We are less than a week away from the beginning of a forecaster-predicted above-average 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
The hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30; however, most forecasters and emergency officials stress the time to prepare for a storm before a hurricane is on its way.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting between 13 and 19 named storms in 2025, making it an above-average season. Of those, six to 10 are predicted to become hurricanes, including three to five strengthening into major hurricanes.
A big part of hurricane preparations is building a hurricane supplies kit. Here’s what supplies should go in your kit, especially if you have children or pets in your household.
When is the best time to prepare for hurricane season, build hurricane kit?
Now, according to experts.
“The best time to prepare for hurricanes is BEFORE hurricane season begins,” NOAA said.
“Avoid having to rush through potentially life-saving preparations by waiting until it’s too late. Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.”
Create an evacuation plan before hurricanes approach
Before an emergency strikes, sit down with your family or close friends to come up with an evacuation plan. Experts at FEMA recommend figuring out how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do in an emergency.
Once you have decided what will work best, keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster.
What should go in your hurricane kit? Gather emergency supplies
According to FEMA’s public service campaign website Ready.gov, a basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
Along with physical supplies, write down emergency phone numbers and addresses for safekeeping in your emergency kit.
Kits for kids: Prepare a dedicated kit for each child in the family
Have your kids help make their own hurricane kit and gather test supplies like flashlights, their favorite shelf-stable snack or even a comfort item.
Along the way, teach them about emergency supplies and write down important contacts for their kits, including names and phone numbers of a relative that does not live in the home.
When it comes to specific items for younger children, you’ll need to remember to grab formula, baby foods, bottles, baby wipes, and medications. You may want to pack items like an over-the-counter fever reducer for infants.
It’s also recommended to have a summary of your child’s medical history, a list of medications and a copy of their shot records just in case. Before the season begins, you can check with your pediatrician to see if they have specific recommendations for your baby or toddler.
What about pets? Build a kit for your furry friends
As you race against the clock to grab supplies for yourself and family, make sure to pick up items to build an extra hurricane supply kit for your pets. Per the Red Cross, your kit should include:
Here are other sites offering disaster supply checklists:
Do you live in a flood-prone area? Here’s how to find out
If you live in a flood-prone area, you’re especially vulnerable to hurricane impacts.
However, remember that even it you don’t live in a flood-prone area, you’re not necessarily safe since extreme rain can flood even those areas.
Here’s how to find out the flood risk for your area so you can plan accordingly:
You can also check NOAA’s Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper at coast.noaa.gov. Zoom in on the map to see a coastal flood hazard composite showing zones 1 to 11.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane season is almost here. When should I build my hurricane kit, what should I put in it?
Reporting by Samantha Neely and Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
