Living in Houston, you need to have a hurricane preparation kit packed and ready to go in case you’re stuck with a big storm on the way. We’re going to plan in this post that you don’t need to undergo an emergency evacuation and that you’re hunkering down at your house. The key is to have as much of your hurricane essentials as you can ahead of time so when the hurricane updates start coming you’re not fighting people at the store for what you need.
I had a very nice lady who saw me wandering around Academy looking lost and confused before Hurricane Harvey hit. We had only lived in Texas a few weeks and knew nothing about hurricanes or what to expect. She grabbed me by the hand, got me a cart, and said follow me and get yourself one of everything I get. I’m so appreciative of her kindness and want to pay it forward to you! Below is a list of your hurricane essentials you need in your hurricane preparation kit in Houston, TX. We always prepare to stay and weather the storm including preparing to have no power.
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15 Must Have Essentials for Hurricane Season in Houston
1. Water and lots of it!
With hurricane Harvey, we were stuck for 10 days. While our apartment didn’t flood, the roads around us did, meaning we were stuck. It’s always a good thing to have a couple cases of water or gallons of water for yourself as well as your pets! Walmart or grocery stores are the most affordable places to get water, but if they're all sold out you can get them on Amazon with quick delivery (same day at the time of this post). Just keep an eye on Amazon that they aren't super marked up in price. You can also check Walgreens, CVS, hardware stores, etc. to find water.
2. Non perishable food
We always have some easy food options saved for occasions like this, hoping we don’t need them. We do a combination of freeze dried food and canned food. Here are two options for freeze dried foods with up to 25 year shelf life! Option 1. Option 2.
My husband loves cans of chili on a normal basis so his life doesn’t change. But for the toddlers and I, we stock up on the fruit cups and veggies in cups (get the veggies in a cup from your local grocery store to save money), canned soup, canned meats, they even have canned mac n cheese which my toddler say is “the best ever” but if you ask my husband and I, it’s TERRIBLE. In an emergency situation, it would all work, so stock up.
3. Battery powered lamps
These are our favorite. They are VERY bright and you can easily adjust how bright they are, they last forever, you can hang them on things, and they come in multipacks. We put one in our hurricane bag, but we actually have these scattered throughout our house so if the power goes out unexpectedly, we can turn it on and use it to turn on the rest of them as we hang them on door handles around the home.
4. Battery powered fan
These are a must if the power goes out and you don’t have a generator. We have a few of these to spread throughout the house to help us and our pets stay cool when the power goes out. It’s not a TON of air, but it is more than nothing. We also have these little mini ACs which again isn’t enough to cool a home, but it does help keep one room cooler. We like to pick a room (usually our primary bedroom because it has a bathroom attached to it) and hunker down there to keep all the cool air in it.
Make sure you verify the kind of batteries you need for each. We like to do a combination pack or fill up one of these storage containers to put the batteries in our hurricane bag so they’re easy to find.
5. Solar powered power packs
We go through a ton of charge/batteries to keep the fans running round the clock, so we invested in these solar powered power packs for after the storm has rolled through while we wait for power to be reinstated. Sometimes it’s a day, sometimes it’s a week so this helps us in the aftermath to stay cool. We also use them to charge our phones if they start to die.
6. Flotation device
Just in case water does rise and you haven’t found an escape route, having a floatie to at least help you stay afloat as you wait for help. One like this that has non slip and is durable would be good to help you stay secure. We have pets so having one that is heavier duty for dog nails may be a good idea too like this one.
7. A way to prepare food in case of power outage
We like to do a mixture of freeze dried food, canned food, and things we cook on our gas stove/grill. We also have a food warmer I used to send Tyler out to the field with to warm his meals when we lived in Colorado. You simply sit in your vehicle, plug it in, and you can have warm food, sandwiches, etc. in a few minutes. We love this for camping too!
8. Extra propane and gas
If you’re going to be using your grill or running your car to charge your phone/get a break with AC, you want to make sure you have some extra saved up. Often when power is out or there is a big event like this, gas becomes scarce so having an extra can or two at the house is important. Get the propane tanks from Walmart or something local where they are more affordable.
9. A portable generator
If you can afford it, opting for a portable generator is a great way to power a few things in your home like fridge/freezer and some fans to keep you cool if the power goes out. We almost bought this one last year and many of our neighbors have it and love it, but this is the year we will either buy a generator like this, or install a whole home generator, because let’s face it! Having no power sucks, but having no power with two toddlers is next level. No thank you!
10. Battery powered fridge/freezer
This will help you save some of your really important perishables like the pierogies your parents bring you down from Pennsylvania, breastmilk, some meat/dairy for meals, etc. They don’t hold a ton, but they will hold a little bit so you don’t lose everything. If you want to get a slightly smaller version, you can get my favorite color in it, PURPLE!! During hurricane season, resist the urge to stock up your freezers just in case.
11. A First Aid Kit
Just in case! You never know when you may need one and let’s face it, if you’re walking around in darkness looking for your stuff, you’re bound to trip or hit a table if you’re anything like me. Having one handy is good just in case.
12. A waterproof bag/box for your important documents
This is a must in case you do have to make a speedy exit. Put all of your important documents - birth certificates, titles for vehicles, driver’s license, etc. in a safe waterproof bag or box. Bonus points if you can find one that fits everything and floats. Take pictures of all of the documents and put them in another baggy to double seal them.
13. Emergency Radio
Just in case service goes down and you have no way to get emergency updates, this will ensure you know if there is anything heading your way. The thing I personally didn't prepare for with hurricanes is all the tornadoes that shoot off of the hurricane itself. It’s important you know if a tornado is heading your way or a dam had to be released and water is coming your way if your phone isn’t working anymore.
14. Paper towels and cleaning supplies
If the power does go out and you can’t save all of your food you’ll want paper towels and cleaning supplies to wipe down the inside of your fridge and freezer so it doesn’t smell. We were traveling during one of the big hurricanes and had to call The Cleaning Club to come clean our fridge and freezer out for us so we didn’t come home to a smelly mess. You'll want some of these on hand too just in case it gets stinky.
15. Entertainment
It can be a long time sitting around waiting to be able to go somewhere or if the power is off. This is a good time if you want to catch up on any shows (my favorites right now are Outlander, Blindspot, and Sullivan’s Crossing), play a game you haven’t played in forever (intro Sims), some good old fashioned board games if the power is out, or load up some movies/shows on the tablet as a downloaded show so you have it in case of losing power.
Bonus!
A shovel and rain boots!! When Harvey hit, I was outside every hour shoveling debris away from the drain so the water could continue to go down around our apartment complex. It was up to our door, and I firmly believe that helped our apartment not flood.
And lastly, mosquito repellent. When the rain subsides, there is tons of standing water in the heat which is a big breeding ground for mosquitos.
With these suggestions, hopefully you’ll be able to stay comfortable while you wait for the worst of the storm to go through. I’m going to take this time to also remind you that you need 30 DAYS for flood insurance to kick in so don’t try to call the day the storm hits and add it. Railey Carroll with Goosehead Insurance is my go to for making sure I’m ready for any storm. Stay safe and dry this hurricane season!
