Hurricane Preparedness Checklist

The complete hurricane preparedness checklist — from one week before landfall through 72 hours after. 5 phases: one week out, 48 hours, 24 hours, the landfall window, and recovery. Color-coded so you can scan it under stress.

VERSION v2026.04

PAGES 8

FORMAT Printable

01 🌊

ONE WEEK OUT

T-7 days · prep + purchase window
02 ⚠️

48 HOURS OUT

Watch issued · lock it down
03 🌀

24 HOURS OUT

Warning active · final prep
04 🌊

LANDFALL WINDOW

6 hours out through the eye
05 🛠️

AFTER THE STORM

First 72 hours post-landfall

QUICK REFERENCE

The Rule of 3s

3 min

without air — airway is priority #1

3 hrs

without shelter in harsh weather

3 days

without water — this checklist covers it

3 weeks

without food — buys time to reach help

☐ Top off vehicle fuel tank and fill a 5-gallon gas can (rotate every 6 months) → Buy
☐ Cash withdrawal: $300-$500 in small bills from ATM (ATMs go first during warnings)
☐ Review and update homeowners/renters insurance — photograph your possessions
☐ Stock 2 weeks of non-perishable food per household member
☐ Stock 2 weeks of drinking water (1 gal/person/day = 14 gal minimum for 1 person)
☐ Refill prescription medications to maximum possible supply
☐ Pre-scout evacuation routes and identify 2 alternates in different directions
☐ Confirm out-of-area contact person with every household member
☐ Check roof, trim dead tree branches, clean gutters for heavy rain
☐ Check generator fuel, test-run for 10 minutes, confirm working state → Buy
☐ Charge all power banks, spare phone, headlamps, and battery-powered radio
☐ Buy or verify: NOAA weather radio, flashlights, spare batteries → Buy

☐ Fill WaterBOB in bathtub (100 gallons = 25 days for 1 person) → Buy
☐ Pack 72-hour go-bag for every household member, plus pets
☐ Seal important documents in waterproof zip-lock pouches in your go-bag
☐ Board up windows OR close and lock hurricane shutters
☐ Bring in all loose outdoor objects (furniture, toys, trash cans, grill, propane)
☐ Park vehicles on high ground, facing the exit direction, full tank
☐ Tie down propane tanks or move indoors to a well-ventilated area
☐ Photograph every room and contents for insurance claims
☐ Charge laptops, tablets, phones, backup batteries to 100%
☐ Pre-cook meals that will keep for 24 hours without refrigeration
☐ Turn fridge/freezer to coldest setting to maximize cold-hold time
☐ Contact your out-of-area person and confirm the family plan

☐ Run dishwasher, laundry, and bath appointments BEFORE the water goes
☐ Unplug sensitive electronics (except fridge) to protect from power surges
☐ Fill every container in the house with water: tubs, pots, kettles, buckets
☐ Put a cup of water in the freezer with a coin on top — if the coin sinks, your freezer thawed
☐ Move irreplaceable items (photos, heirlooms, documents) to highest floor
☐ Raise furniture on blocks if flooding is possible, move rugs up
☐ Confirm meeting point and regroup plan with every household member
☐ Review the family emergency plan with children — make it calm, not scary
☐ Check on elderly or medically dependent neighbors if safe to do so
☐ Charge ALL devices one final time to 100%
☐ Position all flashlights, lanterns, and radios in one accessible spot
☐ Know how to shut off water, gas, and electricity to your home

☐ Stay inside, away from windows, in an interior room or hallway
☐ Keep NOAA radio on at all times — you are the backup weather station
☐ Do NOT leave during the eye — the second half of the storm is often worse
☐ Do NOT use candles — fire risk is extreme during power outages (use flashlights)
☐ Shelter in the smallest room possible (bathroom or hallway) if winds exceed 80 mph
☐ Wear shoes — broken glass is the #1 injury source during and after
☐ Keep phone charged, text instead of calling (texts use less battery)
☐ Document damage with video as it occurs (from safety) for insurance
☐ Check on family members in separate rooms every 15 minutes
☐ Keep car keys and go-bag in grabbing distance in case of sudden evacuation
☐ Listen for your out-of-area contact — they have better info than local
☐ Do NOT drink tap water until officially cleared — use stored or treated only

☐ Wait for official "all clear" — downed power lines are invisible at night
☐ Document ALL damage with photos and video before touching anything
☐ Contact insurance within 24-48 hours — early claims process faster
☐ Do NOT drink tap water until the local utility confirms it is safe
☐ Do NOT run gasoline generators indoors or near windows (CO kills silently)
☐ Check on elderly and medically dependent neighbors if safe to reach them
☐ Avoid standing water — electrical hazards, snakes, contamination
☐ Do NOT use candles — emergency services are overloaded, fire is the #1 post-storm killer
☐ Clear paths around your house with work gloves and sturdy shoes
☐ Tarp any roof damage before the next rain (48 hours is common window) → Buy
☐ Save all receipts for lodging, food, repairs — insurance covers many of them
☐ Check on your pets — trauma affects them too, be patient

This free checklist covers the essentials. The Complete Prep Bundle covers everything after — scenario playbooks, 12 skill tracks, a diagnostic quiz, printable templates, and lifetime Premium access.

$60 VALUE

$29

COMPLETE BUNDLE

📖 The FlintReady Field Manual (140+ pages)
📋 5 Printable Checklists
📓 4 Scenario Playbooks (Hurricane, Blackout, Water Cut, Vehicle)
🗂️ Family Plan + Pantry Rotation Templates
⭐ Premium Lifetime Access

Get the Bundle → $29

SCAN · flintready.com/bundle

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