By now, you’ve probably read more than your fair share of articles urging you to take hurricane preparation seriously. You also probably have enough flashlights and matches to hold you until Hurricane Season 2027, so I’ll spare you the rundown of the survival supplies we all know by rote anyway.
But you’re not entirely off the hook. Many people spend all their time focusing on the aforementioned supplies only to forget to prioritize health in their hurricane preparedness routines.
Medications
If you take prescription medicine, make sure you have at least a two-week supply. The “Emergency Prescription Refill” law in Florida allows early refills if you live in an area that is under a state of emergency. Remember, pharmacies may be without power and/or closed afterward, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Make sure you also have over-the-counter antihistamines, pain relievers, antiemetics, antidiarrheals, antiseptic wipes, and insect repellent.
Vaccinations
Make sure you’re up to date on your vaccinations, especially tetanus, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. These can help to protect you against infections from injuries, floodwater, and even contaminated food.
First Aid Kits
A couple of notes on first aid kits. First, don’t count on a simple, everyday kit. These typically only have a few of the bare essentials. A small Band Aid isn’t going to be of much use if you step on a nail.
In addition to things like hand sanitizer, alcohol, feminine products, and soap, your first aid kid should include items specific to your household’s needs, such as extra batteries for hearing aids, extra oxygen, epi-pens, spare pairs of glasses, insulin, and syringes.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, of course, but it’s a great place to start while you’re waiting for the Atlantic Hurricane Season to stir up some action.
For more information, visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website.