The first hurricane of the season has technically already come and gone… but what comes next? Here’s what you need when it does.
Several days ago, the first hurricane of the 2021 season appeared in the Caribbean. Named Elsa, the hurricane went from tropical storm to hurricane and back, as of this afternoon. However, things could change as she heads towards the Gulf of Mexico! Seeing as how we do not know if she will be the only, or first of many hurricanes, I made sure to pick up extra paper products at the store.
Growing up in Florida, hurricane season was sort of like what I imagine it’s like to grow up with snowstorms; however, most people just put on special tires and salt their sidewalks when things get wintery. Hurricane season means putting plywood over your windows, or investing in hurricane shutters, in case a rogue tree falls against your house.
I have fond memories of hurricane season, as crazy as that sounds! As a kid, I loved watching the blustery winds, even if it meant that we lost power for a week. Of course, they closed schools due to unsafe roads, so it made for good bonding time with my whole family! The house would quickly overheat, and I remember going to see “Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” in theatres just so we could all get some air conditioning. My dad taught us how to play poker at night, as we lit up my parents’ bedroom with candles. We’d read, do puzzles, and yes, my brother managed to preserve his battery power in his Gameboys so he’d have SOME video games to get him through the days.
Certainly, it’s a privileged perspective to have: before I was born, my cousins, who grew up in Miami, spent weekends back-to-back with us, while their parents stayed in Miami to rebuild their home in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. Fast-forward a decade, give or take a few years, and we had some light drizzling and the day off of school, just in case, only to be barely grazed by Hurricane Katrina as it turned to ravage New Orleans. I was very fortunate that my family was merely inconvenienced by the storms, rather than demolished by them.
In that spirit, here’s a list of five things that you should make sure you have in your house if you ever live in a place where storms are just a part of the summer.
1. Batteries. Charge your phones, and get portable chargers. A good power brick will keep your phones, e-books, and laptops going. Granted, most storms will knock out your wifi. With that in mind, preemptively download your e-books and seasons of Glee. Do people still binge watch Glee? Digital devices aside, your flashlight from summer camp 2009 does NOT still have the power you think it does. Stock up on your AAs, AAAs, and DD batteries. Flashlights, camping lights, and yes, some old video game consoles, will be your way of life until the power comes back.
2. Toilet Paper. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we are a wacky society that hoards the toilet paper. When the first rumbles of hurricanes begin, be sure to grab the big pack when doing your regular grocery shopping. You ever pack eight pairs of underwear for a two night trip? Same concept applies here. Ditto paper towels, because I find that paper towels are what separate us mere mortals from sanity and an emotional breakdown.
3. Ice… and with it, a cooler. Listen, when that power goes off, grab your ice and fill your cooler. What you put in it is up to you. Water should be a no brainer. It’s a common stereotype that Floridians throw “hurricane parties,” in which we drink all the alcohol in the fridge before it spoils. So, by all means, throw some cervezas in your cooler, but after three days, you’re going to feel so grateful for putting a pack of grapes or watermelon in there, too. You will get sick of peanut butter and jelly.
4. The snacks you love. Another hurricane season joke? Eating all the non-perishable snacks before the storm bands even so much as graze your house. All that said, if you’re an Oreo lover, get a pack! Gushers, Nutella, Ruffles… whatever you want, go for it. The little things will keep you sane.
5. Board games. Personal experience: stick to the things that won’t drive up your competitive edge. If you’re a cool family, by all means, do some Cards Against Humanity! I also like Blockbuster, Scattegories, and Clue. Card games are a good time too; I obviously would say that being locked down in a storm is the best time to learn Texas Hold ‘Em. If you really want to challenge people though, have a chess board. You’ll feel smart, even if you ignored getting items 1-4.
No one WANTS to be trapped in hurricanes. However, a lot of people who grow up in it, and live it, learn to make the best of a bad situation. If it’s your first time, common sense will be your best friend. Stay hydrated, and stay indoors. If you want to tube in the street when the worst has passed, that’s your decision! If you notice the storm upgrading to a stronger category, consider evacuating. Having a full tank of gas will make all the difference you can imagine. Lastly, if you’re outside the realm of danger of any hurricanes, check in on friends that aren’t so lucky. Now is a great time to purge your closet and donate things you don’t need to Goodwill. You never know whose lives will change in an instant, and could use an extra pair of jammies.
Stay safe, and stay dry!