Oh Shit, a Hurricane’s Coming: Urban & Suburban Edition

You didn’t think it would happen to you. But now the weather app has turned into a horror movie trailer, and suddenly that tropical storm has a name, a vendetta, and a track headed straight for your zip code.

First things first: breathe.

You don’t need to become a disaster movie protagonist. You just need to not make life harder for yourself in the next 72 hours.

Here’s what matters most, friend.

Lock down your basics

If it’s not already in your house, get it now. Power will go out, stores will close.

Try to focus on the basics:

• Water (a gallon per person per day for at least 3 days)
• Easy food (things you can eat cold if needed – think peanut butter, trail mix, canned stuff)
  • Skip the 40 frozen pizzas unless your survival plan involves watching them melt.
  • Need more ideas? This list has some good no-cook options and shelf-stable things you’ll actually eat.
• Meds (prescriptions, painkillers, and a basic first aid kit)
  • Now isn’t the time for it but in the future, make sure you’ve got a solid go-to emergency kit setup.
    

Get your light and power situation sorted

You want:

• Flashlights (not candles, unless you’re into house fires)
• Backup batteries for phones
• External battery packs (charge them now!)

If you can charge any power banks, laptops, or devices ahead of time, do it. Wall outlets may soon become decorative than useful. If power outages are becoming a normal thing, we’ve got some advice for handling them on a more regular basis too.

Prep your home like a boss

Most importantly, bring in anything outside that could turn into a projectile (trash cans, patio furniture, garden gnomes). Yes, it’s a pain. Yes, it’s worth it as a precaution.

Fill your tub with water if you’re in a place where water service could fail. If you need tips on water storage without going full doomsday prepper mode, check out this overview.

And yes, parking your car on higher ground if you’re flood-prone is smart. No one wants their car turned into a bathtub.

Above all else: get the fuck out if someone tells you to get the fuck out. Yes, this is absolutely easier said than done. What about all of the stuff? What about the job? What about this and that? But if you can get out, please do and take care of yourself and your family.

3 Takeaways

1. Don’t panic-shop for nonsense; get water, food, light, and meds.
   
2. Charge all the things before the power gets jumpy.
   
3. Secure loose items around your home so they don’t become airborne regrets.

Feature image courtesy Pixabay/Pexels