We had a near-miss with Hurricane Isaias, the storm that went on to wreak havoc up the East Coast. We got lucky, but we’re not out of the woods yet! There’s still another 3 months of the Atlantic Hurricane Season ahead and experts predicted 2020 would be a highly active season. 

Don’t wait until the last minute!  Once a storm starts making headlines, we Floridians know the shopping frenzy begins. Before you know it, store shelves get emptied, deliveries stalled or halted and necessary supplies unavailable.

HAVE YOUR HURRICANE SUPPLY ESSENTIALS STOCKED UP EARLY!

NOW is a great time to get prepared. Tomoka Town Center has all your comprehensive shopping needs covered in one place. Start now and build your supplies by adding a few items each week. 

The good thing is, most of the supplies are relatively inexpensive and can be found at your local Shopping Center in Daytona Beach at stores like Sam’s Club, TJ MAXX, Academy Sports & Outdoor, Burlington, Ross Dress for Less and even Dollar Tree and Five Below have great affordable items! 

Here are a few hurricane preparedness supplies you should start stocking up on in case you need to shelter in place, possibly with no power for an extended amount of time: 

• First aid kits 
• Water
• Canned Food, non-perishables 
• Batteries, batteries, batteries! 
• Backup battery for cell phones 
• Flashlight(s) and portable lantern(s)
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape for sheltering in place
• Moist towelettes or wipes
• Disinfectant hand gels and sprays 
• Garbage bags 
• Toolkit with pliers and wrench
• Sleeping bag(s)
• Paper plates, disposable cutlery
• Fire extinguisher
• Battery operated fan
• Battery operated AM/FM Radio

Where to Keep Your Supplies & Emergency Kits 

After assembling your supplies and emergency kit, keep it set aside, or be sure to replenish it often, so it’s ready when needed. Store your canned food in a cool, dry place. Store boxed food in a tightly closed plastic or metal containers. Keep an eye on those expiration dates. Update your kit as needed to fit your family’s changing needs. 

Emergency Supplies on the Go

With the weather, anything can happen, anywhere. You don’t always know where you will be when an emergency occurs, so prepare supplies for your home as mentioned above, but also keep some supplies ready at work and in your car.

• Home: Keep your kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.
• Work: Be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours if need be. Your work kit should include food, water and other necessities like medicines, as well as comfortable walking shoes, stored in a “grab and go” case.
• Car: In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car. 

Pet Owners Disaster Preparedness 

Extra thought and steps are necessary to plan in advance to ensure your dog, cat, turtle, bird or any other feathered or furry friend can be kept safe. 

“Ready to Go” Essentials you should have ready in advance for an emergency and some steps to take: 

• Clean, functional pet carrier (per pet!). Your pet should be able to stay comfortably in the carrier for an extended period of time if need be, so be sure the carrier is a good one. 
• Extra pet food
• Water 
• Pet’s meds, if needed.
• Treats, toys and comforting items (calming sprays and supplements can be very useful)
• Cat Essentials: Have a small litter box and a sufficient package of the litter with a scoop. Don’t forget trash bags! 

If you plan on evacuating instead of sheltering in place, have an evacuation plan worked out for your pets in place, too. Don’t leave your furry or feathered family member stranded during an emergency. Most emergency shelters won’t accept animals due to health regulations, so you’ll need to plan in advance to ensure your pet will be safe and secure. You can reach out to family members or friends in safe areas or you can contact your local vet or animal shelter for more information.

Be sure your pet is sufficiently identifiable, whether it’s with a collar, microchipped or both. 

Keep photos of your pet and digital records so there are no issues finding them after the storm has passed. It’s also a good idea to have your pet’s vaccines up to date and have your records organized to prove it, as many animal shelters won’t accept animals that don’t have vaccination records.

For more information about Hurricane Preparedness, check out: https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan