What you need to prepare for a tropical storm, according to Florida Dad

Floridians face plenty of natural chaos growing up, with tropical storms during hurricane season at the top of the list.

We’ve become so accustomed to the lullaby of wind, lightning, and thunder that sometimes these massive storms aren’t taken seriously. But, because my dad was an Eagle Scout, the man was always prepared. Jacksonville, Florida has experienced hurricane seasons for over 20 years, and despite the best efforts of Matthew, Dora, and other ghosts of past hurricanes, our house has been just fine.

I asked my dad what he bought for tropical storms, so if you find yourself in one, you’ll know how to be prepared.

What to buy for tropical storm preparedness

• LED Camping Lights, 2-pack, $23.66 (regularly $34.98)
• Durasack Heavy Duty Sandbag, $10.15
• Amazon Basics Rectangular 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, $11.80 (regularly $13.88)
• Wen 4017 Chainsaw, 16-inch, $54.99 (regularly $69.99)
• Marbero Portable Power Station Solar Generator, $65.21 with coupon (Reg. $109.99)
• Cartman Finished Size 8×10 ft Waterproof Green Tarp, $9.99 (regularly $14.99)
• Polish Spring Water Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, $17.78
• Handlandy Men’s and Women’s Work Gloves, $12.80 (regularly $15.80)

Amazon Basics Rectangular 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip

When a severe storm hits your area, you probably turn on the TV to track the weather. Because of this, my dad always drilled into us the importance of plugging large appliances and electronics into surge protectors. Honestly, this is something you should do in general, but it’s especially important when storms are involved. Both surge protectors have six outlets, so there’s plenty of room for your laptop, phone, tablet, and any other device you might want to charge during a storm.

Durasack Heavy Duty Sandbag

Due to Florida’s sea levels, flooding is the biggest problem during hurricane season. When Hurricane Matthew hit, Jacksonville experienced massive street flooding that affected many homes and businesses. So, before a storm, my dad would place sandbags like this in front of doors and long windows touching the ground to keep water out. Keep in mind that these won’t stop severe flooding, but they should handle anything down to two feet.

LED camping lights, 2-pack

Often the first sign of a severe tropical storm is a power outage. My dad keeps three or four of these type of LED lanterns in our laundry room so we can easily place them around our house. LED bulbs are very bright, so even if the power goes out at night, you have a nice light source. Bonus: These special lanterns have four light modes and are waterproof in case you get a leak or need to go outside when it rains.

Marbero Portable Power Station Solar Generator, $65 (with coupon)

Considering the power issues that can arise during tropical storms and hurricanes, a portable generator like this is a good investment. It keeps your phone and computer charged to help stay connected with loved ones and updated on news about the storm and its progress. Plus, this generator is on sale right now for $45.

Polish spring brand 100% natural spring water

Although it may seem obvious, it is important to maintain clean water during storms. Large-scale flooding can lead to contamination of public water supplies, as well as possible damage or other problems at local water treatment plants. Therefore, we always have 24-packs of bottled water in our pantry during hurricane season.

Even after the storm passes, you may still need to repair some things. I’ve also listed my dad’s top picks below, which include a tarp to cover any sections of the roof that are missing shingles, work gloves to remove debris, and a chainsaw to cut any broken branches or branches.

Cartman Finished Size 8x10ft Waterproof Green Tarp

Handlandy Men’s and Women’s Work Gloves

Wen 4017 Chainsaw, 16 inches