Storm and outage planning
Hurricane Emergency Kit Checklist
Prepare for outages, flooding, and evacuation with a hurricane kit sized to your household.
Best for
Treat chargers, water, medications, and documents as the first layer of the kit because evacuation orders can compress prep time.
What this page covers
Hurricane kits work best when they support multi-day outages and a fast departure when local conditions change. That means a strong hurricane checklist goes beyond canned food and batteries. Most households also need a faster document plan, clearer communication habits, and a simple way to keep the highest-priority items together instead of scattered across rooms.
Good first action
Use waterproof storage for IDs, insurance papers, prescriptions, and contact lists before the weather arrives.
Build your family checklist
Five-minute setup for a household-sized emergency supply plan.
How this checklist helps
Hurricane kits work best when they support multi-day outages and a fast departure when local conditions change. That means a strong hurricane checklist goes beyond canned food and batteries. Most households also need a faster document plan, clearer communication habits, and a simple way to keep the highest-priority items together instead of scattered across rooms.
hurricane-prone areas households benefit from planning around timing as much as item count. Build the 72-hour baseline first, then add the outage and evacuation layer that matches this hazard. Use the generator above to size quantities by family members, pets, and vehicles, and use the sample list below as a static planning model you can print or compare.
Static sample
Sample four-person three-day hurricane kit
This example combines a household baseline with evacuation-ready and outage-ready items useful during hurricane season.
| Item | Quantity | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 12 gallons | A four-person household using the standard one gallon per person per day baseline for three days. |
| Shelf-stable meals and snacks | 36 meal equivalents | Three meal equivalents per day for four people, using foods that are easy to serve during an outage. |
| Flashlights or lanterns | 4 | Enough light for bedrooms, bathrooms, and a shared living area during a night outage. |
| Battery or hand-crank radio | 1 | A backup way to receive alerts when power, Wi-Fi, or mobile charging becomes unreliable. |
| First aid kit | 1 household kit | Stock the basics first, then add allergy medicine, child-safe medications, and other family-specific items. |
| Phone chargers and backup battery | 1 household set | Helps keep communication, maps, and emergency contact access available during disruptions. |
| Waterproof document pouch | 1 | Holds identification, insurance, emergency contacts, and prescriptions in one grab point. |
| Power banks and charging cables | 2 backup batteries | Useful when restoration is slow and wall outlets are not dependable. |
| Rain gear and sturdy shoes | 1 set per person | Helps with wet evacuation conditions, debris, and repeated trips between home and car. |
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Most popular starting point
72-Hour Emergency Kit for Families
Start with a practical 72-hour household emergency kit sized to your family, pets, and vehicles.