Expert Tips for Hurricane Season Prep

Hydration Hero

Forget hoarding plastic water bottles: The WaterBob emergency drinking water containment system ($35) lets you store up to 100 gallons of potable water in your bathtub.

Get Lit

Order a few of these lightweight LuminAid PackLite lanterns ($30 each) to keep in your hurricane prep kit. They can be charged via USB or solar power  and can last up to 24 hours on a single charge.

Tool Time

Your toolbox might not be easy to grab in an emergency, but this all-in-one Leatherman Wave Plus multitool ($120) with wire cutters, scissors, a ruler, a screwdriver, and more can come in handy. 

Eat Safe

Even frozen food can spoil if it’s left at room temperature for two hours. The ColdTi freezer meter ($10) is a helpful way to confirm that food is still safe to eat after a power outage.

Flood Fix

Instead of packing and stacking back-breaking sandbags, set up these water-activated Quick Dam flood barriers ($20 for one pack). As it rains, they absorb water and grow to a height of 3.5 inches.

Policy Pro-Tip

Most flood insurance policies require a minimum 30-day waiting period, and you can’t purchase new homeowners’ insurance (or increase your limits) if a natural disaster is imminent. Want to make changes to your policy or up your coverage? Take action now.

Power Moves

Conlan Kennedy, senior communication strategist at Florida Power & Light (FPL), shares a few tasks for your pre-storm to-do list.

• Photograph or record your home—inside and out—for insurance purposes.
• Clear tree and vegetation debris quickly; trash pickup will be suspended when a
  hurricane warning is issued.
• Hire a qualified professional to trim any vegetation growing on or near overhead power lines.
• Turn off all swimming pool pumps and filters and wrap them in waterproof materials.
• Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings ahead of time to keep food fresh longer in the event of a power outage.
• Save your FPL account number on your phone for easy access, and bookmark fpl.com/outage and 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243) to report and track the status of power restoration.
• When making repairs, ensure all ladders or scaffolding are at least 10 feet away from power lines so you can work safely without the risk of electrocution.