The research
- Why you should trust us
- Portable generator
- Gas can
- Portable power station
- Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
- Water container
- Flashlight
- Headlamp
- Inflatable solar lantern
- First aid kit
- Weather radio
- Storage bins
- Lighter
- Solar panels
- Bug repellent
- Work gloves
- Rain boots
- Handsaw and chainsaw
- Tarp
- Snow shovel
- Heavy-duty garbage bags
- Mop and bucket
- Paracord
- Wet/dry vac
- Portable stove
- How to protect your home from a hurricane
- More ways to prepare for hurricane season
- Sources
Why you should trust us
In addition to the advice Claudette Reichel gave us, we spoke with FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell and Michael Orfanedes, commercial horticultural agent for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Broward County. Among other duties and achievements (PDF), Orfanedes consults extensively on how to best handle trees both before and after (PDF) a hurricane.
We also took guidance from national emergency services such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Hurricane Center, and the American Red Cross. Hurricane survival stories and the perspective of amateur preppers also helped to inform our practical take on hurricane preparedness, as did the firsthand experiences of a number of Wirecutter colleagues who have lived through hurricanes.
Senior staff writer Doug Mahoney has personally developed some expertise in this topic while researching Wirecutter guides to general emergency preparedness and bug-out bags. He also worked as a general contractor on high-end residential construction in the Boston area, which helped him understand and relay experts’ advice on ways to brace your home against hurricane damage.
Ellen Airhart worked on our guides to wildfire and earthquake preparedness. For the most recent iteration of this guide, she spoke with five experts, including Sam Bloch, director of emergency response at the World Central Kitchen, and Grant Brown, director of recreation and cultural affairs in Gulf Shores, Alabama, a city spotlighted by the Rural Health Information Hub for its Hurricane Sally preparation in 2020.
Portable generator
Top pick
High winds and heavy rain make for a pretty sure recipe for a power outage, and when you’re staring down multiple days without electricity—in hot, muggy hurricane season—you may quickly become desperate for some relief. A generator can not only help you keep your electronics charged and a fan running, but it can also power small appliances and keep lifesaving medical equipment online.
The Westinghouse iGen5000DFc is a mid-range model with plenty of power to run the basics. Its 3,900 watts should be enough power to run several small items at once and even most appliances (except large-draw one like a whole-home AC or a clothes dryer). One standout detail is that it’s a dual-fuel model, meaning it can run on gasoline or propane, a nice option when fuel can be scarce and in high demand after a disaster. This model also has a remote start, a feature we don’t often see in generators at this price range, so you don’t have to trek out into the rain to get the engine up and running.
We like to prioritize closed-frame generators (which are quieter than open-frame ones), and a CO detector is a must. The generator will automatically shut itself off if it detects dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the air. Still, keep in mind that all gas generators should only be operated outside and away from doors and windows. This model is not available in California.
Gas can
Top pick
If you’re turning to gasoline to power your generator, this gas can was the easiest to use of those we tested. The transparent ridges down the center of the can allow you to see exactly how full it is, which is useful both while you’re filling it and when you’re monitoring your stores. Plus, we were impressed with its spill proof design; it dispenses gas only if you use your thumb to press the release while pouring. It also comes in a smaller, 1.25-gallon size and a larger, 5-gallon size. Just remember that gasoline deteriorates over time, so if you plan to store it for longer than six months, you need to add fuel stabilizer.
Portable power station
Top pick
Gas generators are a tried-and-true power source in an emergency, but they are not without their drawbacks. They’re loud, smelly, and suitable for use only outdoors—not particularly helpful when you need to power a CPAP machine in your bedroom. Then there’s the matter of the gasoline, which often becomes scarce in the days before and after a hurricane.
A cleaner and greener alternative is a portable power station—essentially a large battery in a protective box with AC outlets and other charging ports built in. Following senior staff writer Sarah Witman’s latest testing, our top pick is the EcoFlow River 2 Pro. At less than 20 pounds, it’s fairly portable, and you can recharge its battery using solar panels, your car’s battery, or plain old AC power. (Make sure it’s fully charged before the storm hits!)
Its 768 Wh capacity translates to running 800 watts’ worth of appliances for one hour—or a lower wattage for longer. In our testing, we were able to run a 127 W fan for 8 hours, an indicator that it has more than enough juice to keep a few key devices charged during a minor power outage.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
Top pick
The CyberPower CP900AVR can cover the basics for most people during common, short-term blackouts. In our tests, it provided enough power to keep a household broadband modem and Wi-Fi router running for four hours, which means you can stay online while the power is off and get in touch with emergency services, follow news and weather changes, or just pass the time on your favorite websites.
It requires no setup aside from plugging it in, and it comes with its own software. It has a user-replaceable battery and includes automatic voltage regulation (an important feature that some cheaper models lack), which can prolong the overall lifespan of the battery and help prevent damage to sensitive electronics.
It backs up five of its 10 outlets with a battery, and it has a 6-foot cord. Its compact shape—about the size of a jumbo three-ring binder standing upright—makes it relatively easy to stow under a desk or nightstand.
Water container
Top pick
Of the four collapsible water containers we tested, the Wolverine Tuff Bottle 20L Container was, as the name suggests, the toughest. It was also the easiest to fill and maneuver. With water, the bag weighs about 40 pounds, which was the maximum amount we could easily carry with one hand. A different water container we tested busted open when we knocked it off a 6-foot-high shelf, but the Wolverine Tuff Bottle has two layers of ultraviolet-resistant plastic that kept the sloshing water secure. We froze the container over the weekend, and it didn’t leak when we filled it up again. My experience is backed up by the ASTM International, a standards organization that did similar drop tests with varying heights and liquids (including antifreeze).
Wolverine Tuff is a family business that started out making packaging for medical supplies, so it has some experience in containing high-stakes solvents, according to director of operations Reilly Wilkes. The Wolverine Tuff Bottle on Amazon comes with a red spout, but you can purchase other accessories—including a spout that fits a Sawyer water filter—on the Wolverine Tuff website. The company has collaborated with many charitable organizations in order to deliver 400,000 gallons of clean drinking water.
One downside to the Wolverine Tuff container: We noticed the water had a slight plastic aftertaste, even after we washed the container out a few times. The WaterStorageCube Collapsible Water Container Bag retained less eau en plastique, and it’s cheaper, although it has a shorter warranty, does not come with spigot, and lacks the transparent standards testing of the Wolverine Tuff container.
Water is usually the first item that FEMA brings to a storm-damaged area, according to Grant Brown, director of recreation and cultural affairs in Gulf Shores, Alabama. But water is also what you’ll miss the most if you don’t have it. Officials announce hurricane warnings at least 36 hours before the onset of the storm, which means you have time to store water for both drinking and other household activities like cleaning and flushing the toilet. In an emergency, experts recommend having at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days. “There’s an old adage: The first 72 is on you,” says Brown, referring to the initial 72 hours after a storm.
While our water container recommendation is convenient to have around, you don’t need a specific tool in order to retain liquids. For “gray water,” which you can clean and flush the toilet with but not drink, you can close the drains on your tubs and sinks as you fill them up. One of our sources tipped us off to the existence of the WaterBOB, a plastic container that fits inside your tub, but we have not yet tested it.
You can fill up any water bottles you might have lying around with drinking water. Put them in your refrigerator and freezer (after checking that the materials are freeze-proof). This will keep the water itself cool, and if the power goes out, the inside of your fridge or freezer will warm up more slowly, due to the high specific heat capacity of water compared to air. Hurricanes usually happen in warm locales in the summer and fall. Even if the electricity stays running, you won’t regret having a cold drink as you head outside for cleanup duty.
Top pick
In an emergency, experts recommend having at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days (more, if possible). At 7 gallons, the portable Reliance Aqua-Tainer offers a week of water for one person, whether you’re sheltering in place or on an evacuation route. We tested five water containers, and the Aqua-Tainer distinguished itself with its durable build, smart features, and larger size (most are in the 5-gallon range). We like that the spigot is stored inside the cap when not in use and that it has a tethered screw-on air vent valve for faster pouring.
A full Aqua-Tainer weighs nearly 60 pounds, so if you’re not comfortable with lugging that weight around in an evacuation scenario, we also like the smaller Reliance Aqua-Pak 5-gallon container. For a much larger at-home setup, we like the Augason Farms 55-Gallon Water Storage Barrel.
Regardless of which storage option you go with, the CDC recommends replacing your water supply every six months.
Flashlight
Top pick
Since there’s no way to know how long you could be without power, you need a long-lasting LED flashlight—one of the most essential pieces of gear you can have during and after a hurricane. We tested more than 20 of them in the New Hampshire woods for our guide to the best flashlights and found that the ThruNite Archer 2A C was the best one. When the flashlight was on the highest of its four brightness settings, we were able to see trees 500 feet away, and when it was on its lowest setting, we could read a map while preserving our night vision. It also has a strobe setting for emergency signaling, but that function isn’t part of the standard brightness toggle (as it is with less expensive flashlights), so you don’t have to constantly cycle through it.
Reichel stressed that in the aftermath of a hurricane, you’ll need a flashlight that has a long battery life. The ThruNite truly delivers in this regard. According to the manufacturer, when the flashlight is on its highest setting, it will run for 128 minutes, but on its lowest setting, it can run for roughly 27 days (on the medium setting it runs for 11 hours, and on the low setting it lasts for four days). It runs on its included rechargeable battery, but it’s also compatible with AA batteries. “Make sure to have extra batteries,” Reichel said. Emergencies are one of the few instances for which we recommend disposable batteries over rechargeable ones.
Headlamp
Top pick
During an extended power outage, there’s no such thing as having too many light sources, and a headlamp allows you to keep your hands free to navigate and carry things at the same time. The Black Diamond Spot 400 has top buttons that are intuitive to use; you’ll need to experiment with clicking through various configurations, but we think the learning curve is fairly short.
This model offers both a red-light option (which is good for when you’re switching it on and off at night) and a strobe option, for emergency signaling. Its PowerTap technology lets you instantly transition the headlamp from full power to dimmed with one touch, and this model weighs a decently lightweight 3 ounces with batteries installed. The Spot 400 uses three AAA batteries, so be sure to have extras on hand.
Inflatable solar lantern
Top pick
Our readers have recommended that we review inflatable solar-powered lanterns, a category of products meant to illuminate surroundings and prevent unexpected encounters in the dark. These floating lights are equipped with a solar panel and a cable with which you can charge your phone.
We tested two models of these lanterns, the LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern and MPowerd Luci Base Light. We tossed them in our bathtub, charged them up in the sun, then turned them on to see how long it took to run out their batteries. We then froze them overnight and turned them on again the next day.
The LuminAid Titan came out on top, but just barely. The MPowerd Luci has a warm yellow light, and it’s slightly brighter than the Titan. Seungah Jeong, the president and CEO of MPowerd, said children love hugging their balloon-like Luci. But ultimately the Titan is easier to inflate, runs for longer and has more varied brightness settings. You open it with a satisfying twist and can throw it directly in the water. This lantern has buttons that are easier to operate, with the addition of a very useful light that comes on when the solar panel is charging. The Titan also needs less time to reach a full battery than the Luci. LuminAID has donated over 250,000 lights to either directly or through their nonprofit partners, according to the company website.
First aid kit
Top pick
We like the First Aid Only 298 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit (FAO-442) for its wide selection of gear for treating minor cuts, burns, and scrapes (bandages, gauze, wipes, ointments, and painkillers), as well as some items for handling more-serious injuries (a trauma pad, gauze, and some dressing pads). The case opens like a book, and items are stowed in 10 clear plastic compartments, so you can easily find what you need in moments of high stress. One of the kit’s highlights is its selection of 187 adhesive bandages in all shapes and sizes. After sticking it under a shower, we found that water can leak inside the case through its zipper, so we recommend keeping it inside a gallon zip-lock bag if it’s stored under a sink or you’re adding it to a go bag. Although this adds a layer of inconvenience, other kits we looked at were less organized or didn’t have enough of the essentials.
Weather radio
Top pick
Whether you’re evacuating from a hurricane or sheltering in place, it’s crucial to keep tabs on the status of the storm. You’ll need “some kind of way to listen to a radio station because TV stations may be out,” Reichel told us. We think your best option is a dedicated emergency weather radio, specifically the Midland ER310. The Midland offers better reception, a brighter flashlight, and more-effective charging options than other models we tested, including the ability to charge from dead through solar power or hand-cranking. It can also receive NOAA extreme-weather alerts, providing notifications that are both loud and readily visible so you won’t miss any warnings. The ER310’s convenient size makes it comfortable to carry, so it’s easier to grab on the go in the case of an imminent storm. It was also one of the few radios we tested that lived up to its crank-generating claims: We found that just one minute of cranking produced 10 minutes of radio time or a few minutes of flashlight use. Plus, the ER310’s durable body can stand up to heavy rain or a drop onto a hard surface.
Storage bins
Top pick
During the high winds and flooding of a hurricane, water-resistant bins can keep emergency supplies, important documents, valuables, and other personal effects clean and dry. After testing 32 different bins—by tossing them down a set of stairs and leaving them out in the rain—we found that the Iris Weathertight Totes had the best combination of weather resistance and durability.
The lid’s foam gasket creates a watertight seal, and four clasps hold the top on tight (most lids have only two clasps). In most instances, the Iris bins will keep their contents dry, but note that they are “weather-resistant,” not waterproof, so they are not designed to be submerged; in extreme circumstances, such as a fully flooded basement, moisture could get in. For added security, USI insurance recommends (PDF) running duct tape around the rim of a bin’s lid and wrapping the upper half of the bin with stretch plastic. You should seal important items, such as official documents and family photos, in zip-top bags for additional protection.
The straight sides of the Weathertight Totes maximize storage space, and the design of the lid makes these bins very stackable. Because these bins are clear, you can easily identify contents at a glance. They are available in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from 6½ quarts to 103 quarts.
Lighter
Top pick
Most experts, including those at the American Red Cross (PDF), don’t recommend using candles for emergency lighting, but a source of fire can be helpful for cooking in the aftermath of a hurricane. Reichel pointed out that without power, most gas stoves are rendered useless because of their electronic igniters. To get the stove going, you need to provide your own starter flame. A lighter can also get an outdoor cooking fire going, such as in a fire pit or chiminea. Bic lighters are easy to use and inexpensive, and they can hold a flame in light wind or a little rain.
Solar panels
Top pick
If there’s no power coming into your home, you need a way to charge your electronics. If you have access to a car, you can use a car phone charger, but that may not be a viable long-term solution. Reichel recommends a solar battery charger. “People want those phones after a storm,” she said, noting that communication was a huge issue after Hurricane Katrina in part because phone batteries died and people had no way to recharge them. We tested 12 portable solar chargers and determined the best budget option to be the BigBlue 28W USB Solar Charger. It produced the most power of any model we tested, and it has waterproof port covers and a slim, compact design. It can also charge three devices at once. If you’re evacuating, don’t forget charging cables. For more power, a larger machine such as a gas generator is also an option.
Bug repellent
Top pick
Mosquito populations can explode after a severe storm, and with them come harmful diseases such as Zika, dengue, and West Nile, as this information sheet (PDF) from Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension Service explains. Adding to the risk is the fact that after a storm, people are naturally going to be outside a lot more, whether they’re cleaning up or cooking at the grill because the power is out. We tested 17 spray repellents for our guide to bug repellents and found the best to be Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent.
Sawyer’s repellent is EPA approved, meaning it has undergone extensive safety and efficacy testing. Instead of DEET, Sawyer uses a 20% concentration of picaridin, which provides up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes. Studies show that picaridin and DEET offer similar levels of bug protection, but picaridin doesn’t melt or mar plastic like DEET can, and it has hardly any odor. Other companies make 20% picaridin repellents—and they’re just as effective against mosquitoes and ticks—but in our tests Sawyer’s repellent bottle distinguished itself with its nice, even spray and its double-cap design (which makes the nozzle very unlikely to activate when you stuff the bottle in a backpack or other container).
Work gloves
Top pick
From cleaning up broken glass to clearing branches from your driveway, your hands can be exposed to a lot of hazards after a hurricane. For protection, we recommend getting a pair of the Husky Large Grain Cowhide Water Resistant Leather Performance Work Glove. The gloves’ soft leather combines comfort and durability, and in our tests we were able to move muddy rocks and pull briars without losing our grip or feeling thorns perforate the palms. When the gloves got filthy, a quick rinse returned them to like new. With a stretchy mesh backing, the standard sizes are likely to conform to your hands, and the gloves’ adjustable Velcro strap closes securely at the wrists without causing the excessive compression we felt from some competitors.
Rain boots
Top pick
Flood water is nasty stuff that may be contaminated with sewage, bacteria, and chemicals, not to mention submerged debris, wildlife, or even downed electrical wires. Our advice is to avoid wading through it if you can. But once the flooding recedes, your cleanup efforts may necessitate standing in some residual water or at least a thick layer of mud. A pair of tall, sturdy rain boots like our pick from Hunter should keep your feet safe and dry. The all-rubber construction is designed to last; we’ve been relying on these boots for years with little wear to show for it. The treads don’t trap debris, and these boots ranked among the grippiest we tested. They also come in a taller men’s and women’s style if you have some serious muck to contend with. Because they’re entirely rubber, you can hose them clean afterward.
Handsaw and chainsaw
Top pick
A good handsaw, such as the Silky Zubat, is a valuable tool for pruning dead branches before a hurricane and cleaning up debris. Although this model wasn’t our top pick for carpentry, it is our choice for this particular task because its thicker blade is more durable than those of the speedier carpentry options we looked at. Its curvature helps with cutting, and the 270 mm blade was able to handle maple and ash branches cleared after a storm in Virginia.
For more aggressive work, we also tested several chainsaws, any of which would be appropriate for post-storm cleanup.
Tarp
Top pick
Like saws, tarps (or tarpaulins, if you’re fancy) have uses both before and after a hurricane. You can tie them down onto objects to keep those things dry, use them to patch a damaged home, or keep them nearby to help with yard cleanup—just pile branches and debris on the tarp and then slide it around like a makeshift wheelbarrow. We like Everbilt’s 6-by-8-foot tarp for general use. It’s 10 mils thick, waterproof, and designed with thick grommets. In our experience, we’ve found that 10 mils represents the sweet spot between durability and usability: Thinner tarps fray more easily and develop holes, while thicker tarps are heavier and more difficult to maneuver, carry, and fold. We’ve had a few Everbilt brown tarps set up outside for years, and they show no discoloration or wear at all. They’re usually available on the shelves at Home Depot. If you are looking for something larger or smaller, other sizes are available, too.
Snow shovel
Top pick
Thankfully, hurricanes and winter don’t mix, so you won’t be shoveling snow in the wake of one, but hurricanes leave plenty of debris behind, especially as flood waters recede. If you need to move a lot of mud and sludge, opt for a wide, sturdy shovel like the True Temper 18-inch Ergonomic Mountain Mover. Co-author Doug Mahoney has been using this shovel through New England winters since 2009, and it’s held up to its fair share of snow and ice. Its curved shaft makes moving debris easier. Plus, its plastic lead edge is gentler on floors than a metal shovel, if the muck made its way inside.
Heavy-duty garbage bags
Top pick
Heavy-duty garbage bags are always good for hurricane cleanup, but in an emergency they can have other uses as well. For one thing, they can keep your supplies dry, especially items like clothing and blankets. They can also serve as makeshift ponchos. The thick plastic resists puncturing from broken glass and nail-embedded wood. After spending a decade in the building trades and shoving sharp objects into all kinds of trash bags, co-author Doug Mahoney can personally attest to the durability of Husky 42-gallon bags over that of the competition.
Mop and bucket
Top pick
Sometimes all you need to clean up lots of water is a mop and bucket, as we discuss in our guide to cleaning up a flooded basement. The O-Cedar Microfiber Cloth Mop is sturdy, light, nimble, and a superb performer—the best in our mop tests at absorbing spills and scrubbing stains and stuck-on debris. Its long handle is simply built, slim, and stiff. Because it’s lighter overall than its competitors, mopping with it puts less strain on your back. It’s easier to store than other mops thanks to a collapsible handle with a unique hook. Its synthetic head dries in less than 24 hours, it doesn’t develop a smell, and in a pinch it works as a dust mop too. With an inexpensive, replaceable head that you can machine wash and dry up to 100 times, it’s seriously thrifty, costing as little as 7¢ per cleanup.
Top pick
The O-Cedar Quick Wring Bucket is everything you could wish for in a mop bucket. Its 2.5-gallon capacity can hold enough water for any job, but it weighs less than 20 pounds when full, and it’s easy to lift out of a sink and move from room to room. If you are trying to store water to clean with before a storm, it’s the perfect receptacle. Its compact, rectangular shape doesn’t waste closet or cabinet space, it’s easy to pour, and its stable design makes it less likely to slide or spill than other buckets we tried. Its built-in wringer works beautifully and is also readily removable; doing so converts it to a general-purpose bucket.
Paracord
Top pick
A length of rope is useful for any number of tasks, such as tying supplies together, strapping something to your car, replacing a broken shoelace, or even applying it to first aid uses such as creating splints and tourniquets. Paracord is the ideal rope in an emergency. In particular, 550 paracord, with its 550-pound weight rating, is the most universal thickness. It consists of a nylon sheath with usually seven nylon strands inside, each strand made up of three smaller strands twisted together. You can pull all of these separate pieces apart—so if you have 1 foot of paracord, for example, you can create about 7 feet of the triple-strand cordage or 21 feet of single nylon strands.
We tested two highly regarded brands of paracord, and we prefer the Titan SurvivorCord. At about $35 for a 100-foot length, the SurvivorCord is more expensive than regular high-quality cord, but it has unique features that make it worth the investment. Within the nylon sheath, residing among the seven triple strands of nylon, are a fishing line, a small wire, and a strand of waxed jute (a fire tinder). The 100-foot length is a good amount; it’s better to have more and not need it than to have less and need it.
Individually, the wire, fishing line, and waxed jute offer potential benefits in an emergency situation, but at a more practical level they serve to make the rope stiffer, which really helped while we were tying knots. Regular paracord is loose and flops like a shoelace, but the SurvivorCord holds its shape with a slight rigidity. Those additional internal strands also reduce excess stretchiness, which was a problem we noticed with the regular paracord we evaluated.
The SurvivorCord is available in a huge variety of colors and comes with a nice Velcro strap to hold the bundle together.
We also tested Tough-Grid’s 550 paracord and the brand’s larger 750 paracord (with 11 internal strands instead of seven). Both of those offered great performance, and if you think the cost of the SurvivorCord is too high, these are less expensive alternatives, albeit without the added stiffness or the functionality of the fishing-line, wire, and waxed-jute strands.
Wet/dry vac
Top pick
Whether it’s for a flooded basement or general cleanup, a wet/dry vac is the tool for handling the worst kinds of messes that most floors ever see. The 12-gallon Ridgid HD1200 is the vac that Doug saw on job sites and personally used the most often throughout a 10-year construction career, and it’s the model that he has owned at home for years.
We bought the company’s relatively new HD1200 model for testing in spring 2020. So far it has exhibited the same excellent Ridgid quality we’ve seen for years from similar models, and it remains our pick for the best shop or wet/dry vac. And with its four casters, its well-positioned handle, and its manageable weight, it isn’t too difficult to drag through a basement or to carry up a flight of stairs.
Portable stove
Top pick
Multiple sources gave us the same advice about hurricanes: Afterwards, you’re going to want coffee. If the electricity and gas lines are down, a camping stove like the Coleman Classic Propane Camping Stove can deliver that crucial cup of joe. This Coleman model boiled water faster than any other stove we tested under $150, yet when we turned it down low, it was gentle enough to griddle golden-brown pancakes.
On a single 16-ounce tank of propane, this stove can cook with both burners on high for roughly an hour, and it has the barest minimum of parts, so it’s easy to maintain. This Coleman model does not have a piezo igniter (the little red button on a lot of stoves, including our runner-up and upgrade picks, that lights the gas), so you’ll need to bring a lighter. To us, that’s just one less thing to break (and if you’re paying less than $150 for a stove, the piezo igniter almost always breaks).
Besides a lighter, you’ll need to remember to pack propane. Be sure to use the stove only outside with proper ventilation.
How to protect your home from a hurricane
The goal for home hurricane preparation, according to Louisiana State University’s Claudette Reichel, is to “possibly avoid some damage to your home and maybe make it so you can move home and restore your life quicker than you could otherwise.” You can take care of some preparations in the days before a storm, but the best and most effective preventive measures, such as proper tree pruning, should be ongoing, months and even years before a storm hits.
According to Reichel, the most important measures are what she calls “the five S’s”: shingles, shutters, soffits, seals, and surroundings. The catchy five-S concept originates with Safety Insurance (PDF), and in our independent research, these five items continually surfaced as the major areas to address.
Shingles: ”The number one source of damage resulting from hurricanes is loss of roof shingles and the water damage associated with that,” Reichel said. Once the wind gains purchase underneath the first row at the edge of a roof, “it’s kind of a domino effect from there” and it can blow shingles off or severely compromise them. To protect against this, Reichel’s advice is to put three 1-inch dabs of roofing cement under each shingle tab to prevent them from flipping up in a high wind. This video from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety recommends gluing down every shingle, but Reichel told us the most crucial are those on the edge. The adhesive takes anywhere from eight to 24 hours to dry, but because humidity can increase that length of time, you should take this step well in advance of a storm.
Shutters: If you’re in a high-wind zone, meaning a Category 3, 4, or 5 storm could reach your house, you should consider storm shutters—covers that you install over your home’s windows and door openings to protect against heavy gusts (regular old decorative shutters don’t cut it). Storm shutters are “not about saving the window, it’s really about preventing a big hole,” Reichel told us. Once there’s a giant hole in a house, the wind can “come in and add to the load the house is experiencing on the outside and lead to structural damage,” she said.
Let’s debunk one common myth: Do not tape your windows. It doesn’t protect the glass at all. In fact, it can make a broken window worse because the tape can pull large, dangerous assemblies of shards out of the window frame. Hurricane experts have been saying, in unison, not to tape windows since at least 2012, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. This was the message coming out of a 2012 conference involving officials with the National Hurricane Center (and that was before superstorm Sandy devastated the heavily taped-up windows in the New York region).
The most cost-effective way to protect windows from an impending hurricane is to use storm shutters fashioned from plywood. But this method has significant downsides: “It’s a huge project. It’s time consuming, [and plywood is] heavy and bulky to store,” said Reichel. If you choose this route, Home Depot has general information and advice on how to do it.
Other options range from durable fabric sheeting to translucent plastic panels. Permanent shutter upgrades can be costly, but once you’ve set them up, they’re typically a lot quicker to install than plywood and a lot easier to store. When you’re choosing storm shutters, Reichel recommends, look for those that have been tested to a state or national code. IBHS has a complete assessment (PDF) of available styles of storm shutters, including the specific codes to look for, general pricing information, and the pros and cons of each. (By the way: If you would like us to look into shutters further, let us know in the comments.)
If you already have storm shutters, Michael Orfanedes recommends giving them a once-over well in advance of any hurricane: “I know it’s tough to put panels up just to check them out, but make sure you’ve counted them and you know you’ve got everything you need.” He added that any leaves or debris found stuck inside the tracks should be cleared out.
Soffits: A soffit is the visible underside of the roof along the outside wall; it presents an easy place for a strong wind to enter a house and do damage. Reichel told us the problem is that “lots of homes have flimsy vinyl perforated soffits underneath that are … not really fastened to anything.” She has even seen ceilings collapse from wet insulation resulting from a blown-off soffit. Her recommendation is to do what you can to fasten them to the framing of the house using a combination of stainless steel screws and a good construction adhesive.
Seals: This is an easy one. Just look around the house and seal any cracks or penetrations that you see with a high-quality sealant like Loctite’s PL Window, Door and Siding Sealant. Any little gaps around doors and windows, or where pipes or conduits run through the exterior wall, can let water in, after which it dampens your floors, walls, or insulation. Wet insulation not only loses its effectiveness but, in a wall, can also cause hidden mold and rotted framing. Water-damaged wood floors typically need expensive repairs.
Surroundings: Examine your home for anything that could become airborne when winds pick up—and then remove the hazard. According to Orfanedes, this means: “Pool and patio furniture need to be secured, certainly kids’ toys, anything that the pet might have lying around in the yard.” Also be on the lookout for objects that could hold water and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes once the storm has passed. These items, Orfanedes said, “should be turned over, secured, or also brought inside.” He listed kiddie pools, tires, and birdbaths as examples.
Also survey the trees on your property. “If trees are properly maintained and not impacting the structure, they can actually help protect the home,” Orfanedes said. Going in and removing dead branches is a start, but “paying attention to the structure of the tree is super important and probably one of the most overlooked things.” A well-pruned tree “does make a difference and probably saves you money in the long run because you don’t have to remove and replace.” The goal is to attain a “dominant strong trunk and lots of smaller, well-attached limbs and branches.” Following this approach means playing the long game, and as such it requires dedicated annual attention and likely consultation from an arborist.
More ways to prepare for hurricane season
Use multiple weather and alert services: Stay informed about weather updates via multiple sources in case anything goes wrong with one. In addition to local radio, community, and NOAA alerts, be sure to turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts in your smartphone settings. You can also download alert apps from FEMA and the American Red Cross. The latter offers apps for different scenarios; scroll down the page and select the one for hurricanes (and any others you’d like).
Have an offline road map: With a hurricane possibly knocking out cell towers, you shouldn’t rely solely on phone GPS functions. You need a reliable car GPS unit, a paper map, or ideally, both. We recommend planning an evacuation route in advance and taking the time to learn it thoroughly. There is no guarantee that street signs will still be visible, and you may be forced to evacuate on unfamiliar roads.
Fill your fridge: The fuller a refrigerator is, the better it can hold a temperature. So once you know a storm is coming, fill any free shelf space with water bottles or filled pitchers and jugs. This step will not only extend the effectiveness of your fridge in a power outage but also add to your water supply. We have specific recommendations for meals, evacuation necessities, and much more on food in our guide to emergency preparedness.
Prepare medications: With the possibility that pharmacies could be closed, have a conversation with your doctor ahead of time about any prescription medicines you take on a regular basis. The Red Cross recommends having a one-month supply on hand. If you have to evacuate, FEMA advocates taking written copies of your prescriptions with you. Also consider any medical devices or aids, and whether additional supplies are required to keep them powered or maintained.
Consider the kids: Storms can be stressful for kids, so make sure to have ways to keep them occupied. If you’re evacuating, grab a deck of cards, a travel game, and a few coloring or activity books. The same extra powering supplies that will keep your phone charged can also serve to power an iPad or other tablet for games or movies (just make sure that you’ve downloaded whatever you or they want ahead of time). Adding some special snacks to the emergency food supply can help keep kids positive. Save the Children has more advice, including the importance of keeping a routine during the emergency.
Make a record: Take pictures of your home and valuables to create a record of their current condition in case of an insurance claim. Back the images up online where you can access them after the storm should anything happen to your phone or camera.
Plan for your pets: Most shelters won’t take pets, so make sure to have a plan in place before the storm hits. If you’re sheltering in place, have ample supplies of food, water, and any needed medications on hand. The ASPCA has comprehensive information on how to handle a disaster when you have pets.
Sources
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Sam Bloch, director of emergency response at World Central Kitchen, video interview, July 24, 2024
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Reilly Wilkes, director of operations at Wolverine Tuff Bottle, video interview, July 19, 2024
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Seungah Jeong, CEO of MPowerd, video interview, July 17, 2024
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Stephanie Fox, American Red Cross media relations, email interview, July 13, 2024
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Grant Brown, director of recreation and cultural affairs for the city of Gulf Shore, Alabama, video interview, July 26, 2024
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Jamey Durham, director for the bureau of prevention, promotion, and support for the state of Alabama public health department, video interview, July 31, 2024
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Claudette Reichel, professor and extension housing specialist, Louisiana State University Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, phone interviews, July 10, 2019, and July 10, 2020
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Michael Orfanedes, commercial horticultural agent for University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Broward County, phone interview, August 22, 2019
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Gerry Bell, PhD, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (MP3), conference call with reporters, June 21, 2020
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PRepared: Hurricane Preparedness, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), June 18, 2019
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Busy Atlantic hurricane season predicted for 2020, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), May 21, 2020
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Hurricanes and Other Tropical Storms, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Hurricane Safety, American Red Cross
The research
- Why you should trust us
- Portable generator
- Gas can
- Portable power station
- Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
- Water container
- Flashlight
- Headlamp
- Inflatable solar lantern
- First aid kit
- Weather radio
- Storage bins
- Lighter
- Solar panels
- Bug repellent
- Work gloves
- Rain boots
- Handsaw and chainsaw
- Tarp
- Snow shovel
- Heavy-duty garbage bags
- Mop and bucket
- Paracord
- Wet/dry vac
- Portable stove
- How to protect your home from a hurricane
- More ways to prepare for hurricane season
- Sources
Why you should trust us
In addition to the advice Claudette Reichel gave us, we spoke with FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell and Michael Orfanedes, commercial horticultural agent for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Broward County. Among other duties and achievements (PDF), Orfanedes consults extensively on how to best handle trees both before and after (PDF) a hurricane.
We also took guidance from national emergency services such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Hurricane Center, and the American Red Cross. Hurricane survival stories and the perspective of amateur preppers also helped to inform our practical take on hurricane preparedness, as did the firsthand experiences of a number of Wirecutter colleagues who have lived through hurricanes.
Senior staff writer Doug Mahoney has personally developed some expertise in this topic while researching Wirecutter guides to general emergency preparedness and bug-out bags. He also worked as a general contractor on high-end residential construction in the Boston area, which helped him understand and relay experts’ advice on ways to brace your home against hurricane damage.
Ellen Airhart worked on our guides to wildfire and earthquake preparedness. For the most recent iteration of this guide, she spoke with five experts, including Sam Bloch, director of emergency response at the World Central Kitchen, and Grant Brown, director of recreation and cultural affairs in Gulf Shores, Alabama, a city spotlighted by the Rural Health Information Hub for its Hurricane Sally preparation in 2020.
Portable generator
Top pick
High winds and heavy rain make for a pretty sure recipe for a power outage, and when you’re staring down multiple days without electricity—in hot, muggy hurricane season—you may quickly become desperate for some relief. A generator can not only help you keep your electronics charged and a fan running, but it can also power small appliances and keep lifesaving medical equipment online.
The Westinghouse iGen5000DFc is a mid-range model with plenty of power to run the basics. Its 3,900 watts should be enough power to run several small items at once and even most appliances (except large-draw one like a whole-home AC or a clothes dryer). One standout detail is that it’s a dual-fuel model, meaning it can run on gasoline or propane, a nice option when fuel can be scarce and in high demand after a disaster. This model also has a remote start, a feature we don’t often see in generators at this price range, so you don’t have to trek out into the rain to get the engine up and running.
We like to prioritize closed-frame generators (which are quieter than open-frame ones), and a CO detector is a must. The generator will automatically shut itself off if it detects dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the air. Still, keep in mind that all gas generators should only be operated outside and away from doors and windows. This model is not available in California.
Gas can
Top pick
If you’re turning to gasoline to power your generator, this gas can was the easiest to use of those we tested. The transparent ridges down the center of the can allow you to see exactly how full it is, which is useful both while you’re filling it and when you’re monitoring your stores. Plus, we were impressed with its spill proof design; it dispenses gas only if you use your thumb to press the release while pouring. It also comes in a smaller, 1.25-gallon size and a larger, 5-gallon size. Just remember that gasoline deteriorates over time, so if you plan to store it for longer than six months, you need to add fuel stabilizer.
Portable power station
Top pick
Gas generators are a tried-and-true power source in an emergency, but they are not without their drawbacks. They’re loud, smelly, and suitable for use only outdoors—not particularly helpful when you need to power a CPAP machine in your bedroom. Then there’s the matter of the gasoline, which often becomes scarce in the days before and after a hurricane.
A cleaner and greener alternative is a portable power station—essentially a large battery in a protective box with AC outlets and other charging ports built in. Following senior staff writer Sarah Witman’s latest testing, our top pick is the EcoFlow River 2 Pro. At less than 20 pounds, it’s fairly portable, and you can recharge its battery using solar panels, your car’s battery, or plain old AC power. (Make sure it’s fully charged before the storm hits!)
Its 768 Wh capacity translates to running 800 watts’ worth of appliances for one hour—or a lower wattage for longer. In our testing, we were able to run a 127 W fan for 8 hours, an indicator that it has more than enough juice to keep a few key devices charged during a minor power outage.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
Top pick
The CyberPower CP900AVR can cover the basics for most people during common, short-term blackouts. In our tests, it provided enough power to keep a household broadband modem and Wi-Fi router running for four hours, which means you can stay online while the power is off and get in touch with emergency services, follow news and weather changes, or just pass the time on your favorite websites.
It requires no setup aside from plugging it in, and it comes with its own software. It has a user-replaceable battery and includes automatic voltage regulation (an important feature that some cheaper models lack), which can prolong the overall lifespan of the battery and help prevent damage to sensitive electronics.
It backs up five of its 10 outlets with a battery, and it has a 6-foot cord. Its compact shape—about the size of a jumbo three-ring binder standing upright—makes it relatively easy to stow under a desk or nightstand.
Water container
Top pick
Of the four collapsible water containers we tested, the Wolverine Tuff Bottle 20L Container was, as the name suggests, the toughest. It was also the easiest to fill and maneuver. With water, the bag weighs about 40 pounds, which was the maximum amount we could easily carry with one hand. A different water container we tested busted open when we knocked it off a 6-foot-high shelf, but the Wolverine Tuff Bottle has two layers of ultraviolet-resistant plastic that kept the sloshing water secure. We froze the container over the weekend, and it didn’t leak when we filled it up again. My experience is backed up by the ASTM International, a standards organization that did similar drop tests with varying heights and liquids (including antifreeze).
Wolverine Tuff is a family business that started out making packaging for medical supplies, so it has some experience in containing high-stakes solvents, according to director of operations Reilly Wilkes. The Wolverine Tuff Bottle on Amazon comes with a red spout, but you can purchase other accessories—including a spout that fits a Sawyer water filter—on the Wolverine Tuff website. The company has collaborated with many charitable organizations in order to deliver 400,000 gallons of clean drinking water.
One downside to the Wolverine Tuff container: We noticed the water had a slight plastic aftertaste, even after we washed the container out a few times. The WaterStorageCube Collapsible Water Container Bag retained less eau en plastique, and it’s cheaper, although it has a shorter warranty, does not come with spigot, and lacks the transparent standards testing of the Wolverine Tuff container.
Water is usually the first item that FEMA brings to a storm-damaged area, according to Grant Brown, director of recreation and cultural affairs in Gulf Shores, Alabama. But water is also what you’ll miss the most if you don’t have it. Officials announce hurricane warnings at least 36 hours before the onset of the storm, which means you have time to store water for both drinking and other household activities like cleaning and flushing the toilet. In an emergency, experts recommend having at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days. “There’s an old adage: The first 72 is on you,” says Brown, referring to the initial 72 hours after a storm.
While our water container recommendation is convenient to have around, you don’t need a specific tool in order to retain liquids. For “gray water,” which you can clean and flush the toilet with but not drink, you can close the drains on your tubs and sinks as you fill them up. One of our sources tipped us off to the existence of the WaterBOB, a plastic container that fits inside your tub, but we have not yet tested it.
You can fill up any water bottles you might have lying around with drinking water. Put them in your refrigerator and freezer (after checking that the materials are freeze-proof). This will keep the water itself cool, and if the power goes out, the inside of your fridge or freezer will warm up more slowly, due to the high specific heat capacity of water compared to air. Hurricanes usually happen in warm locales in the summer and fall. Even if the electricity stays running, you won’t regret having a cold drink as you head outside for cleanup duty.
Top pick
In an emergency, experts recommend having at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days (more, if possible). At 7 gallons, the portable Reliance Aqua-Tainer offers a week of water for one person, whether you’re sheltering in place or on an evacuation route. We tested five water containers, and the Aqua-Tainer distinguished itself with its durable build, smart features, and larger size (most are in the 5-gallon range). We like that the spigot is stored inside the cap when not in use and that it has a tethered screw-on air vent valve for faster pouring.
A full Aqua-Tainer weighs nearly 60 pounds, so if you’re not comfortable with lugging that weight around in an evacuation scenario, we also like the smaller Reliance Aqua-Pak 5-gallon container. For a much larger at-home setup, we like the Augason Farms 55-Gallon Water Storage Barrel.
Regardless of which storage option you go with, the CDC recommends replacing your water supply every six months.
Flashlight
Top pick
Since there’s no way to know how long you could be without power, you need a long-lasting LED flashlight—one of the most essential pieces of gear you can have during and after a hurricane. We tested more than 20 of them in the New Hampshire woods for our guide to the best flashlights and found that the ThruNite Archer 2A C was the best one. When the flashlight was on the highest of its four brightness settings, we were able to see trees 500 feet away, and when it was on its lowest setting, we could read a map while preserving our night vision. It also has a strobe setting for emergency signaling, but that function isn’t part of the standard brightness toggle (as it is with less expensive flashlights), so you don’t have to constantly cycle through it.
Reichel stressed that in the aftermath of a hurricane, you’ll need a flashlight that has a long battery life. The ThruNite truly delivers in this regard. According to the manufacturer, when the flashlight is on its highest setting, it will run for 128 minutes, but on its lowest setting, it can run for roughly 27 days (on the medium setting it runs for 11 hours, and on the low setting it lasts for four days). It runs on its included rechargeable battery, but it’s also compatible with AA batteries. “Make sure to have extra batteries,” Reichel said. Emergencies are one of the few instances for which we recommend disposable batteries over rechargeable ones.
Headlamp
Top pick
During an extended power outage, there’s no such thing as having too many light sources, and a headlamp allows you to keep your hands free to navigate and carry things at the same time. The Black Diamond Spot 400 has top buttons that are intuitive to use; you’ll need to experiment with clicking through various configurations, but we think the learning curve is fairly short.
This model offers both a red-light option (which is good for when you’re switching it on and off at night) and a strobe option, for emergency signaling. Its PowerTap technology lets you instantly transition the headlamp from full power to dimmed with one touch, and this model weighs a decently lightweight 3 ounces with batteries installed. The Spot 400 uses three AAA batteries, so be sure to have extras on hand.
Inflatable solar lantern
Top pick
Our readers have recommended that we review inflatable solar-powered lanterns, a category of products meant to illuminate surroundings and prevent unexpected encounters in the dark. These floating lights are equipped with a solar panel and a cable with which you can charge your phone.
We tested two models of these lanterns, the LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern and MPowerd Luci Base Light. We tossed them in our bathtub, charged them up in the sun, then turned them on to see how long it took to run out their batteries. We then froze them overnight and turned them on again the next day.
The LuminAid Titan came out on top, but just barely. The MPowerd Luci has a warm yellow light, and it’s slightly brighter than the Titan. Seungah Jeong, the president and CEO of MPowerd, said children love hugging their balloon-like Luci. But ultimately the Titan is easier to inflate, runs for longer and has more varied brightness settings. You open it with a satisfying twist and can throw it directly in the water. This lantern has buttons that are easier to operate, with the addition of a very useful light that comes on when the solar panel is charging. The Titan also needs less time to reach a full battery than the Luci. LuminAID has donated over 250,000 lights to either directly or through their nonprofit partners, according to the company website.
First aid kit
Top pick
We like the First Aid Only 298 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit (FAO-442) for its wide selection of gear for treating minor cuts, burns, and scrapes (bandages, gauze, wipes, ointments, and painkillers), as well as some items for handling more-serious injuries (a trauma pad, gauze, and some dressing pads). The case opens like a book, and items are stowed in 10 clear plastic compartments, so you can easily find what you need in moments of high stress. One of the kit’s highlights is its selection of 187 adhesive bandages in all shapes and sizes. After sticking it under a shower, we found that water can leak inside the case through its zipper, so we recommend keeping it inside a gallon zip-lock bag if it’s stored under a sink or you’re adding it to a go bag. Although this adds a layer of inconvenience, other kits we looked at were less organized or didn’t have enough of the essentials.
Weather radio
Top pick
Whether you’re evacuating from a hurricane or sheltering in place, it’s crucial to keep tabs on the status of the storm. You’ll need “some kind of way to listen to a radio station because TV stations may be out,” Reichel told us. We think your best option is a dedicated emergency weather radio, specifically the Midland ER310. The Midland offers better reception, a brighter flashlight, and more-effective charging options than other models we tested, including the ability to charge from dead through solar power or hand-cranking. It can also receive NOAA extreme-weather alerts, providing notifications that are both loud and readily visible so you won’t miss any warnings. The ER310’s convenient size makes it comfortable to carry, so it’s easier to grab on the go in the case of an imminent storm. It was also one of the few radios we tested that lived up to its crank-generating claims: We found that just one minute of cranking produced 10 minutes of radio time or a few minutes of flashlight use. Plus, the ER310’s durable body can stand up to heavy rain or a drop onto a hard surface.
Storage bins
Top pick
During the high winds and flooding of a hurricane, water-resistant bins can keep emergency supplies, important documents, valuables, and other personal effects clean and dry. After testing 32 different bins—by tossing them down a set of stairs and leaving them out in the rain—we found that the Iris Weathertight Totes had the best combination of weather resistance and durability.
The lid’s foam gasket creates a watertight seal, and four clasps hold the top on tight (most lids have only two clasps). In most instances, the Iris bins will keep their contents dry, but note that they are “weather-resistant,” not waterproof, so they are not designed to be submerged; in extreme circumstances, such as a fully flooded basement, moisture could get in. For added security, USI insurance recommends (PDF) running duct tape around the rim of a bin’s lid and wrapping the upper half of the bin with stretch plastic. You should seal important items, such as official documents and family photos, in zip-top bags for additional protection.
The straight sides of the Weathertight Totes maximize storage space, and the design of the lid makes these bins very stackable. Because these bins are clear, you can easily identify contents at a glance. They are available in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from 6½ quarts to 103 quarts.
Lighter
Top pick
Most experts, including those at the American Red Cross (PDF), don’t recommend using candles for emergency lighting, but a source of fire can be helpful for cooking in the aftermath of a hurricane. Reichel pointed out that without power, most gas stoves are rendered useless because of their electronic igniters. To get the stove going, you need to provide your own starter flame. A lighter can also get an outdoor cooking fire going, such as in a fire pit or chiminea. Bic lighters are easy to use and inexpensive, and they can hold a flame in light wind or a little rain.
Solar panels
Top pick
If there’s no power coming into your home, you need a way to charge your electronics. If you have access to a car, you can use a car phone charger, but that may not be a viable long-term solution. Reichel recommends a solar battery charger. “People want those phones after a storm,” she said, noting that communication was a huge issue after Hurricane Katrina in part because phone batteries died and people had no way to recharge them. We tested 12 portable solar chargers and determined the best budget option to be the BigBlue 28W USB Solar Charger. It produced the most power of any model we tested, and it has waterproof port covers and a slim, compact design. It can also charge three devices at once. If you’re evacuating, don’t forget charging cables. For more power, a larger machine such as a gas generator is also an option.
Bug repellent
Top pick
Mosquito populations can explode after a severe storm, and with them come harmful diseases such as Zika, dengue, and West Nile, as this information sheet (PDF) from Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension Service explains. Adding to the risk is the fact that after a storm, people are naturally going to be outside a lot more, whether they’re cleaning up or cooking at the grill because the power is out. We tested 17 spray repellents for our guide to bug repellents and found the best to be Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent.
Sawyer’s repellent is EPA approved, meaning it has undergone extensive safety and efficacy testing. Instead of DEET, Sawyer uses a 20% concentration of picaridin, which provides up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes. Studies show that picaridin and DEET offer similar levels of bug protection, but picaridin doesn’t melt or mar plastic like DEET can, and it has hardly any odor. Other companies make 20% picaridin repellents—and they’re just as effective against mosquitoes and ticks—but in our tests Sawyer’s repellent bottle distinguished itself with its nice, even spray and its double-cap design (which makes the nozzle very unlikely to activate when you stuff the bottle in a backpack or other container).
Work gloves
Top pick
From cleaning up broken glass to clearing branches from your driveway, your hands can be exposed to a lot of hazards after a hurricane. For protection, we recommend getting a pair of the Husky Large Grain Cowhide Water Resistant Leather Performance Work Glove. The gloves’ soft leather combines comfort and durability, and in our tests we were able to move muddy rocks and pull briars without losing our grip or feeling thorns perforate the palms. When the gloves got filthy, a quick rinse returned them to like new. With a stretchy mesh backing, the standard sizes are likely to conform to your hands, and the gloves’ adjustable Velcro strap closes securely at the wrists without causing the excessive compression we felt from some competitors.
Rain boots
Top pick
Flood water is nasty stuff that may be contaminated with sewage, bacteria, and chemicals, not to mention submerged debris, wildlife, or even downed electrical wires. Our advice is to avoid wading through it if you can. But once the flooding recedes, your cleanup efforts may necessitate standing in some residual water or at least a thick layer of mud. A pair of tall, sturdy rain boots like our pick from Hunter should keep your feet safe and dry. The all-rubber construction is designed to last; we’ve been relying on these boots for years with little wear to show for it. The treads don’t trap debris, and these boots ranked among the grippiest we tested. They also come in a taller men’s and women’s style if you have some serious muck to contend with. Because they’re entirely rubber, you can hose them clean afterward.
Handsaw and chainsaw
Top pick
A good handsaw, such as the Silky Zubat, is a valuable tool for pruning dead branches before a hurricane and cleaning up debris. Although this model wasn’t our top pick for carpentry, it is our choice for this particular task because its thicker blade is more durable than those of the speedier carpentry options we looked at. Its curvature helps with cutting, and the 270 mm blade was able to handle maple and ash branches cleared after a storm in Virginia.
For more aggressive work, we also tested several chainsaws, any of which would be appropriate for post-storm cleanup.
Tarp
Top pick
Like saws, tarps (or tarpaulins, if you’re fancy) have uses both before and after a hurricane. You can tie them down onto objects to keep those things dry, use them to patch a damaged home, or keep them nearby to help with yard cleanup—just pile branches and debris on the tarp and then slide it around like a makeshift wheelbarrow. We like Everbilt’s 6-by-8-foot tarp for general use. It’s 10 mils thick, waterproof, and designed with thick grommets. In our experience, we’ve found that 10 mils represents the sweet spot between durability and usability: Thinner tarps fray more easily and develop holes, while thicker tarps are heavier and more difficult to maneuver, carry, and fold. We’ve had a few Everbilt brown tarps set up outside for years, and they show no discoloration or wear at all. They’re usually available on the shelves at Home Depot. If you are looking for something larger or smaller, other sizes are available, too.
Snow shovel
Top pick
Thankfully, hurricanes and winter don’t mix, so you won’t be shoveling snow in the wake of one, but hurricanes leave plenty of debris behind, especially as flood waters recede. If you need to move a lot of mud and sludge, opt for a wide, sturdy shovel like the True Temper 18-inch Ergonomic Mountain Mover. Co-author Doug Mahoney has been using this shovel through New England winters since 2009, and it’s held up to its fair share of snow and ice. Its curved shaft makes moving debris easier. Plus, its plastic lead edge is gentler on floors than a metal shovel, if the muck made its way inside.
Heavy-duty garbage bags
Top pick
Heavy-duty garbage bags are always good for hurricane cleanup, but in an emergency they can have other uses as well. For one thing, they can keep your supplies dry, especially items like clothing and blankets. They can also serve as makeshift ponchos. The thick plastic resists puncturing from broken glass and nail-embedded wood. After spending a decade in the building trades and shoving sharp objects into all kinds of trash bags, co-author Doug Mahoney can personally attest to the durability of Husky 42-gallon bags over that of the competition.
Mop and bucket
Top pick
Sometimes all you need to clean up lots of water is a mop and bucket, as we discuss in our guide to cleaning up a flooded basement. The O-Cedar Microfiber Cloth Mop is sturdy, light, nimble, and a superb performer—the best in our mop tests at absorbing spills and scrubbing stains and stuck-on debris. Its long handle is simply built, slim, and stiff. Because it’s lighter overall than its competitors, mopping with it puts less strain on your back. It’s easier to store than other mops thanks to a collapsible handle with a unique hook. Its synthetic head dries in less than 24 hours, it doesn’t develop a smell, and in a pinch it works as a dust mop too. With an inexpensive, replaceable head that you can machine wash and dry up to 100 times, it’s seriously thrifty, costing as little as 7¢ per cleanup.
Top pick
The O-Cedar Quick Wring Bucket is everything you could wish for in a mop bucket. Its 2.5-gallon capacity can hold enough water for any job, but it weighs less than 20 pounds when full, and it’s easy to lift out of a sink and move from room to room. If you are trying to store water to clean with before a storm, it’s the perfect receptacle. Its compact, rectangular shape doesn’t waste closet or cabinet space, it’s easy to pour, and its stable design makes it less likely to slide or spill than other buckets we tried. Its built-in wringer works beautifully and is also readily removable; doing so converts it to a general-purpose bucket.
Paracord
Top pick
A length of rope is useful for any number of tasks, such as tying supplies together, strapping something to your car, replacing a broken shoelace, or even applying it to first aid uses such as creating splints and tourniquets. Paracord is the ideal rope in an emergency. In particular, 550 paracord, with its 550-pound weight rating, is the most universal thickness. It consists of a nylon sheath with usually seven nylon strands inside, each strand made up of three smaller strands twisted together. You can pull all of these separate pieces apart—so if you have 1 foot of paracord, for example, you can create about 7 feet of the triple-strand cordage or 21 feet of single nylon strands.
We tested two highly regarded brands of paracord, and we prefer the Titan SurvivorCord. At about $35 for a 100-foot length, the SurvivorCord is more expensive than regular high-quality cord, but it has unique features that make it worth the investment. Within the nylon sheath, residing among the seven triple strands of nylon, are a fishing line, a small wire, and a strand of waxed jute (a fire tinder). The 100-foot length is a good amount; it’s better to have more and not need it than to have less and need it.
Individually, the wire, fishing line, and waxed jute offer potential benefits in an emergency situation, but at a more practical level they serve to make the rope stiffer, which really helped while we were tying knots. Regular paracord is loose and flops like a shoelace, but the SurvivorCord holds its shape with a slight rigidity. Those additional internal strands also reduce excess stretchiness, which was a problem we noticed with the regular paracord we evaluated.
The SurvivorCord is available in a huge variety of colors and comes with a nice Velcro strap to hold the bundle together.
We also tested Tough-Grid’s 550 paracord and the brand’s larger 750 paracord (with 11 internal strands instead of seven). Both of those offered great performance, and if you think the cost of the SurvivorCord is too high, these are less expensive alternatives, albeit without the added stiffness or the functionality of the fishing-line, wire, and waxed-jute strands.
Wet/dry vac
Top pick
Whether it’s for a flooded basement or general cleanup, a wet/dry vac is the tool for handling the worst kinds of messes that most floors ever see. The 12-gallon Ridgid HD1200 is the vac that Doug saw on job sites and personally used the most often throughout a 10-year construction career, and it’s the model that he has owned at home for years.
We bought the company’s relatively new HD1200 model for testing in spring 2020. So far it has exhibited the same excellent Ridgid quality we’ve seen for years from similar models, and it remains our pick for the best shop or wet/dry vac. And with its four casters, its well-positioned handle, and its manageable weight, it isn’t too difficult to drag through a basement or to carry up a flight of stairs.
Portable stove
Top pick
Multiple sources gave us the same advice about hurricanes: Afterwards, you’re going to want coffee. If the electricity and gas lines are down, a camping stove like the Coleman Classic Propane Camping Stove can deliver that crucial cup of joe. This Coleman model boiled water faster than any other stove we tested under $150, yet when we turned it down low, it was gentle enough to griddle golden-brown pancakes.
On a single 16-ounce tank of propane, this stove can cook with both burners on high for roughly an hour, and it has the barest minimum of parts, so it’s easy to maintain. This Coleman model does not have a piezo igniter (the little red button on a lot of stoves, including our runner-up and upgrade picks, that lights the gas), so you’ll need to bring a lighter. To us, that’s just one less thing to break (and if you’re paying less than $150 for a stove, the piezo igniter almost always breaks).
Besides a lighter, you’ll need to remember to pack propane. Be sure to use the stove only outside with proper ventilation.
How to protect your home from a hurricane
The goal for home hurricane preparation, according to Louisiana State University’s Claudette Reichel, is to “possibly avoid some damage to your home and maybe make it so you can move home and restore your life quicker than you could otherwise.” You can take care of some preparations in the days before a storm, but the best and most effective preventive measures, such as proper tree pruning, should be ongoing, months and even years before a storm hits.
According to Reichel, the most important measures are what she calls “the five S’s”: shingles, shutters, soffits, seals, and surroundings. The catchy five-S concept originates with Safety Insurance (PDF), and in our independent research, these five items continually surfaced as the major areas to address.
Shingles: ”The number one source of damage resulting from hurricanes is loss of roof shingles and the water damage associated with that,” Reichel said. Once the wind gains purchase underneath the first row at the edge of a roof, “it’s kind of a domino effect from there” and it can blow shingles off or severely compromise them. To protect against this, Reichel’s advice is to put three 1-inch dabs of roofing cement under each shingle tab to prevent them from flipping up in a high wind. This video from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety recommends gluing down every shingle, but Reichel told us the most crucial are those on the edge. The adhesive takes anywhere from eight to 24 hours to dry, but because humidity can increase that length of time, you should take this step well in advance of a storm.
Shutters: If you’re in a high-wind zone, meaning a Category 3, 4, or 5 storm could reach your house, you should consider storm shutters—covers that you install over your home’s windows and door openings to protect against heavy gusts (regular old decorative shutters don’t cut it). Storm shutters are “not about saving the window, it’s really about preventing a big hole,” Reichel told us. Once there’s a giant hole in a house, the wind can “come in and add to the load the house is experiencing on the outside and lead to structural damage,” she said.
Let’s debunk one common myth: Do not tape your windows. It doesn’t protect the glass at all. In fact, it can make a broken window worse because the tape can pull large, dangerous assemblies of shards out of the window frame. Hurricane experts have been saying, in unison, not to tape windows since at least 2012, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. This was the message coming out of a 2012 conference involving officials with the National Hurricane Center (and that was before superstorm Sandy devastated the heavily taped-up windows in the New York region).
The most cost-effective way to protect windows from an impending hurricane is to use storm shutters fashioned from plywood. But this method has significant downsides: “It’s a huge project. It’s time consuming, [and plywood is] heavy and bulky to store,” said Reichel. If you choose this route, Home Depot has general information and advice on how to do it.
Other options range from durable fabric sheeting to translucent plastic panels. Permanent shutter upgrades can be costly, but once you’ve set them up, they’re typically a lot quicker to install than plywood and a lot easier to store. When you’re choosing storm shutters, Reichel recommends, look for those that have been tested to a state or national code. IBHS has a complete assessment (PDF) of available styles of storm shutters, including the specific codes to look for, general pricing information, and the pros and cons of each. (By the way: If you would like us to look into shutters further, let us know in the comments.)
If you already have storm shutters, Michael Orfanedes recommends giving them a once-over well in advance of any hurricane: “I know it’s tough to put panels up just to check them out, but make sure you’ve counted them and you know you’ve got everything you need.” He added that any leaves or debris found stuck inside the tracks should be cleared out.
Soffits: A soffit is the visible underside of the roof along the outside wall; it presents an easy place for a strong wind to enter a house and do damage. Reichel told us the problem is that “lots of homes have flimsy vinyl perforated soffits underneath that are … not really fastened to anything.” She has even seen ceilings collapse from wet insulation resulting from a blown-off soffit. Her recommendation is to do what you can to fasten them to the framing of the house using a combination of stainless steel screws and a good construction adhesive.
Seals: This is an easy one. Just look around the house and seal any cracks or penetrations that you see with a high-quality sealant like Loctite’s PL Window, Door and Siding Sealant. Any little gaps around doors and windows, or where pipes or conduits run through the exterior wall, can let water in, after which it dampens your floors, walls, or insulation. Wet insulation not only loses its effectiveness but, in a wall, can also cause hidden mold and rotted framing. Water-damaged wood floors typically need expensive repairs.
Surroundings: Examine your home for anything that could become airborne when winds pick up—and then remove the hazard. According to Orfanedes, this means: “Pool and patio furniture need to be secured, certainly kids’ toys, anything that the pet might have lying around in the yard.” Also be on the lookout for objects that could hold water and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes once the storm has passed. These items, Orfanedes said, “should be turned over, secured, or also brought inside.” He listed kiddie pools, tires, and birdbaths as examples.
Also survey the trees on your property. “If trees are properly maintained and not impacting the structure, they can actually help protect the home,” Orfanedes said. Going in and removing dead branches is a start, but “paying attention to the structure of the tree is super important and probably one of the most overlooked things.” A well-pruned tree “does make a difference and probably saves you money in the long run because you don’t have to remove and replace.” The goal is to attain a “dominant strong trunk and lots of smaller, well-attached limbs and branches.” Following this approach means playing the long game, and as such it requires dedicated annual attention and likely consultation from an arborist.
More ways to prepare for hurricane season
Use multiple weather and alert services: Stay informed about weather updates via multiple sources in case anything goes wrong with one. In addition to local radio, community, and NOAA alerts, be sure to turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts in your smartphone settings. You can also download alert apps from FEMA and the American Red Cross. The latter offers apps for different scenarios; scroll down the page and select the one for hurricanes (and any others you’d like).
Have an offline road map: With a hurricane possibly knocking out cell towers, you shouldn’t rely solely on phone GPS functions. You need a reliable car GPS unit, a paper map, or ideally, both. We recommend planning an evacuation route in advance and taking the time to learn it thoroughly. There is no guarantee that street signs will still be visible, and you may be forced to evacuate on unfamiliar roads.
Fill your fridge: The fuller a refrigerator is, the better it can hold a temperature. So once you know a storm is coming, fill any free shelf space with water bottles or filled pitchers and jugs. This step will not only extend the effectiveness of your fridge in a power outage but also add to your water supply. We have specific recommendations for meals, evacuation necessities, and much more on food in our guide to emergency preparedness.
Prepare medications: With the possibility that pharmacies could be closed, have a conversation with your doctor ahead of time about any prescription medicines you take on a regular basis. The Red Cross recommends having a one-month supply on hand. If you have to evacuate, FEMA advocates taking written copies of your prescriptions with you. Also consider any medical devices or aids, and whether additional supplies are required to keep them powered or maintained.
Consider the kids: Storms can be stressful for kids, so make sure to have ways to keep them occupied. If you’re evacuating, grab a deck of cards, a travel game, and a few coloring or activity books. The same extra powering supplies that will keep your phone charged can also serve to power an iPad or other tablet for games or movies (just make sure that you’ve downloaded whatever you or they want ahead of time). Adding some special snacks to the emergency food supply can help keep kids positive. Save the Children has more advice, including the importance of keeping a routine during the emergency.
Make a record: Take pictures of your home and valuables to create a record of their current condition in case of an insurance claim. Back the images up online where you can access them after the storm should anything happen to your phone or camera.
Plan for your pets: Most shelters won’t take pets, so make sure to have a plan in place before the storm hits. If you’re sheltering in place, have ample supplies of food, water, and any needed medications on hand. The ASPCA has comprehensive information on how to handle a disaster when you have pets.
Sources
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Sam Bloch, director of emergency response at World Central Kitchen, video interview, July 24, 2024
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Reilly Wilkes, director of operations at Wolverine Tuff Bottle, video interview, July 19, 2024
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Seungah Jeong, CEO of MPowerd, video interview, July 17, 2024
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Stephanie Fox, American Red Cross media relations, email interview, July 13, 2024
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Grant Brown, director of recreation and cultural affairs for the city of Gulf Shore, Alabama, video interview, July 26, 2024
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Jamey Durham, director for the bureau of prevention, promotion, and support for the state of Alabama public health department, video interview, July 31, 2024
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Claudette Reichel, professor and extension housing specialist, Louisiana State University Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, phone interviews, July 10, 2019, and July 10, 2020
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Michael Orfanedes, commercial horticultural agent for University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Broward County, phone interview, August 22, 2019
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Gerry Bell, PhD, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (MP3), conference call with reporters, June 21, 2020
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PRepared: Hurricane Preparedness, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), June 18, 2019
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Busy Atlantic hurricane season predicted for 2020, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), May 21, 2020
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Hurricanes and Other Tropical Storms, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Hurricane Safety, American Red Cross
