The Ultimate HURRICANE CHECKLIST STANDARD ESSENTIALS: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Frill-free landline phone & basic phone service (NOT cable) BATTERIES! (NOT rechargeable) Manual can opener Wine key & bottle opener Heavy-duty double-sided screwdriver Portable grill w/ plenty of PROPANE or CHARCOAL Disposable plates, napkins, cups & utensils Ice trays Pre-cut aluminum foil sheets Quart & gallon-sized Ziploc bags LED lanterns (AtomicBeamLantern/bulbhead.com) Several battery-operated fans (O2 COOL 10-inch portable fan w/ USB charging port) hand-held, battery-operated fans Plastic tarps, duct tape & bungee cords Emergency drinking water system (WaterBOB.com) Silicone pot cover for tub drain Save gallon-size milk jugs for flushing toilets One watertight file box for important files Watertight container for garbage Well-stocked first aid kit (replenish annually) Bug repellent, bite ointment & sunscreen Flashlights & headlamps! (LED is best) MATCHES & multi-purpose LIGHTERS Rubber boots, heavy-duty work gloves & facemasks Large COOLERS with wheels & lots of freezer packs Automobile jumper cables Portable mobile phone chargers w/ cords Solar-powered mobile phone chargers w/ cords Unscented dry shampoo (you’ll be glad you did) Spill-proof “safety” gas cans OPTIONAL: ! ! ! ! Generator & gas (store per manufacturers manual) Carbon monoxide detector Gas-powered chainsaw (use w/ protective gear) NOAA weather radio AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Review all insurance coverages Set-up online insurance account Inventory of all personal property Photograph all personal property Create a master list of accounts Service/repair hurricane shutters CASH (small bills are best) Non-perishable food (7 days) Toilet paper & paper towels (7 days) Disposable hand-sanitizer and/or baby wipes Disposable disinfecting wipes Drinking WATER for humans & pets (4 gallons/person & pet, per day for 14 days) Disposable toothbrushes Sandbags or large bags of potting soil Trim trees, palm fronds & coconuts, etc. No shutters? Have plywood cut in advance & have an installation plan in place Give a spare key to a friend for safekeeping 1 WEEK BEFORE THE STORM: ! Put shutters or plywood up ! Recycle any unwanted hazardous materials ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! (http://www.colliergov.net/recycles) Remove blades from exterior ceiling fans Remove and/or tie down exterior light fixtures Remove decorative knickknacks, pots, statutes, furniture & doormats, etc. Purchase boxed milk, oranges, & grapefruits & apples Turn on Government Alerts (mobile phone) Blankets, pillows & inflatable mattresses Set aside rubber boots & rain jacket w/ hood Fill lots of gallon-sized Ziploc bags w/ ice Empty freezer & refrigerator of all perishables Fill gas tanks & top off all automotive liquids Inspect tire pressure LIMIT DRIVING Fill spill-proof gas cans & store in garage If you decide to evacuate, DO NOT WAIT! THREE DAYS BEFORE THE HURRICANE: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Wash ALL dirty laundry Completely clean your home Change linens on all beds Balance bank statements Pay all credit card bills & estimated taxes Be sure everyone in your family carries detailed identification & medical information at all times Keep current photos of all family members & pets on hand in case of emergency Pack one duffle/person in case of evacuation Store all prescription medicines; eyeglasses, contact lenses, pet meds; checkbooks and passports in a watertight container Scan and/or store all insurance policies, HUD statements, title insurance (home), car titles and pet records (licenses & vaccinations) in a watertight container Refill all prescriptions in advance ! Unplug ALL small appliances ! Put dry towels & bath mats on the floor surrounding all ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 24 HOURS BEFORE THE STORM: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Turn icemaker “off” & empty ice tray Pre-cook ALL meat, fish & poultry Crank-up the freezer & refrigerator settings to coldest setting Crank-up HVAC to cool home (IMPORTANT: turn AC off when power goes off) Securely LOCK all doors & windows Pull blinds down to keep your home cool Fill bathtubs with water. NOT FOR DRINKING! Fill gallon jugs with water for toilet flushing Limit waste water use until given the “all-clear” by local utility company Run dishwasher & washer/dryer 1 last time CHARGE all mobile phones, tablets, laptop computers & external battery packs Back up files to the Cloud or to an external hard-drive (keep in watertight container) Put computer/laptop in dishwasher & lock Fill several thermoses with coffee Tell out-of-town friends & family where you will be during the hurricane, as well as your back-up plans (i.e.: evacuate) Tell family & friends to limit calls/ texts Clear all voicemail & all deleted voicemail messages from your mobile phone Put hurricane supplies in one place (off the floor) DAY OF THE STORM: ! Pull car into garage as far as possible ! Lock garage from the inside by closing safety latch & put lift on “manual” setting ! Turn off hot water heater & circuits © windows & doors Tightly close all interior doors Put mobile devices on LOW BATTERY mode Leave your mobile devices ON at all times Pick a place where everyone will remain for the duration of the storm Have a “backup” location where everyone goes in case the windows blow If you do move into the “backup” room, take a headcount Lock all exterior doors & put key in close proximity to the door Discuss evacuation routes in advance Flying debris? Evacuate immediately! Wear long pants, sneakers & socks (NO shorts & NO flip-flops) Everyone should have a raincoat, rubber boots, umbrella and flashlight/headlamp readily available in case of emergency Keep passport, driver’s license/identification, cash and credit/debit/ATM cards together in a handbag or Ziploc bag and place next to your raincoat for quick retrieval Turn off TV & unplug until power is stable Turn HVAC & corresponding circuits OFF. (Air handler first followed by condenser) AFTER THE STORM: ! Reset HVAC system by turning air handler & condenser circuits OFF for 10 minutes before turning back on ! Change air filters & reset temperature to normal ! Run 2 full cycles in clothes washer & dishwasher to ensure ! ! ! ! ! water is clean Run 2 or 3 full ice maker cycles Reset refrigerator/freezer to normal Report all damages to insurance company Replenish all supplies after the storm Remove batteries from all flashlights, radios & fans when not in use PET OWNERS: ! Pet food, meds & anti-anxiety pills stored in watertight container (2-week supply) ! Copy of all current vaccines & licenses ! Secure animals in crates with toys & long-lasting rawhide ! ! ! ! bones during & after storm ALWAYS secure pets with harness & leash Microchip all pets & have current ID on collar Puppy “pee-pee” pads Collapsible pet cages (essential for shelter) Marla Ottenstein 2019 Professional Organizer Florida www.ProfessionalOrganizerFlorida.com 239.597.6277