My OCD Hurricane Prep List

This is my list of things I have written down over the years to think about before a storm.  Having a disaster preparedness checklist or kit is handy to have and this one came from experience.  Coffee was the thing that no one has on any list and is worth more than gold after a day or two with no power in the neighborhood.  People need their morning fix.

 

 

Todo List

                Check fuel gas/propane

                                Cars should be full of fuel

                                BBQ should have fuel for emergency cooking

                Turn off valves if safe (bbq, sprinklers)

                Check motor oil

                Prestart generator/check battery

                Boost pool to 5ppm chlorine

                Turn freezers to max

                Cool house to 75

                Turn off extra clocks, fans, filters, appliances

                Shut down extra breakers and unplug everything possible

      power adapters draw power when computer/device is off

                                Reduces surge load on transformer feed to house as power fluctuates

                                Reduces generator fuel consumption

               

                Partially close valve on hot water to reduce consumption of hot water/power/fuel

                Flush toilets several times each before storm in case of sewage backfeed after.

                Cleanup yard debris or loose items

                Pack up pool fence

                Remove Dish (bigger storms)

                Cover cars for debris

                Fuel full in cars

                Fill bathtub for bathing water

                Fill extra water containers

                Put as much water in freezer as possible, helps to preserve temp on opening and also backup ice

                Cooler full of ice for common access to leave fridge shut

                Large drinking water (like Gatorade dumped on coach at games) container with spout

                Cook food: (precooked meats can be stored longer)

                                Chicken nuggets

                                Hot dogs

                                Fried Chicken

                                Hamburger patties

                                Steaks

                                Bacon   

                                Oatmeal cookies

                                Pasta

                                Rice

 

                Documents/photos in plastic bags

                Check car emergency supply kits

               

Supply goals:

               

Fuel:

                Full propane tank

                Full generator tank plus 20 gallons

                Motor oil

Other:

                Money

                First aid kit, medicines, fever reducers

                Latex gloves

                Sunscreen

                Antacid

                Laxative

                Matches in waterproof container, in plastic bag

                Aluminum foil

                Air horn

                Flares

                Tarps/plastic sheeting

                Feminine products

                4 rain ponchos

                Garbage bags

                Toilet Paper

                1 gallon Clorox

                Pool chlorine

                Fill cooler with ice/drinks and common fridge grabs

                Can opener

                Radio

                Waterproof watch/compass

                Leatherman

                Good heavy duty knife

                100 ft parachute cord

                Backpack

                2x carabineer

                2x Flashlight

                2x fire extinguisher

                Army survival manual

                Vaseline

                Batteries

Water:

                25 gallons or 100 liters

                10 gallons portable

Food:

                Dog food

                Iodized Salt

                Vitamin C

                2 Peanut butter

                2 large packs of nuts

                8 cans fruit

                8 cans vegetables

                4 packages Beans

                Disposable plates and utensils

                4 lbs Ground coffee

                Coffee filters

                20 cans of soup or other canned foods

                4 loaves of bread

                4 lbs oats

                1 lb honey

                2 lbs sugar

                4 gallons milk

                Dried or condensed milk

                4 big boxes cereal

                4 bags rice with flavor cubes

                4 pkgs pasta

                4 pasta sauce bottles

                1 box powerbars

                1 lb beef jerky

                Olive oil

                Vegetable oil

                12 sticks Butter

                Precooked foods

 

Notes/Comments:

                Precooking food means food lasts longer and is easy to reheat, saves fuel

 

                Freeze as much water as possible, can double as ice box

 

                Never ration water, ok to ration food, if low on water, stay in shade/inactive when hot.

 

                Avoid running water/flushing if power is out, sewage pumps may be out too.

 

                Make sure freezers and fridges are full.  Helps to regulate temperature better. 

 

                Plan on opening inside fridge once a day maximum.  Try using cooler for drinks, one milk etc.  Opening fridge means fuel to cool it back down, and pumps heat into house that must be extracted.

 

                If power is bouncing, disconnect grid power, start generator if possible, otherwise turn as many things off as possible including air conditioning to preserve equipment.

 

                On bigger storms, remove more things outside, prestart generator and run on generator.   Precook more food.

 

Heavy damage, extended outages, fuel and water problems:

                Save generator fuel by using grill and precooking other food in advance

                Every light, clock, computer, power adapter adds to generator fuel consumption.

                Water from pool can be used for bathing

                Stored water will taste better if you pour it between containers first, shake it, get air in it.

                In emergency water from pool can be made reasonably safe to drink by running through coffee maker with filter or boiling.  Filter will take out the debris and heat should be kill bugs after 15 minutes in carafe or 10 minutes boil and cool (covered). 

      The chlorine is not the best, but will do less harm than bugs and in worst case scenario, should be safer to drink than other water if nothing else available even without boiling.  4 drops of ultra Clorox per gallon of water and 30 minutes should make safe to drink, it should have a slight chlorine smell, otherwise add two drops and wait 30 until you can smell.  Alternatively there is pool chlorine in powder form that could do the same, less is more, but make sure you can smell it a bit and WAIT for it.

      If no filters, T-shirts can be used.

      Can also use pool water for laundry, use buckets to pull water out and put into a tub.  Remember the chlorine might bleach things. 

      Rainwater should be safe to drink if immediate, otherwise some chlorine.

                Water from canal is brackish, avoid or distill. 

                Use old/spoiling meat to catch fish