Guide shows budget hurricane kit essentials

The News-Press published a guide on Tuesday laying out how to build a hurricane supply kit on a budget, with food, water and basic outage supplies at the center of the checklist. The article urged households to prepare before June 1, when the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins. Federal guidance cited alongside that advice points to a simple baseline: enough supplies to get through several days without power, running water or open stores. The emphasis was on low-cost items that can be bought gradually rather than in a last-minute rush. ### What did the guide say belongs in a low-cost hurricane kit? The News-Press guide said the most important items are water, nonperishable food, batteries, emergency lighting and first-aid supplies. It framed the kit around what people are most likely to need during post-storm outages and service disruptions, especially if stores are closed or roads are blocked. Ready.gov says people should store at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days for drinking and sanitation. FEMA also advises households to keep a basic emergency supply kit that can support them for several days after a disaster. ### How much water and food should people actually store? Federal emergency guidance gives a minimum benchmark rather than a hurricane-specific shopping list. (news-press.com) Ready.gov says households should keep at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, while CDC guidance says three days is a minimum and a two-week supply is better if possible. CDC says emergency water can be used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and other basic needs, and it advises storing more for pregnant people, sick people, pets or those living in hot climates. (ready.gov) Nonperishable food should also cover several days, according to FEMA and other public preparedness guidance. ### Which items matter most when the power goes out? (ready.gov) Battery-powered lighting and extra batteries were among the low-cost items highlighted in the News-Press guide. FEMA says a basic emergency kit should also include a flashlight, while public hurricane safety guidance from the National Weather Service recommends planning for prolonged power loss before a storm arrives. (cdc.gov) A first-aid kit and needed medications are also standard parts of disaster planning. FEMA says households should tailor kits to family needs, including prescriptions, infant supplies and pet items, because emergency conditions can last for days after evacuation or sheltering in place. ### Why is the guide pushing people to do this now? June 1 is the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center. (news-press.com) The National Weather Service says the season runs through November 30, and CDC guidance says families should make plans and stock supplies before storms begin forming. The National Hurricane Center began issuing its daily Atlantic tropical weather outlooks on May 15, two weeks before the season’s official start, according to recent USA Today reporting surfaced in search results. (fema.gov) That schedule is one reason preparedness messaging typically intensifies in May. ### What is the cheapest way to build the kit without overspending? (nhc.noaa.gov) The News-Press guide presented the kit as something households can build in stages, starting with essentials rather than specialty gear. That means prioritizing stored water, shelf-stable food, batteries, lighting and first-aid basics before adding extras. (usatoday.com) CDC says stored tap water should be replaced every six months if people fill containers themselves, and store-bought water should be checked for expiration dates. Those details matter because the goal is not just owning supplies by June 1, but having usable supplies when a storm threat develops later in the season. June 1 is the next fixed date in that timeline. (news-press.com) The Atlantic hurricane season begins that day and continues through November 30, with preparedness guidance from FEMA, CDC and the National Hurricane Center available now for households building or updating kits. (nhc.noaa.gov) (cdc.gov)