Hurricane Supplies on the Cheap

Hurricane season is upon us! As a Floridian who was without power for nine days during Hurricane Charley in 2004, I can tell you firsthand that hurricane supplies are essential when living in areas that are hurricane-prone. However, in this economy, people are struggling just to pay their bills. They don't have a lot of money to begin with, and even less to go out shopping for a long list of recommended hurricane supplies they may not ever need. Hurricane supplies sometimes are needed though, like we needed during the hurricanes of 2004. They provide piece of mind, and are essential when there are supply shortages. After hurricane Charley, there were no supplies to be had for days, sometimes even weeks. We hadn't stocked up on much, but the hurricane supplies we did have were literally life savers.

The first thing you will need is water. People can live for days without food, but only a very short time without water. After a hurricane, the water supply may be tainted, and you may not have a way to boil it. Cheap ways to have water on hand are to fill up your bathtubs when the hurricane is approaching. This water can be used for washing up or to flush your toilet. Also, collecting empty plastic bottles, from two liters or two quart juice bottles ahead of time is a smart, frugal hurricane supply idea. You can get these bottles by asking on your local freecycle or even getting them out of recycling bins (after asking of course). A run through the dishwasher is all it takes to sanitize. The good thing about hurricanes (if there is one) is that you do have a few days to prepare, so you can fill the bottles with tap water when hurricane warnings are issued. Remember, you will need one gallon per person per day approximately. A good rule of thumb is a three day supply.

As far as food, I like to have a good stock of canned and dried in my pantry that can be prepared easily at all times. Some ideas include, spaghetti-o type canned goods, canned tuna, peanut butter, crackers, etc. The key is to stock up on foods your family already eats, so even if no hurricane supplies are needed, nothing will go to waste. You can do this frugally by getting an extra can or two every time you go to the grocery store. Most people can afford an extra dollar or two, and it is a great way to build a hurricane food supply on a budget. If you don't have a lot of extra food when the hurricane watches are issued, don't panic. If the grocery stores are looking picked over, places like Big Lots offer a lot of dried and canned foods and people may not think to stop there. The dollar store also has some decent selection for hurricane food stock, especially since you won't be eating it for too long a period of time. I also like to get foods we can potentially eat at room temperature (like crackers and peanut butter for instance), in case there is no heat source or way to cook food.

Speaking of the dollar store, this can be a great resource for hurricane supplies. There you can purchase things like bleach to sanitize water, tape to secure windows, candles, shelf-stable foods, baby supplies or baby wipes to clean yourself with, matches, plastic painter's drop cloths (to temporarily cover any leaks), and manual can openers. They also have batteries for flashlights that I have found to work decently. They will not power high-powered electronics for long (like digital cameras) but for flashlights to use temporarily during a hurricane power outage, they come in handy. Store them in the freezer to ensure they will be usable if a hurricane strikes. Another thing to consider from the dollar store if you have children, is to get a few things like coloring books, small toys, and keep them with your hurricane supplies.

All these hurricane supplies so far have come in at less than about $25.If you stock up on food slowly, it will seem like even less. It is possible to get hurricane supplies and prepare for a hurricane with little money. Let's hope we won't have to use them!