14 Hurricane Hacks That Everyone Should Know Before A Storm Hits

There are several Hurricanes or Tropical Storms out in the Atlantic that are supposed to make landfall pretty soon.

You might be right in the path of one of these mean monster storms, or you may be close enough to get the residual effects of the storms — which could mean tons of rain, power outages, heavy winds, and even tornadoes.

Maybe you aren’t right in the target zone of one of these storms, but you know people who are.

Here are 14 Hurricane Tips and Tricks that will help you ride out the storm, and maybe give you just a little peace of mind in the process.

Food

You want to make sure you have plenty of food on hand that does not have to be refrigerated. Snack-type foods are great, but you may want just a bit more sustenance to keep the hunger pangs away.

Fruit like tomatoes, citrus fruit, uncut melons, apples, bananas, plums, nectarines, and pears are all safe to leave outside of the fridge — maybe on a counter or on your table.

Other foods like uncut avocado, uncut cucumbers, potatoes, peanut butter, unopened canned tuna, unopened canned chicken, unopened jelly, Nutella, and breads can also withstand being left at room temperature.

Think Disposable

Using disposable items like plates, bowls, forks, and spoons will make cleanup a breeze at meal times when there may not be water available for washing.

Also make sure you have plenty of paper towels and tissues. You never know when they might come in handy. You’d rather have them on hand, than be stuck without.

Water

Be prepared before that storm hits. Fill gallon-sized Ziploc bags about 3/4 of the way with water, and put them in your freezer. Pro Tip: If you freeze these bags flat, they will be stackable.

In case your power goes out, these bags will help keep the food in your freezer colder for longer.

You can also use these bags as drinking water, as long as they stay sealed until you use them.

While you are at it, fill your bathtub up with water. You can pour this water into your toilet so it will flush.

Medications

If you have time before that hurricane makes it to your house, make sure you have all the refills of medication that you might need to last at least a couple days.

Pictures and Keepsakes

One thing you can do is to put your valuables and keepsakes in your dishwasher. This will keep them up off the floor, and hopefully keep them a bit more safe.

IF YOU DO THIS make sure that 1) your dishwasher is empty, 2) your dishwasher is OFF, 3) Nobody starts the dishwasher when the power comes back on until you get your stuff, out 4) remember that if there is intense flooding, this may not keep your keepsakes safe.

Glow Stick Lanterns

Get a pack of glow sticks from Walmart, Target, or if you have time even Amazon.

Don’t crack them until you need them. They will give you a safe light that doesn’t require batteries.

You can even put these glow sticks down into an empty milk or water jug, like these Jack O’ Lantern Milk Jugs. That makes them super portable and good to put on tables.

Water Jug Lantern

This trick comes from the U.S. First Responder’s Association. Get a head lamp, and secure it around a full water gallon sized water bottle.

This will put off a soft glow that will help give your house a bit of light.

Make sure you have plenty of batteries on hand to replace the light when it goes out.

Flashlight On Your SmartPhone

Remember that your phone has a flashlight feature. This comes in handy for those times when you need a bit more light.

This flashlight works great if you have to feel around in the dark to find something, if you are trying to read, or any other time when you need a bit stronger light than the ambient light of the Glow Stick or Water Jug Lantern.

Beat the Heat

Get a few washcloths wet with water from the sink (or bottled water if you prefer). Place these washcloths in the freezer.

When the power goes out, you can use these frozen washcloths to cool your skin.

Extra Food Storage In the Washing Machine

Before the storm hits, get a ton of ice, and dump it in your CLEAN washing machine. Fill it all the way up.

If your power goes out, you can stick your perishables down into the ice, close the lid of the washing machine, and keep them cool longer.

It’s also super simple to just drain the water out of the machine when the power comes back on!

External Chargers

This is more of a reminder than a trick or a hack. Make sure your external chargers are COMPLETELY full and charged. This will let you charge up computers and phones while the power is out.

Remember Your Dogs

If it is crazy outside, that’s not going to stop your doggo from having to “go.”

Get a kiddie pool, fill it with soil or sod, and place it in your garage (or an inside room).

This will give them a safe place to do their business.

Battery Powered Radio

It is always a good idea to have a radio on hand that doesn’t need electricity. This way, you can track the weather or get important news about the storm (like evacuation notices).

Earplugs!

If the worst happens, and you have to evacuate to a hurricane shelter, make sure you bring your earplugs! You will most likely be sleeping on cots in a big room with others.

The earplugs will help ensure that you get as peaceful and quiet a sleep as possible under the circumstances.