Supplies are a critical part of every family’s health and safety and should be gathered well in advance of hurricane season each year. Once a storm is imminent, time to shop will be limited, and if supplies are even available, you will have to search for them.

Many residents of Southwest Florida experienced shortages on plywood, batteries, flashlights, water, generators and other such storm necessities during the recent busy hurricane seasons. Each time a storm was predicted to make landfall near Southwest Florida, lines were long, shelves were bare, and stress levels were high. It pays to be prepared!

Supplies can be divided into several categories, but the essentials should be gathered and kept easily accessible throughout the hurricane season. Be sure to place the items that you will most likely need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container.

Water
One Gallon of Water Per Person Per Day!!
- Additional water for food preparation and sanitation.
- Bags of ice. Supply will be severely limited once a storm strikes.
- Partially fill plastic one-liter or larger soft drink bottles with water and place in the freezer. The bottles will freeze without cracking (stronger plastic than one gallon water bottles). If the power goes out, the frozen water will help keep the freezer cool and when the ice melts, the water will be drinkable.
Minimum three-day supply of water per person.

Food
A supply of Non-Perishable Food Items is Essential
Be sure to have a minimum three-day supply of non-perishable food on hand for each member of your family. Food items should require no refrigeration and little or no water to prepare.
- Dry cereal
- Canned fruits
- Canned juice
- Instant coffee and tea
- Ready-to-eat soups
- Peanut butter
- Canned vegetables
- Ready-to-eat canned meats; tuna, pork, chicken
- Bread, crackers and quick energy snacks
- Baby formula

Important Documents
Keep these documents in a waterproof, portable container:
- Important telephone numbers
- Record of bank account numbers
- Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
- Inventory of valuable household goods
- Copy of will, insurance policies, deeds, stocks and bonds
- Record of credit card account numbers and companies
- Copy of passports, social security cards, immunization records, etc.

Tools & Supplies
- Traveler’s checks
- Battery-operated radio / TV
- Flashlight and lanterns
- Extra batteries and extra bulbs
- Lighter or matches for your grill
- Rabbit ears for your TV
- Extension cords (heavy duty and three-pronged)
- Thermos for hot food and coolers/ ice for cold food
- Manual can opener / utility knife
- Plastic sheeting / tarps
- Duct tape
- Generator
- Gas cans
- Old towels for clean up
- Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
- Plastic trash bags
- Full propane tanks
- Charcoal and lighter fluid
- Camp stove
- Sterno
- Tree saw for cutting fallen limbs
- Hand tools: knife, ax, pliers, screwdrivers, wrench
- Hammer and nails
- Fire extinguisher
- Fix-a-Flat ® aerosol
- Mops, buckets and cleaning supplies

Medical
- First aid kits (one for your home and one for each car)
- Insulin
- Denture needs
- Prescription drugs, minimum two-week supply
- Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
- Contact lenses and supplies
- Heart and high blood pressure medication
- Insect repellent
- Itch-relief cream

Sanitation
- Disinfectant
- Toilet paper, towelettes, paper towels
- Soap and liquid detergent
- Personal hygiene items
- Household chlorine bleach
- Water purification tablets
- Large bucket or trash can with lid for storing water to flush toilets

Miscellaneous
- Blankets / sleeping bags
- Pillows
- Rain gear
- Work gloves
- One complete change of clothing per person
- Sturdy shoes, work boots, hiking shoes
- Games, books, crayons, paper and quiet toys
- Deck of cards
- Diapers