South Floridians are no strangers when it comes to tropical weather of all sorts, but 2020 being what it has been so far, we’ve now blown past atlantic storms named alphabetically, and gone to a greek letter naming system. Which has happened for the second time ever (15 years after the first use of greek letters as storm names). 

In that spirit, we’ve decided to do a bit of a hurricane season check-in. 

June 1st marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, but the traditional peak of the season lasts from mid-August to late October. While you may have gotten your supplies together long before this, we’ve created a handy list (with recommendations from ready) to make sure you and your loved ones have everything you might need in the event of a storm (of any size). 

Basic disaster supplies:

1. First aid kit
2. Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
3. Local maps
4. Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both 
5. Flashlight and extra batteries
6. at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
7. one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
8. Backup battery for cell phones
   

Extra supplies to consider:

1. Supply of Prescription medications and glasses
2. Infant formula and diapers (if applicable) 
3. Pet food and extra water for your pet (if applicable) 
4. Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
5. Cash or traveler’s checks and change
6. Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
7. Books, games, puzzles or other activities, to stave off boredom 
   

When deciding what supplies you may still need, take into consideration if you are in a flood zone, or a mandatory evacuation zone, as your needs will change based on if you are at home, or if you need to evacuate. You can check if you live in a flood zone here, and if your county has designated evacuation zones here.

Some quick reminders: 

• Never run your generator indoors. Even if you run it in a room with a door or window open, the chance for CO2 buildup, and subsequently carbon monoxide poisoning, is high. 
• Do not drive into flooded areas. According to weather, “Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and pick-ups.” 
• Remember your pets when checking/gathering supplies! Make sure they have an extra supply of food, water, and any medications they might need, as well as potty pads for dogs. A full pet emergency supply checklist can be found here. In the event you need to evacuate with your pet, you can find pet friendly hotels here. 
• Label where your shutters or boards go on your house ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about the hassle of finding which piece fits where when a storm seems imminent. 
  

While this can seem a lot to take into consideration, ultimately it is to ensure you and your family stay safe and healthy in the event of a storm. Take a look at what supplies you already have on hand, and which you need most in your particular situation.