Hurricane Prep on the Cheap

I am a major weather buff, and I love a good thunderstorm. A tornado makes my fingertips tingle, and I'm absolutely on edge at the prospect of a great (aka destructive) hurricane season. I'm almost giddy to know that the NOAA is predicting "one of the most active hurricane seasons in history." I know, however, the coming hurricane season is not so exciting for everyone, and I also know the risks and dangers associated with hurricanes. I have my hurricane kit ready, and my storm shutters are in the garage, begging to cover my windows. But hurricane kits, while fundamentally important here in Florida and other coastal areas, can get expensive. Here are the things you need to have in your kit, according to the NOAA:

Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices— foods for infants or the elderly— snack foods— non-electric can opener— cooking tools / fuel— paper plates / plastic utensils
Blankets / Pillows, etc.
Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
Special Items - for babies and the elderly
Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
Flashlight / Batteries
Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set
Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
Keys
Toys, Books and Games
Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.
Tools - keep a set with you during the storm
Vehicle fuel tanks filled
Pet care items— proper identification / immunization records / medications— ample supply of food and water— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash

These items are the bare minimum. I also recommend having photographs and other keepsake items ready to go in short order. True, we get lots of notice when a hurricane pops up, but it can take time to get ready to evacuate. Make it easy on yourself when you can by keeping as many things as possible in one spot (photo albums, hurricane kit, extra blankets, etc.). You can also buy pre-made hurricane kits, but they are expensive.
Here are some tips to save $$$ on your hurricane preparations:
1. No coconuts through the windows, please. If you want to protect your home with hurricane shutters, order them before there is a storm looming. Many storm shutter companies will be backlogged as the storm approaches and may be scheduled out until it's too late. Those that can provide storm shutters to you may charge a premium for expedited service. If you don't have aluminum panels, consider getting plywood to protect your home. This can be a very cost effective way to protect your home, and it doesn't need to be difficult to install. You can purchase the panel installation materials from a hardware store and mount that permanently to your outside walls. Measure, cut and label a plywood panel for each opening, and voila! Quick and easy (and often cheaper) home protection.
2. Boy, I'm thirsty! As the NOAA recommends, have on hand a gallon of water per day per person. Most sources recommend that you keep a week's worth of supplies on hand, so do the math. If you have a family of 4, you will need to stockpile 28 gallons of water. Before you run out to the store and buy 28 gallons of Evian, consider filling your bathtub for "washing" water prior to the storm's arrival. Also consider buying bulk water containers, such as 5-10 gallon jugs to store water rather than many, many one-gallon jugs.
3. What's for dinner, ma? Again, try to have a week's worth of non-perishable food on hand. Take it from me, canned tuna can get real old real fast. Peanut butter is a great food to stock. It doesn't take up much room, it's packed with plenty of "get-you-through-the-starvation" goodness, and it's inexpensive. Some other inexpensive food prep ideas are apple sauce, store brand crackers and potted meat (if you can actually stomach it).
4. You fashionista, you! Make sure you have the appropriate clothing on hand. This is as important when you are storm-trapped as it is if you are evacuating. Make sure you have sturdy shoes and rain gear. The dollar stores are wonderful places to find rain gear. They often have rain ponchos, hats and umbrellas for only a dollar, which is a considerable saving over regular retail stores.
5. What's that smell?! Oh, it's just you. As far as toiletries and personal hygiene items go, wet wipes are numero uno on my list of muy importato. Close behind is toothpaste and deodorant. Again, I'm going to tout the dollar store. It's a great place to get these items, and store brand baby wipes are what you'll be needing for bathing in a blackout. Saves you mula. Ladies, you're beautiful already. Don't worry about the makeup, especially if an evacuation is in order. On the flip side, don't forget about toilet paper. I advise Scott Tissue, single ply. Yes, I said single ply. This is an emergency, after all, and not a resort. It's less expensive, and it'll definitely do in a pinch. Another easily overlooked item is sunscreen. It's really important but easy to forget, and you can get it at at a fraction of retail price at.... you guessed it! The dollar store.
6. Who turned out the lights? Power outages are to be expected in a hurricane. Make sure you are stocked up on batteries, flashlights, glow sticks, and might I suggest candles? Can I suggest the dollar store enough? This is the best place to find these things, including batteries. You can save up to 80% on your batteries if you buy them at DollarTree instead of Wal-Mart. Same goes for flashlights and candles. While we're on the subject of candles, I suggest no fragrance, no frills. After a straight week of smelling "Vanilla Lavender Breeze," I expect you will be sick of not only vanilla, but lavender and breezes as well.
7. Mooooommmm....! I'm booooored! If you're stuck indoors for the duration of a weather event, make sure you can stay well entertained. Remember, you'll have no power for your Blu-Ray player, your Wii, your computer, or even your VCR. Stock up at yard sales or the dollar store on coloring books, craft projects, puzzles and board games. You'll also want to have plenty of paper and crayons on hand. Newspaper companies will often give away the last of a newsprint roll (or sell it at a big discount) if you simply ask. You don't have to spend a lot to make the time go by.
7. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! This has been a test of your emergency broadcast system.... If the power goes out, you may not have access to any type of emergency broadcast system, however annoying their tests may be. Weather radios are well worth it, but they can be expensive. I recommend shopping on eBay before the hurricane season starts for the best deal.
8. Oh, no! I have a boo boo! An emergency first aid kit is a must. You can put together your own first aid kit, but unlike other prepared kits, prepared first aid kits are often less expensive. It's a Gestalt thing - the price of the whole is cheaper than the sum of its parts. For the best deal and the best level of preparation, shop in you favorite retailer's camping section. Outdoor type first aid kits are by far the best bang for your buck, including everything from band-aids to electrolyte tabs.
9. Woof and meow! Pets are people too. Let me guess, you love your pet...? The sad news is that most shelters won't take them if their vaccinations and paperwork are not up to date. Taking them to a vet for shots can be very spendy, but the pet Care-A-Van is a mobile service that allows you to keep your pet's shots up to date at a very reasonable cost. For prices and schedules, visit http://petcaravan.com/.
As for the rest of the list, I have no great cost-saving ideas. The biggest thing I can stress is early preparation. Don't wait for Hurricane Alex to rear his ugly circular head to start getting ready. If you wait, you may arrive at the store to find all the shelves empty.
Happy hurricane season, everyone!