Hurricane Supply List 2026: What Most Florida Lists Forget

The Hurricane Supply List Florida Residents Actually Need in 2026

Every hurricane season, the same basic supply lists circulate – water, batteries, canned food, flashlights. Those lists are fine as a starting point, but they are incomplete. After responding to storm damage across Southwest Florida following Hurricane Ian (2022), Hurricane Helene (2024), and Hurricane Milton (2024), WrightWay Emergency Services has learned what residents actually wish they had on hand during and after a major hurricane.

This is not a rehash of the standard list. This guide covers the items most checklists forget – the supplies that make the difference between surviving the storm and surviving the days and weeks of recovery that follow.

The Basics: Do Not Skip These

Before we get to the overlooked items, make sure you have the fundamentals covered. FEMA recommends supplies for at least three days, but Florida residents should plan for a minimum of seven days. After Hurricane Ian, many areas were without power, water, and road access for 10-14 days or longer.

• One gallon of water per person per day (7 gallons minimum per person)
• Non-perishable food and a manual can opener
• Medications (30-day supply minimum)
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio)
• First aid kit
• Important documents in a waterproof container
• Cash in small bills (ATMs and card readers do not work without power)
• Full tank of gas in every vehicle

What Most Lists Forget: Post-Storm Recovery Supplies

The storm itself lasts hours. The recovery lasts weeks. These are the supplies that matter most in the aftermath.

Water and Sanitation

• Water purification tablets or portable filter: If your water supply runs out before services are restored, you need a way to make found water safe. A LifeStraw or Sawyer filter costs under $30 and could be critical.
• 5-gallon buckets with lids (at least 2): Useful as emergency toilets, water carriers, wash basins, and debris containers. Line with heavy-duty trash bags for sanitation use.
• Portable camping toilet or toilet seat bucket lid: If water service is disrupted (common in storm surge areas), a proper toilet setup is far more hygienic than improvised alternatives.
• Baby wipes (even if you do not have a baby): When you have no running water, baby wipes are how you stay clean. Buy several large packs.
• Bleach (plain, unscented): Purifies water (8 drops per gallon), disinfects surfaces, and treats contaminated floodwater areas.

Power and Communication

• Portable power station or solar charger: Your phone is your lifeline for weather updates, communication, and insurance documentation. A portable power station (Jackery, EcoFlow, Bluetti) with solar panel charging keeps devices charged indefinitely without fuel.
• Car phone charger and full fuel tank: Your car is a backup power station. Keep a car charger for every phone in the household.
• Portable AM/FM/NOAA radio with hand crank: When cell towers are down and internet is out, radio may be your only source of information.
• Physical maps of your area: GPS requires cell signal or data. Physical maps of SW Florida, evacuation routes, and your county are essential when digital navigation fails.

Tools and Materials

• Tarps (heavy-duty, at least 2 large): If your roof is damaged, a tarp is the only thing between your home and ongoing water damage. Blue tarps in 20×25 or larger are ideal. Include rope, bungee cords, and sandbags to secure them.
• Cordless drill/impact driver with charged batteries: Essential for emergency board-up, securing tarps, and removing debris. Have at least 2 fully charged battery packs.
• Plywood sheets (pre-cut for windows): If you use plywood shutters, pre-cut and label them before the season. If you have impact windows or shutters, keep at least one 4×8 sheet on hand for emergency patching.
• Chainsaw and/or hand saw: Downed trees block driveways and roads. A small chainsaw or hand saw gets you out. Include bar oil and fuel mix if gas-powered.
• Pry bar and hammer: Essential for debris removal and emergency access
• Work gloves (heavy leather): Post-storm debris includes nails, broken glass, splintered wood, and sheet metal. Standard gloves are not enough.
• Knee-high rubber boots: Floodwater contains sewage, chemicals, and debris. Open-toed shoes and sneakers expose you to contamination and puncture wounds.

Documentation and Financial

• Printed copy of your insurance policy declarations page: You need your policy number, agent’s phone number, and coverage limits immediately after the storm. Do not rely on being able to access this digitally.
• Home inventory video (stored in the cloud): Walk through every room before hurricane season and record a video of your possessions, open drawers and closets, and narrate approximate values. Upload to cloud storage. This is the single most valuable thing you can do for your insurance claim.
• Cash in small bills ($500-$1,000): After Hurricane Ian, credit card machines were down for days. Cash was the only way to buy fuel, food, and supplies. Keep small denominations – businesses may not be able to make change.
• Waterproof document bag: Store insurance policies, identification, vehicle titles, mortgage documents, and medical records in a grab-and-go waterproof bag.

Comfort and Health

• Battery-powered fans: Without AC, Florida heat is dangerous. Rechargeable battery fans (O2COOL, Geek Aire) run 6-12 hours per charge and can prevent heat exhaustion.
• Mosquito repellent (industrial strength): Standing water after a hurricane breeds mosquitoes explosively. DEET-based repellent and mosquito coils are essential.
• Sunscreen: Post-storm cleanup happens outdoors in full sun. Sunburn on top of stress and dehydration is a medical emergency waiting to happen.
• Electrolyte powder packets: Dehydration during outdoor cleanup is one of the top causes of ER visits after hurricanes. Liquid IV, Drip Drop, or similar electrolyte supplements mixed with water prevent it.
• Prescription medications – 30 day supply: Pharmacies may be closed or destroyed. Contact your insurance company before hurricane season to authorize an emergency 30-day refill.

Pet-Specific Supplies

• 7-day supply of pet food and water
• Copies of vaccination records (many pet-friendly shelters require proof)
• Crate or carrier for each pet
• Leash, collar with ID tags, and a recent photo of each pet
• Medications and any special dietary foods
• Litter and litter box for cats; waste bags for dogs

When Supplies Are Not Enough: Professional Storm Damage Response

No amount of preparation can prevent all damage from a major hurricane. When your home sustains roof damage, flooding, or structural failure, the priority shifts from supplies to professional restoration. Water intrusion starts causing mold growth within 24-48 hours in Florida’s humidity, and every hour of delay increases the scope and cost of restoration.

WrightWay Emergency Services provides 24/7 storm damage response with emergency water extraction, board-up and tarping, structural drying, and complete reconstruction services. We arrive with our own power, equipment, and supplies – we do not depend on the grid to start your restoration.

Start Stocking Up Now

Do not wait until a storm is in the forecast. Many of these items sell out days before a hurricane, and online delivery stops when a storm is imminent. Buy your supplies in April and May while everything is readily available and prices are normal.

If a hurricane damages your home, call WrightWay Emergency Services at (941) 379-8669 for immediate response across Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, and all of Southwest Florida. Preparation saves your supplies. We save your home.