Storm Prep Tool Kit: Before, During, and After
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Storms do not wait for you to get ready. The time to prepare is months before a weather event, not when the forecast changes. This guide covers the tools and supplies you need staged and ready, organized by phase: preparation (weeks before), response (during the event), and recovery (the morning after). Some of these tools you should own. Others are worth borrowing from your tool-sharing group and keeping on standby during storm season.
Preparation Phase: Weeks Before Storm Season
These go into your kit in May or June if you live in a hurricane zone, or whenever severe weather season starts in your region.
A portable generator (inverter type, 2000-3500 watts). Powers a refrigerator, phone chargers, a fan, and a few lights. Run it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from doors and windows. Carbon monoxide kills more people in hurricanes than the wind does. Get fuel stabilizer and store fuel safely.
A battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio with NOAA channels. When the power is out and cell towers are down, this is your only source of local emergency information.
Flashlights (at least 3) and a headlamp. LED, with extra batteries. One flashlight per person in the household plus spares.
A battery bank (20,000 mAh or larger) for phone charging. Keep it charged and in the kit. Solar-charging models are good for extended outages but charge slowly on cloudy days.
Tarps (at minimum two 10x12-foot heavy-duty tarps, blue poly or better). Used post-storm to cover roof damage and keep rain out of the house. Buy them before storm season because they sell out immediately when a hurricane is named.
A cordless drill/driver with a charged battery. You will need it for installing plywood window covers, securing outdoor items, and post-storm repairs.
Window and Structure Protection
Plywood window covers (5/8-inch CDX plywood, pre-cut to window sizes). Pre-drill holes and label each panel with the window it fits. Barrel bolts or concrete tapcon anchors depending on your wall material. Practice installing them before you need to do it in the rain.
A circular saw for cutting plywood if you have not pre-cut it. A jigsaw for cutting around irregular shapes.
A hammer or mallet for driving stakes to secure tarps and tie-downs.
Ratchet straps and bungee cords for securing patio furniture, grills, trash cans, and anything else that becomes a projectile in high wind. Anything loose in the yard goes in the garage or gets strapped down.
Sandbags (empty bags and a shovel) if you are in a flood-prone area. Fill them with local sand or dirt and stack them across door thresholds and garage doors. It takes about 100 bags to protect a standard garage door opening.
Emergency Supplies (Non-Tool but Essential)
These are not tools, but they belong in the kit alongside the tools.
Water: 1 gallon per person per day, minimum 3-day supply. Fill your bathtub as a backup water source before the storm arrives.
First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic, pain medication, any prescription medications (extra supply), and a manual about basic first aid. Add work gloves and a dust mask for post-storm cleanup.
Cash in small bills. ATMs and card readers need power and internet. Neither works after a major storm.
Important documents in a waterproof bag: insurance policies, IDs, property deeds, medical records.
A whistle for signaling if you are trapped. Simpler and more reliable than yelling.
Recovery Phase: After the Storm
The storm passed. Now the real work starts.
A chainsaw for downed trees and branches. Gas or battery; either works for storm cleanup. Safety gear is mandatory: chaps, face shield, hearing protection, and gloves. If you do not own a chainsaw, coordinate with your tool-sharing group. This is exactly the scenario borrowing is made for.
Loppers and a bow saw for branches too small for the chainsaw but too large for hand pruning. You will process a lot of debris in the days after a storm.
A pry bar and claw hammer for removing damaged siding, trim, and roofing material. Work carefully because there may be exposed nails and splintered wood everywhere.
A wet/dry shop vac for water extraction if flooding occurred. Get it running as soon as power returns. Standing water causes mold within 24-48 hours.
Tarps and a staple gun for temporary roof patches. Stretch the tarp over the damaged area, fold the edges under, and staple through furring strips to prevent tear-through. This holds until a roofer can make permanent repairs.
A generator (mentioned above) becomes critical now for running refrigeration, sump pumps, fans for drying, and phone charging during extended outages.
What to Borrow for Storm Season
Not everything in this list needs to live in your garage year-round.
A chainsaw gets used maybe once a year. If you do not do regular tree maintenance, borrow one during storm season and return it after cleanup.
A generator is expensive ($500-1500 for a good inverter model) and sits unused 99% of the time. If your neighbor owns one, coordinate who provides what. Two people do not need two generators if they live next to each other.
A pressure washer is valuable for post-flood cleanup of driveways, siding, and concrete. Borrow it for the cleanup phase.
A dehumidifier for drying out a flooded space. These are large, expensive, and needed for 1-2 weeks. Perfect borrow candidate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a generator?
If you lose power for more than 12 hours regularly, yes. A 2000-watt inverter generator runs a refrigerator, phone chargers, and a couple of fans. It will not run your air conditioner or electric stove. For those, you need a 5000-7500 watt unit, which is louder and uses more fuel. Never run a generator indoors or in a garage, even with the door open.
How much fuel should I store for a generator?
A 2000-watt inverter generator uses about 1 gallon per 4-8 hours at 25-50% load. Store 10-15 gallons in approved containers, treated with fuel stabilizer. That gives you 2-4 days of intermittent use (running the refrigerator 8 hours on, 8 hours off). Rotate the fuel every 6-12 months by using it in your car or lawn mower and refilling.
What should I do about trees near my house before a storm?
Before storm season, have an arborist assess large trees within falling distance of your house. Dead branches, weak crotches, and co-dominant stems are the most common failure points. Proactive pruning costs hundreds. Emergency tree removal costs thousands. If a tree looks like it could hit your house, address it before the season starts.