Prepare For the Next Hurricane Without Leaving Your Desk at Halfvalue.com

This guide is only meant to suggest the types of items you may want on hand during a storm and its aftermath.

Power-less
We are accustomed to flickers and brief outages during summer, when ordinary afternoon storms suddenly explode overhead. Yet a hurricane is another matter entirely. Ferocious winds and fallen trees often result in the majority of homes and businesses losing power along the storm’s path. Because of the sheer volume of repair work, clearing debris and rebuilding power lines, prepare to live without electricity for one to three weeks.

Consider a generator such as 'Generac Portable Products 9777 4000 Watt Extended Life Premium Generator with Wheel Kit and Storage Cover' to run the refrigerator, fans and lights. Always follow manufacturer’s instructions for proper use and care. And don’t forget the 'Coleman Cable 01689 100' 300 Volt, 12/3 Gauge Heavy Duty Polar Solar Extension Cords' and 'Wedco 2-1/2 Gallon Gas Can'.

'Yamaha EF1000IS 1,000-Watt Inverter Generator' might ease the discomfort.

The 'Xantrex Technologies 851-0400 X-Power 400 Power Inverter' will power the laptop and cell phone from your car’s cigarette lighter.

Be Prepared
Try to assemble your emergency kit well in advance of any approaching storm. There’s nothing worse than waiting in endless, last-minute lines when you need to be making preparations at home.

Plan to be fully self-sufficient during a hurricane and the immediate aftermath. Along with bottled water and ready-to-eat foods, an emergency first aid kit like 'First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit, Softpack (106 Pieces)' is a must while riding out the storm in your home, and during the cleanup that follows. (Injuries are most likely to happen during cleanup.)

If water becomes contaminated 'WPC Brands - Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets (50)' would come in handy.

Be sure to have a manually operated can opener like 'OXO SteeL 58081 Can Opener'. You never know when you’ll need '60 Yard Roll of 2in. Duct Tape', or basic tools including 'Stanley 51-616 16 oz. Wood Handle Curved Claw Nail Hammer' and 'Helping Hand "Tack, Nails & Brad Assorted", 7 oz'

A big roll of heavy-duty garbage bags 'Extra heavy duty, Black Can Liner for 20-30 gallonContainers, 50/ROL' is invaluable. I’ve made last-minute emergency sandbags by stuffing with old newspaper. I’ve used them to wrap around computers and such. They could be used in a variety of ways to protect valuable belongings from water damage.

Lighting The Way
A few handy lighting options include:
'Diamond Gen IV - Rechargeable No Battery LED Shake Flashlight - 2 Hour - Clear'
'Dynamo LED Crank Flashlight'
'Table Lamp Weather Resistant Uses 4 D Cell Green'
'Team Products PML 8800 Coleman Powermate Rechargeable Spotlight Two Million Candlepower'

If at all possible don’t light with candles. Hurricanes are nerve-racking enough without adding a potential fire hazard. One simple solution, solar powered garden lights such as 'Ultra Bright Solar Landscape Light / Outdoor Light / Outside Light' can be brought indoors in the evening. (Oh, but don’t leave them out during the hurricane.) Once the storm passes, the days that immediately follow tend to be bright and sunny. So it only makes sense to use solar power in any way possible.

Several emergency radios include flashlights and other nifty features. A sampling includes:
'Eton FR300 Emergency Radio'
'Sun Mate 836NL Generator and Solar AM FM SW TV Radio with flashlight and siren'
'Solar-Generator-Battery Powered Radio & Flashlight'
'Heavy Duty Dynamo Wind Up Flashlight Radio Plus Free Backup Batteries'
'Sharper Image 5-In-1 Emergency Radio and Spotlight (YW631)'
'Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio'

'Coby CX-TV1 5" Black-and-White TV with AM/FM Tuner' is an inexpensive way to continue following the storm’s path visually, once the power goes out.

Keeping Your Cool
No air conditioning, no electric fans, miserably hot outside. Welcome to the aftermath of a major hurricane in Florida. If you don’t have the luxury of a generator to power fans or possibly a window air conditioning unit, you may want to consider a battery powered fan. Examples include: 'Battery Powered Fan (most powerful battery fan on the market)', 'Caframo - Black Minimax Fan' and 'Coleman Free Standing Tent Fan'.

'Solar Safari Cool Hat' might help keep you cool during cleanup and recovery.

Be sure to stock up on plenty of batteries such as 'DURACELL D 4PK ALKALINE TOP - MN1300R4Z' for all those nifty gadgets.

Gotta Have My Caffeine!
I don’t know why it seems that hurricanes always hit at night. All I know, after it’s over the first thing I want is a nice cup of coffee.

With a gas powered stove, you almost have it made. But since most modern stoves have an electric starter be sure to keep a box of 'Penley Kitchen Matches, 250 In A Box, 3 ct' nearby.

Gas stove coffee options include:

Make instant coffee. Yuck!

Make up an extra pot of your favorite brew before the storm hits and refrigerate. Then heat as needed. Personally,I’d rather do thatthan drink instant.

Get a 'Farberware Classic Yosemite Stainless Steel Percolator'.

If you have an electric stove, you can make a pot ahead of the storm and store in a 'Thermos Steel Bottle - 2-qt.' Two quart capacity? Yeah, that sounds about right.

To solve other cooking needs an inexpensive outdoor grill 'Coleman 9940-755 Roadtrip Party Grill' or camp stove 'Coleman - 2 Burner Propane Stove' might work during the aftermath of a hurricane.

Ice coolers like 'Coleman Ultimate Extreme 50-qt. Cooler' are essential if you don’t have a generator to power the refrigerator.

Before The Winds Start Blowing
Make sure your property is ready to sustain the next storm with minimal damage. Much destruction is caused by falling trees and limbs, so learn to prepare the plants in your yard with 'Stormscaping (Florida Gardening Series, Vol. 3)' A chainsaw like 'McCulloch MS1839AVCC 39cc 2-cycle Gas Engine Chain Saw 18" bar & Carrying Case' is invaluable for pruning before the storm, as well as cleaning up afterwards.

Anything on your property that could become dangerous flying missiles should be put away or securely tied down.

Take a moment to photograph everything indoors and out, to assist if insurance claims become necessary.

Make sure you have a good supply of all prescription medications.

Fill up the car with gas, as it could become in short supply as the storm draws near.

I put gallon jugs of water in the freezer a few days in advance. These go along way toward keeping other items cool longer. If you have children, you could do the same with milk. Fresh milk, bread and produce may be in short supply immediately after the storm.

Even though I do laundry beforehand, dirty and sweaty clothing pile up fast when everybody is busy cleaning up debris without the luxury of air conditioning. I wash a sink full of laundry each morning. A 'Drying Line - Retractable Single Line - (Almond)' might be nice.

Children And Hurricanes
A Hurricane can be a scary time for young children. Keeping the young ones close and discussing their fears can go along way toward easing the situation. Children pick up on parent’s anxieties so it’s best if everybody makes that extra effort to help keep each other’s stress at a minimum.

Plan activities that the family can do together.
'PLAYING CARDS' can be added to any emergency kit. I’ll bet the kids would really enjoy 'Marvel Checkers'.

If the family finds itself in a safe room or interior bathroom during the worst of the storm, try to find ways to keep them from dwelling on the scariness of situation.

Shadow puppets are always popular.

Have a sing along.

Talk to each other.

Take turns telling stories, jokes or riddles.

Before the power goes out, parents and children could read together, 'Creative Storytelling: Choosing, Inventing, & Sharing Tales for Children' or 'Kids' Silliest Jokes'

After the lights go out encourage the youngsters to make up their own stories and jokes. This could help to create some great memories for all.

Of course a 'Coby TFDVD7100 Portable DVD Player' or 'Game Boy Advance SP - Platinum' would help pass the time.

With a little planning and preparation even monstrous hurricanes are easier to endure.

Further Reading
'Florida's Hurricane History'
'Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, 1871-2001'
'Mean Season : Florida's Hurricanes of 2004'
'Killer 'Cane : The Deadly Hurricane of 1928'
'Storm of the Century : The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 (Adventure Press)'

Sarah Mankowski is the author of 'Wind Scarred' a novel of romance and family secrets set in a fictional citrus growing community of Central Florida during the all-to-real Hurricane Charley.