Last-Minute Checklist for Hurricane Prepping

Are you facing an approaching hurricane and feeling the familiar pre-storm jitters? Even hurricane veterans like myself can miss something! This article is your last-minute checklist for hurricane prepping. Whether you’re a seasoned prepper or a newcomer to hurricane season, this quick guide will whip your hurricane preparation into shape in just 48 hours.

It was a humid, warm day in 2020. Laura was simmering out there in the Gulf, and even though I’d been through this drill before (thanks, Hurricane Harvey!), the nerves always kick in. I started wondering, “Have I covered everything?” My family emergency communication plan was in place and I have emergency apps on my phone to get hurricane updates.

Here’s the thing: even after a big one like Hurricane Harvey (which our town bore the brunt of and I wrote about here), you learn there’s always room for improvement. No matter how well prepared we think we are, it takes just one major crisis of one sort or another to reveal weaknesses and gaps when it comes to being prepared.

So, with 2-3 days before a hurricane hits, do a quick pre-storm scramble. This is the last-minute hurricane checklist I used to be confident and have peace of mind that I had covered the essentials.

Last-minute Hurricane Preparedness Checklist

Here are the things I did in the final 48 hours to prepare for the hurricane:

Emergency Energy Sources

• Ensure all power banks are charged.  Once they’re charged, There will be emergency power for our electronics, lanterns, and emergency radio, among other things. If you are completely lost when it comes to picking out a solar generator, a power bank, or any other type of generator, check out my online energy mini-summit designed to answer every one of your questions.
• Double-check to ensure the generator is ready to go with plenty of extension cords. One of my husband’s many careers is that of a Master Electrician, and when I asked him if we had enough extension cords, without hesitation, he said, “Oh, yeah.” I should have known. The three major appliances I want to have powered up no matter what are the refrigerator, our big, upright freezer loaded with a couple of hundred pounds of meat, and the wall air conditioning unit in our bedroom. We could exist for quite a long time with those three appliances running. The solar panels take care of smaller devices.
• Make sure cell phones, laptops, and other devices are fully charged before the storm hits.
• Position your portable generator so you can easily and quickly begin charging appliances, lights, etc. when the power goes out. And yes, assume the power will go out!
• A solar generator might be the best choice for you as a backup power supply. They’re silent, never give off any dangerous fumes, and there’s no need to store fuel. Survival Mom has tested and uses these solar generators from 4Patriots. Read this post for a thorough review of 4Patriots solar generators.

Fresh Laundry and Meals

• Fill about half a dozen gallon-size Ziploc bags with water, and once they’re frozen, slip them into small nooks and crannies in the freezer. This helps keep the freezer’s temperature cold just in case the generator fails (please, God, don’t let that happen!) Plus, if you need ice to see you through some particularly hot days, you’ll have those as an extra resource. Alternatively, you could plan to use one of these two ways to quietly run a freezer during a power outage.
• Run your washer and dryer to make sure everything you wear is freshly clean. That way doing laundry in a power outage and/or a post-hurricane clean-up won’t be a concern for at least a week or more. Otherwise, have one of these three methods to wash laundry without electricity ready to go.
• Cook several meals to keep on hand. You’ll want meal prep to be the least of our concerns, regardless of what happens. Also have several off-grid cooking methods ready to go , plus other kitchen items that don’t require power. In my food storage pantry, I have the best foods for a hurricane kit.
• For the same reason, run the dishwasher and wash pots and pans immediately after use. In a crisis, the best plan will be the simplest one. Therefore, freedom from any chores that typically require appliances and, especially, hot water is a priority. Conservation is critical so that your water storage lasts as long as possible.
• Have on hand a few meals that only require adding hot water. This article, Just-Add-Hot-Water Meals: Deciding Which are Right for Your Family, reviews several different brands.
• If you don’t have these types of meals, invest in a budget-friendly HotLogic and an electric kettle! The HotLogic doesn’t use much power to act as a slow cooker and the electric kettle can boil water faster than just about anything else, providing hot water for things like tea and just-add-hot-water meals.

Water storage and filtration

It’s surprising if you’ve never been through a major hurricane just how quickly your water supply is either compromised by flood waters, broken water lines, or damage done to your municipal water system. After Harvey, very quickly, people were asking for bottled water and ice.

• Scrub out your bathtubs and sinks very well, rinse with bleach water, and then fill with water. Do the same with any large containers you have around the house.
• Have on hand a bottle of unscented liquid bleach and an eyedropper. The eyedropper is calibrated to give a specific amount of liquid with each drop, making it easier to know how much bleach to add if you need to purify water.
• If you want to add even more water, place a cleaned-out trash can or kiddie pool outside to collect rain.
• Fill empty water and 2-liter soda bottles with tap water and push them into every nook and cranny of your freezer. They’ll help keep your frozen food frozen longer and also be a supply of extra ice water!

Fueling Up and Electronics

• Top off the gas tanks of our vehicles and refilling gas cans with fresh gasoline. Gas is always in short supply with hurricanes, and if you need to evacuate there may not be fuels available along any of your planned evacuation routes. By the way, if your stored gasoline has become too old to be useful, some hardware stores may be able to dispose of it for you. Brush up on liquid fuel safety here.
• Make sure all electronic devices are fully charged. That includes anything capable of being solar charged but is also USB-powered. USB is much quicker; use it while you can.

Getting the home front prepared

• Bring in plants, bird feeders, windchimes — anything that might get blown away by the big winds.
• Clear out gutters and be prepared to sweep away/rake leaves and debris clogging up the drainage system along your street.
• Look for dead tree branches that should be cut/trimmed now.
• Smart idea: have one or two tarps on hand in case of roof damage.
• If an evacuation is likely, go through each room of the house and assess what you want to take with you because of its value or its helpfulness to your comfort and survival during the evacuation. Everything else, move it upstairs or into the attic. If it’s too heavy, elevate it as far above ground as you can. Cinder blocks are helpful for this.
• Do the same with anything stored in your garage or outbuilding. Floodwaters can and do reach heights of 5-6 feet or much more, but usually in a flood, it’s more common for just a few inches to seep inside your home and garage.

Remember Pets

• Doublecheck you pet preparedness supplies for anything that is missing or needs to be cycled. Read this post for how to create a comprehensive pet evacuation kit.
• This is a good time to buy an extra bag or cans of pet food.
• If your pet is afraid of storms, and for some this can be debilitating, ask your vet for medication or any calming techniques.
• If evacuating is a possibility, go ahead now and prepare their crate with bedding, a large Ziploc of food, water/food dishes, leash, and other supplies.

FAQ

Related Hurricane Preparedness Content

• Hurricane Preparedness: A Newcomer’s Guide to Staying Safe in a Storm
• The Wisdom I Learned Surviving 3 Hurricanes
• Lessons Learned from Hurricane Evacuations
• Organize Your Emergency Evacuation in 5 Simple Steps

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Final Thoughts

Hurricane warnings offer a precious window for last-minute preparations. With 48 hours on the clock, it’s crunch time to double-check and ensure everything’s in order. Focus on essential tasks like pre-cooking meals and tackling laundry while the power’s still on. These proactive steps will significantly reduce stress and create a more comfortable environment when the storm arrives.

What else should I have on my list that I may be overlooking?