Here we go again.
I’m double-checking my hurricane lists this morning, so I thought I’d share them once again. Good luck with your preparations today and be safe if you evacuate. I’m hoping to head to the east coast as soon as they close the port of Tampa.
For updates on the storm, we’re watching NOAA hurricane center and Mike’s Weather Page.
The Tampa Bay Times is free during the state of emergency.
If you’re hunkering down at home, of course you need plenty of supplies, but it’s also important to have your home ready for family and friends who need a place to stay. If you’re ordered to evacuate, securing your house and packing your car with your most critical belongings can be emotionally and physically draining. Referring to lists helps you focus.
Here are a few things to think about once you’re in the cone of uncertainty:
Catch up on your laundry.
Pay all your bills. Put together important files, insurance, etc.
Prescriptions.
Pet Supplies.
Start bagging up the ice from your ice maker and freeze bottles of water.
You can never have enough: water, ice, toilet paper, paper towels, tarps, towels, buckets.
These things sell out quickly: fuel, propane tanks, flashlights, C & D batteries, tarps, charcoal, lighters, air mattresses, garbage bags & contractor bags.
A new thing I’ve been using: collapsible, refillable water bottles.
I highly recommend an outdoor propane burner. We also use a trailer hitch cargo carrier for extra fuel and supplies.
Here is my shopping list for hurricane food, which doesn’t include some stuff I may cook before the storm if I have time.
Here’s a pdf to save or print: hurricane food
Good food keeps up the morale. Despite what the official guides say, I buy some fruits and vegetables that don’t require refrigeration, and I stick to the pantry staples that I know we’ll eat when we have no a/c (no canned soup here).
My friend Julie reminded me of another thing you won’t find on any official guides: stock up on beer, wine, or cocktail ingredients you like. She mentioned the sale of alcohol was prohibited after the first of two hurricanes hit the east coast of Florida in 2004. Better safe than sober.
A few quick tasks you can do before the storm hits: boil all your eggs, quick-pickle some veggies, and cook the perishables. As my mom always says, “This bacon won’t cook itself.”
A few recipes we appreciated in past storms:
Alright, back to work! Stay safe friends.
Good luck! Hoping for the best for Tampa and the west coast!
Thank you, Misti!
Wow artichoke hearts and chocolate…Lol …funny items for Hurricane pantry…I keep these items at all times in my pantry ,ya never know…I got a bad feeling about this storm….Here in Cedar Key we haven’t had a bad storm in years, hopefully this won’t be the year…Good luck to you and yours…
Well I couldn’t possibly go through this without chocolate! And artichokes are my husband’s favorite. haha. I hope you stay safe and sound. We’re under mandatory evacuation now. Are you? Hoping this thing stays far away from all of us. Take good care!
Not yet,only r v parks and low lying areas,ha ha isn’t most of Florida low lying areas….I enjoy and look forward to your monthly post..Thanks so very much for making my world a lot brighter!,,
We’ve been thinking about you guys and everyone in the path of this monster. At least I know you’ll have plenty of good food and hurricane cocktails. It’s pretty scary. Hoping for the best for all.
At best, we’re going to be doing a major cleanup here in Tampa. I am hoping for a miracle at this point. It’s a beast of a storm, something that hasn’t been seen here for 100 years. I’m hoping my friends and neighbors heed all the warnings. We’re getting out of dodge, that’s for sure! And once we’re safe and sound, you bet we’ll have good food and cocktails -because what else can you do at that point?
Thanks for thinking of us!