Now that hurricane season has officially started, it’s always a good idea to be prepared when you live in North Carolina. Here is a checklist that can help before a storm hits.
- Trim the limbs in your yard.
- Clean your gutters.
- If you have a chainsaw, make sure it is in working order.
- Buy a manual can opener.
- Buy a battery-operated radio.
- Take digital pictures and/or video of your home and store them in “the cloud.”
- This is not the season for a well-stocked freezer!
If there is a storm brewing in the tropics, take these steps:
- Stock up on non-perishable food.
- Stock up on bottled water. 3 gallons per person per day for a minimum of 3 days is the standard recommendation.
- Stock up on toilet paper.
- Stock up on things your children need.
- Collect things your pets need, i.e., food, water, leashes, carriers, shot records.
- Refill any medications.
- Buy batteries.
- Do your laundry. May sound silly, but you’ll be grateful for clean clothes if you’re without power for an extended period.
- Keep your gas tank full.
- Make sure your gas grill bottle is full or you have plenty of charcoal, lighter, and matches.
If it looks like a tropical system may hit our area:
- Put away any loose items in your yard, such as chairs, etc.
- Stockpile and/or buy ice.
- Make sure you have cash on hand.
- Collect important papers–insurance, etc.–together in an airtight plastic bag.
- Check to see if your neighbors need assistance with preparation.
 NASA