My Dad Has Weathered 20 Years of Tropical Storms in Florida, and This Is What You’ll Need for Hurricane Season

Floridians grow up dealing with plenty of natural chaos, with tropical storms leading the list during hurricane season.

We are so used to lullabies of wind, lightning and thunder that sometimes these big storms are not taken seriously. But since my dad was an Eagle Scout, one is always prepared. During 20+ years of hurricane season weather in Jacksonville, Florida, our house was okay — despite the best efforts of Matthew, Dora, and other ghosts of hurricanes past.

I asked my dad what he buys to prepare for tropical storms, so if you find yourself in her path, you’ll know exactly how to prepare.

What to buy to prepare for a tropical storm

• LED Camping Light, 2-Pack, $23.66 (Orig. $34.98)
• Durasack Heavy Duty Sandbags, $10.15
• Amazon Basics 6-Outlet Surge Protector Rectangular Strip, $11.80 (originally $13.88)
• Wen 4017 Electric Chainsaw, 16-inch, $54.99 (Orig. $69.99)
• Marbero Portable Solar Power Station Generator, $65.21 with coupon (was $109.99)
• Cartman Finished Waterproof Green Tarp 8x10ft, $9.99 (Originally $14.99)
• Polish Spring Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, $17.78
• Handlandy Work Gloves for Men and Women, $12.80 (was $15.80)

Amazon Basics 6 Outlet Rectangular Surge Protector

Amazon

Orig. $14 $12 on Amazon

When there’s a severe storm in your area, you’ll likely have the TV on to keep up with the weather forecast. So, my dad always instilled in us the importance of plugging large appliances and electronics into surge protectors. Honestly, this is a general thing you should do, but it’s especially important when it comes to storms. Each of these two surge protectors has six outlets, so there’s plenty of room for a laptop, phone, tablet, and anything else you might charge during a storm.

Durasack heavy duty sandbags

Amazon

$10 on Amazon

Because of Florida’s sea level, flooding is the biggest problem during hurricane season. When Hurricane Matthew hit, Jacksonville had extensive street flooding that affected many homes and businesses. So before a big storm, my dad will put sandbags like this in front of doors and long windows that touch the ground to prevent water from getting in. Note that they won’t stop heavy floodwater, but they should handle anything under two feet.

LED lamp for camping, pack of 2 pieces

Amazon

Orig. $35 $24 on Amazon

Usually one of the first signs of a severe tropical storm is a power outage. My dad keeps three to four of these types of LED lights in our laundry room so we can easily grab them and place them around the house. LED bulbs are quite bright, so even if the power goes out at night, you have a decent light source. Bonus: these special lights have four lighting modes and are waterproof if you get a leak or have to go outside in the rain.

Marbero Portable Solar Power Station Generator, $65 with coupon

Amazon

Orig. $110 $65 on Amazon

Given the power issues that can occur during tropical storms and hurricanes, a portable generator like this is a good investment. It can keep your phones and computers charged to help you stay in touch with your loved ones and stay updated on the storm and how it’s progressing. Plus, this generator is currently on sale for $45.

Polish spring brand 100% natural spring water

Amazon

$18 on Amazon

Although it may seem obvious, keeping clean water is very important during a storm. Major flooding can cause contamination of public water supplies, as well as damage or other problems that may occur at your local water treatment plant. So during hurricane season we always have a 24 pack of bottled water in our pantry.

Even after the storm passes, there are a few things you may need to repair. I’ve also included Dad’s top picks below, including a tarp for covering the parts of the roof that are missing shingles, work gloves for cleaning up debris, and a chainsaw for cutting broken branches or branches.

Cartman Finished Waterproof Green Tarp Size 8x10ft

Amazon

Orig. $15 $10 on Amazon

Practical work gloves for men and women

Amazon

Orig. $16 $13 on Amazon

Wen 4017 Electric Chainsaw, 16 inch

Amazon

Orig. $70 $55 on Amazon

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education