Putting Together a Hurricane Kit to Protect Your Home and Family

While your Florida homeowner’s insurance is designed to help you recover any losses you may sustain in a hurricane, taking the time to put together a hurricane kit can make all of the difference. Late spring 2014 marks the beginning of a new season, and everyone should be prepared.

Fresh Water

One of the primary things you will need to add to your hurricane kit is fresh water and food. While it is possible to purchase fresh water and store it for a period of time, you may find that it is difficult to keep enough water on hand. You should have enough to last everyone in your family at least a week, and many sources state that each person should have access to at least three to five gallons per day for drinking, cooking, washing and more. A great alternative is to purchase a filtration system that fits directly into your home’s bathtub. All you have to do is add water to the tub and pump it through the filter as you need it.

Food

Another thing that is important in the event of a hurricane is the storage of food. A hurricane kit should include non-perishable food items, and preferably those that are canned since they last longer. While things such as dried rice, beans and even pasta last a long time, too, these require long cooking times and more fuel than you may be able to spare for a while. You should store enough food to feed everyone in your family for at least a week, but more is always better than less. Make sure that the goods you choose to keep need only minimal cooking, as well.

Boards and Nails

Now that you have fresh water and food, you’ll need to protect your home. Part of your hurricane kit should always be boards and nails. You’ll want to board up your windows and doors securely prior to the arrival of the hurricane to protect them and reduce the size of the claim you will need to make through your Florida homeowner’s insurance company. There are plenty of websites and even tutorial videos you can find online for the proper way to board up your home prior to a hurricane.

Gadgets and Appliances

There are some things that can certainly help you during a hurricane, and these include some sort of cooking device that is propane or oil powered, a generator and fuel, flashlights, plenty of fresh batteries, a battery-powered weather radio to stay on top of the latest weather updates and alerts, and anything else that your family will need to stay as comfortable as possible during this time. While being without power for a long period of time can certainly be bothersome, you and your family can stay safe and make the best of it.

Finally, it is important that you remember to keep a well-stocked first aid kit and make sure that you have all of your family’s prescriptions filled and in a safe place prior to the arrival of the hurricane. A hurricane kit may not only help you save money on your Florida homeowner’s insurance kit, but it can also save your life.