Hurricane Prepping: 12 Things People Forget Every Year

When hurricane season rolls around, most people rush to grab bottled water, canned food, and batteries—but every year, there are always a few important things that slip through the cracks.

Whether you live along the coast or hundreds of miles inland (because hurricanes can still cause power outages and flooding far from shore), this list will help you double-check your plans and make sure you’re truly ready when the next storm hits.

Here are 12 things people forget every year when prepping for hurricanes:

 

1. Backup Power for Phones

Everyone remembers to charge their phones—but what happens when the power’s out for three days?

• Keep portable power banks charged and ready.
• Solar chargers are a great long-term backup.
• Consider a small generator or battery station (like Jackery or EcoFlow) if you rely on your phone for updates or emergency calls.
• To learn about inexpensive power backup options check out this article.

 

2. Ways to Cook Without Electricity

Microwaves and electric stoves don’t work without power.

• Have a camp stove, propane grill, or butane burner with extra fuel.
• Stock simple meals that can be heated quickly or eaten cold.
• Never cook indoors with outdoor-only stoves or grills—they produce deadly carbon monoxide.
• To learn 8 proven ways to cook without power, check out this article.
• To learn how to safely store fuel, check out this article here.

 

3. Pet Supplies

Many shelters don’t allow animals, and stores sell out of pet food fast.

• Store at least two weeks of food, water, and medication for each pet.
• Keep leashes, carriers, and vaccination records with your emergency kit.

4. Cash

When the power’s out, ATMs and card readers won’t work.

• Keep small bills ($1s, $5s, and $10s) in a waterproof bag.
• Cash can buy gas, ice, or supplies when nothing else works.
• To learn about how much cash to have on hand, check out this article.

5. Prescription Medications

Pharmacies often close or run out of stock after a hurricane.

• Always refill early when a storm is coming.
• Ask your doctor about keeping an emergency backup supply of essential meds.
• To learn about storing medications and where you can get antibiotics check out this article here.

 

6. Manual Can Opener

Sounds simple, but it’s one of the most commonly forgotten items!

• A manual can opener is worth its weight in gold when your electric one doesn’t work.

 

7. Important Documents

If your home floods or is destroyed, you’ll need proof of who you are and what you own.

• Store IDs, insurance papers, titles, and medical info in a waterproof/fireproof safe or a grab-and-go binder.
• Keep digital copies on an encrypted USB drive or cloud storage, too.

 

8. Hygiene Items

Power outages can make even simple things like brushing your teeth or washing your hands difficult.

• Stock wet wipes, dry shampoo, toothpaste, soap, feminine products, and hand sanitizer.
• Don’t forget extra toilet paper—stores always run out.

 

9. Tools for Cleanup and Repairs

After the storm passes, there’s often debris, branches, or minor damage.

• Keep work gloves, a handsaw, duct tape, tarps, and a hammer/nails on hand.
• A battery-powered drill and zip ties can go a long way in temporary fixes.

 

10. Lighting Beyond Flashlights

Flashlights are great—but they’re not always hands-free.

• Add headlamps, lanterns, and solar lights to your supplies.
• Rechargeable or solar-powered lights are ideal for long-term outages.

 

11. Entertainment

It might sound minor, but keeping morale up matters—especially for kids.

• Store books, board games, cards, coloring supplies, or puzzles.
• Download movies or audiobooks before the storm hits.

 

12. Evacuation Plans

Many families forget to plan where they’ll go or how they’ll get there.

• Know your local evacuation routes and keep your gas tank at least half full during hurricane season.
• Make a list of friends or relatives who live outside the danger zone.
• Keep your go-bags packed and ready to grab.
• To learn how to plan an effective evacuation route, check out this article here.

 

⚠️ Bonus Tips: 

• Don’t wait until the last minute. When a hurricane warning hits, stores empty out in hours. Prepping early means you can avoid the chaos—and help others who aren’t as ready.
• Do all of your laundry before the hurricane hits.
• Fill ziplock bags with water and pack them in your freezer before the hurricane hits. The ice will help to keep your freezer cold, and when it melts you have clean water to drink.
• Fill your bathtub with water before the hurricane hits. You can use this water to flush toilets and wash dishes.
• Stock up on paper plates, cups, and disposable utensils. You don’t want to waste your clean water washing dishes if you don’t have to.
• Put a cup of water in the freezer and let it freeze then put a coin on top of the ice. After the hurricane you can check the position of the coin. If it’s still on top, your freezer stayed cold. If it’s at the bottom or part way down that means your freezer dropped to dangerous temperatures and you should throw out all the food in that freezer.
• Stock up on baby wipes and disinfectant wipes. You’ll use them often especially when you don’t have running water.

 

Final Thoughts

Every year, hurricanes catch people off guard not because they didn’t know the storm was coming—but because they assumed they already had what they needed.

By checking these often-forgotten items now, you’ll be ahead of the curve and better equipped to handle whatever nature throws your way.

Stay safe, stay smart, and stay Ready & Prepped.

No fuss. No fluff. No fear.