How to Make a Hurricane Survival Kit

With hurricane season officialliy beginning today, it’s as good a time as any to think about your preparedness. Even if your area has been spared the brunt of last year's storms, residents in areas that traditionally lie in the path of hurricanes should be thinking about whether they're prepared in the event of a major storm.

That means buying or putting together a disaster kit to account for the worst-case scenario, say disaster planning experts. After all, no one wants to be fighting for the last jug of water at the supermarket or the last pack of batteries at the hardware store as a hurricane is bearing down on you. So what should be in your kit, and how much can you expect to pay?

For those who lack the time or expertise to put together a kit of their own, there are plenty of places to purchase a comprehensive survival kit.

The Deluxe 2-Person Survival Kit, available at SurvivalKitsOnline.com, packs everything but the kitchen sink into a hiker’s backpack. For $114.95 you get essentials like purified water and a first aid kit, plus less obvious supplies like dust masks, nylon rope and working gloves. SurvivalSolutions.com offers a similarly comprehensive 72-hour emergency kit for $79.95, with more emphasis on food supplies.

When it comes to considering the cost of these kits, it’s important to remember that price should not be as important as your safety. Still, a review of the relevant literature from the insurance industry and federal government suggest that a more stripped-down kit may suffice for all but the most apocalyptic scenario. The Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov recommends a three-day supply of food and water, radios, a flashlight with batteries, a first-aid kit, a whistle, dust masks, moist towlettes, garbage bags, maps, a cell phone, a cell phone charger and some basic tools. The United Services Automobile Association recommends similar guidelines for a disaster supply kit, adding warm clothes, sleeping bags and bleach.