Checklist: Essential items for your hurricane kit, ensure nothing is expired

ORLANDO, Fla. – With hurricane season, it’s important to start planning ahead and gathering any supplies you might need in case of emergency.

That’s where a hurricane kit comes in. You can buy one or build one yourself.

Each person or family may have a slightly different emergency kit, but certain essential items are universally important.

FloridaDisaster.org offers a practical checklist to help individuals or families put together a disaster supply kit. The checklist is divided into important categories such as general items, phone numbers, clothing, special needs items, first aid supplies, food and water, important documents, as well as items for vehicles and pets.

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It is advisable not to procrastinate when it comes to gathering these items. Waiting until the last minute can lead to dealing with crowds, limited availability of supplies, and financial strain. Be prepared ahead of time.

If you’re on a budget, you can take whatever milk or juice jugs you have in your house, clean them out, fill them up with water and store them in the back of your refrigerator to have if and when needed in the event of a storm.

And remember to look and see what you have already first before filling in the blanks with items you and your household may need.

From there, take preemptive action and get these items in stores or online before a storm hits to ensure your safety and alleviate stress.

If you’re just looking to revamp an old storm kit, here’s a list of items you should check for expiration dates:

• Food.

• Baby formula.

• Pet food.

• Water.

• Batteries.

• First aid supplies.

• Medication.

If you’ve added any other perishable items to your kit, go ahead and check the expiration dates on those items and replace them as needed.

You’ll want to make sure none of the items listed above have an expiration date before Nov. 30, which marks the official end to the Atlantic hurricane season. If they do, replace those items with newer ones.

Here are some tips to maintain your emergency kit, courtesy of Ready.gov:

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.

• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.

• Replace expired items as needed.

• Rethink your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

While you’re preparing your kit, you should also create a plan to best prepare you and your family for a hurricane.

For more tips to plan and prepare for storm season, visit ClickOrlando.com/Hurricane.

Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through the end of November.