What You Need to Prepare for a Tropical Storm, Per a Florida Dad

Floridians grow up dealing with a wealth of natural chaos, and the tropical storms of hurricane season top the list. 

We’re so used to the lullabies of wind, lightning, and thunder that sometimes these massive storms aren’t taken seriously. But, because my dad was an eagle scout, the man is always prepared. Through 20+ years of weathering hurricane seasons in Jacksonville, Fla., our house has been fine — despite the best efforts of Matthew, Dora, and other ghosts of hurricanes past. 

I asked my dad what he buys to prepare for tropical storms, so if you find yourself in the path of one, you’ll know exactly how to prepare.

What to Buy to Prepare for a Tropical Storm

• LED Camping Lantern, 2-Pack, $23.66 (orig. $34.98)
• Durasack Heavy Duty Sandbags, $10.15
• Amazon Basics Rectangular 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, $11.80 (orig. $13.88)
• Wen 4017 Electric Chainsaw, 16-inch, $54.99 (orig. $69.99)
• Marbero Portable Power Station Solar Generator, $65.21 with coupon (orig. $109.99)
• Cartman Finished Size 8×10 Feet Waterproof Green Tarp, $9.99 (orig. $14.99)
• Poland Spring Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, $17.78
• Handlandy Work Gloves for Men & Women, $12.80 (orig. $15.80)

Amazon Basics Rectangular 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip

When there’s a bad storm in your area, you’ll likely have the TV on to track the weather. So, my dad always instilled in us the importance of plugging large appliances and electronics into surge protectors. This is honestly a general thing you should do, but it’s especially important when storms are involved. Each of these two surge protectors has six outlets, so there’s plenty of space for your laptop, phone, tablet, and anything else you might want to charge during a storm. 

Durasack Heavy Duty Sandbags

Because of Florida’s sea level, flooding is the biggest issue during hurricane season. When Hurricane Matthew hit, Jacksonville had massive street flooding that affected many houses and businesses. So, before a bad storm, my dad will place sandbags like these in front of doors and long windows that touch the ground in order to prevent water from getting inside. Keep in mind that these won’t stop severe flood water, but they should manage anything under two feet.

LED Camping Lantern, 2-Pack

Usually, one of the first signs of a bad tropical storm is when the power goes out. My dad keeps three to four of these types of LED lanterns in our laundry room so we can easily grab them to place around our house. The LED bulbs are quite bright, so even if the power goes out at night, you have a decent light source. Bonus: These particular lanterns have four light modes and are water-resistant should you have leaks or need to go outside when it’s raining. 

Marbero Portable Power Station Solar Generator, $65 with coupon

Given the power issues that can occur during tropical storms and hurricanes, a portable generator like this one is a good investment. It can keep your phones and computers charged to help maintain contact with your loved ones and to keep up with news of the storm and how it’s progressing. Plus, this generator is on sale for $45 off right now.

Poland Spring Brand 100% Natural Spring Water

Though it might seem obvious, clean water is so important to keep during a storm. Large floods can cause contamination to the public water supply, as well as damage or other issues that could occur at your local water treatment plant. So, we always have a 24-pack of bottled water in our pantry during hurricane season.

Even once the storm has passed, there are a few things you might need for repairs. I’ve also included my dad’s top picks below, including a tarp to cover any roof sections with missing shingles, work gloves to clear debris, and a chainsaw to cut any broken tree limbs or branches. 

Cartman Finished Size 8×10 Feet Waterproof Green Tarp

Handlandy Work Gloves for Men & Women

Wen 4017 Electric Chainsaw, 16-inch