Fun Stuff · Free prep list
Wicks' HurricanePrep List
Most Floridians don't panic till the Waffle House closes. Do one section a month and you won't have to panic at all. Check things off as you go, and your progress saves.
4 pages · letter size · free
Your kit
0 of 30 done
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.
Your shopping list
Everything you still need to buy. Screenshot it and take it to the store.
Build a kit that lasts your family at least 7 days.
That's what Florida's emergency team asks for. Bonus: batteries, tarps, smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers are tax-free in Florida all year, so there's no waiting for a sale weekend.
One thing a month
Tap Publix list to add it to your Publix shopping list, Amazon to order it, or Near me to open your map app with stores close by. Price ranges are rough 2026 estimates.
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NovemberWater
About $40 to $70 for a family of 4
- Goal: 1 gallon per person, per day, for 7 days. A family of 4 needs 28 gallons. That's about 9 cases.
- Handy for cooking and brushing teeth.
Wicks saysFlorida's got water everywhere. Just not in your kitchen when the storm hits. That's on Florida.
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DecemberFood
About $30 to $60 per person
- Peanut butter, crackers, canned tuna, cereal, granola bars.
- The electric one won't work with no power.
Wicks saysPower's out and Publix is closed? No chicken family deal for you. Plan ahead.
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JanuaryLight and power
About $50 to $90
- Tax-free in Florida all year.
- Fans cool you, not the room, so only run it when you're in there.
Wicks saysYour phone at 4 percent with no AC is scarier than a palmetto bug flying at your face.
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FebruaryInsurance and papers
About $10 to $20, plus cash
- Regular homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding, and a new flood policy usually takes 30 days to start. Learn more at FloodSmart.gov (opens in a new tab).
- Proof for insurance if anything gets damaged.
- ATMs and card readers need power too.
Wicks saysBuying flood insurance when the storm's on the news is like buying sunscreen after the sunburn.
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MarchMeds and first aid
About $20 to $40
- Ask your pharmacist about refilling early when a storm is coming.
Wicks saysRain with a name? We chill. No meds? Not chill.
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AprilPets and kids
About $20 to $50
Wicks saysYour pet is not a person. But it still needs a go bag.
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MayThe house
About $40 to $80, more for shutters
- Tape doesn't stop glass from breaking.
- Tax-free in Florida all year.
- Type in your address at floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone (opens in a new tab) and it shows your zone.
Wicks saysJune 1, you're ready. Everybody else is fighting over the last loaf at Publix. What's going on out here?
Storm's comingThe last-minute list
When a storm is headed your way
- Fill your gas tank early. Lines get long and stations run out.
- Charge every phone and power bank.
- Fill the bathtub with water. For flushing and washing, not drinking.
- Turn the fridge and freezer to the coldest setting. Freeze some water bottles to keep food cold longer.
- Bring in patio chairs, trash cans, and anything that can fly.
- A tropical storm is rain with a name. Still watch for flooding and know your zone. A watch means it could hit. A warning means it's coming.
It don't get serious till the Waffle House closes. But if officials say go, you go.
Your checks save on this device, and nothing is sent anywhere. Phones can clear them if you skip a few weeks, so tap Save my progress to get a link that brings them back. Bookmark it or text it to yourself.
Shop Wicks's hurricane picks
Everything Wicks recommends, in one place on Amazon.
See the list on Amazon (opens in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate, Wicks earns from qualifying purchases.
Send it to the group chat
Everybody says they'll prep in May. Send this to the friend who's still buying water in August.
The official stuff
- Know your evacuation zone (opens in a new tab)Florida Division of Emergency Management
- What's tax-free all year (opens in a new tab)Florida Department of Revenue
- Florida's full supply list and storm updates (opens in a new tab)Florida Division of Emergency Management
- Live storm tracking (opens in a new tab)National Hurricane Center
- Before, during, and after a storm (opens in a new tab)Ready.gov
This is a starter list for fun and planning, not official emergency advice. When a storm is coming, follow your county's emergency officials.
The 7-day kit and 1 gallon of water per person, per day come from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Tax-free items come from the Florida Department of Revenue. Prices are estimates, not quotes. Prep list by Gofer Content (opens in a new tab)