) 
• Pet food (if applicable) 
• Canned soups and other canned goods 
• Cereal 
• Powdered milk 
• Crackers 
• Instant coffee 
• Peanut butter/jelly 
• Special dietary items as needed 
• Nutritional drinks that do not require refrigeration 

You’ll also want to have an ice chest, ice, paper plates, manual can opener, plastic cups, and plastic utensils on hand. In addition, you’ll want either charcoal or propane gas for your grill, lighter fluid, and waterproof matches. 

Health and personal care items 

If you or anyone in your household takes prescription medication, consider talking to your doctor about arranging for a larger supply than usual so that you can have extra on hand in the event of a hurricane. This is particularly important if the medication is life-saving, such as asthma inhalers or heart pills. Other health-related items to have on hand include the following: 

• Well-stocked first aid kit with plenty of sterile bandages, antiseptic, and antibacterial ointment 
• Scissors/tweezers 
• Thermometer 
• Antacids/aspirin/laxatives  
• Moist towelettes 
• Latex gloves 

In addition to a well-stocked first aid kit and other medical supplies, you will need to have the following personal care items on hand: 

• Soap, detergent, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer 
• Sunscreen 
• Insect repellant 
• Disinfectant wipes 
• Toilet paper 
• Other items as needed, such as contact lens solution, cases, extra lenses, and spare eyeglasses 

Items for special populations 

If your household includes infants, children, elderly individuals, people with special needs, or pets, then you will need to prepare for their needs, as well. For instance, households with babies will need to have plenty of diapers and wipes on hand, as well as anything else the children will need. If someone in your household requires life support devices or similar medical equipment, you should have a generator with plenty of fuel on hand. You should also notify your utility company, and make plans to evacuate as soon as evacuation is recommended. 

Final thoughts 

Remember that every household should have an emergency plan, and every family member – if they are old enough – should understand it. For example, identify meeting places in case of separations and discuss evacuation routes. If a storm is approaching, pay close attention to the news and weather alerts. If an evacuation order is issued, please heed it.