Hurricane Preparedness - Do You Have What You Need?

This post is sponsored by the Hurricane Preparedness promotion at Publix. The opinions and text are all mine.

Hurricane season is right around the corner, and I want to make sure you're prepared. I'm sharing my hurricane preparedness tips and a few things you should have on hand so you're ready for tropical storms and hurricanes this year.

I've lived in Florida for 25 years now, and I consider myself a true Floridian at this point. I've weathered quite a few storms over the past few decades and have learned some valuable lessons about what to have on hand during a tropical storm or hurricane. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to partner with the to share some of my favorite tips and go-to items to have on hand before, and after, a storm.

It's wise to prepare for storms before you get word of a named storm heading your way. You don't want to wait until the day before a storm is supposed to make landfall to gather your supplies. You'll likely be out of luck as people flock to the stores and hoard supplies (hello, toilet paper shortage of 2020). That's why I like to head to Publix, my one-stop shopping destination, at the very beginning of hurricane season to start gathering my supplies. I can find pretty much everything I need for my family to ride out the storm, and I can do it without feeling a sense of panic.

2021 is predicted to be an active storm season, so it's a good idea to start shopping now while the shelves are still stocked. What's even better is that you can save money thanks to the "Hurricane Prep" promotion at Publix. Running through 7/2/2021, the promotion will include savings for all sorts of items you'll want to have during hurricane season. Check out the which will include the “Hurricane Prep” offers (if you don't see the flyer in the kiosk by the front entrance, just ask customer service for a copy) or look for the at-shelf signage throughout the store. Here are just a few of the things I picked up during this promotion:

Non-perishable items are essential for hurricane season. You need food that will last despite the power going out and that is easy to prepare (or eat at room temperature). If your kids are like mine and absolutely love milk, you'll want to grab some shelf-stable Blue Diamond Almondmilk. This is something you should definitely have and you can get 2 of the 32-oz cartons for $4 during the Hurricane Prep promo at Publix.

Oberto Beef Jerky is a staple. It's a great source of protein and tastes so good. During the Hurricane Prep promo, you can snag a pack for only $4.99. Teriyaki is my favorite.

Campbell's Well Yes! Soup is another item that I'm stocking up on. These soups allow you to eat well without compromising on taste. They're made without artificial flavors and have no added preservatives so you can feel good about eating them and feeding them to your family. During the Hurricane Prep promotion, you'll save big since you can buy one can (16.1-16.6 oz.) and get one free! As an added bonus, you don't even need a can opener for these since they have a pull tab. That being said, it's a good idea to have a manual can-opener on hand regardless.

My daughter absolutely loves a fruit cup snack, so I bought a Del Monte Fruit Cup Snacks Family 12-pack, so she'd have plenty of fruit available. These shelf-stable fruit cups don't need refrigeration so they're ideal for hurricane season (and lunchboxes!). They're only $4.99 during the Hurricane Prep promotion.

Having a good supply of water is also a must during hurricane season. Alkaline88 has become one of my favorite brands. It's perfectly pH-balanced and enhanced with minerals and electrolytes, and it tastes amazing. You can save $1 off 2 Alkaline88 Water gallons during the promotion at Publix.

I also like to restock my first aid supplies when hurricane season starts. It's always better to be prepared and have over-the-counter medications that you may need on hand. During the Hurricane Prep promo, you can save $3 off any 2 of the following items: Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit, Benadryl (1–4-oz), Band-Aid Brand products, Neosporin or Coach items (this excludes trial/travel size but you can mix and match). You can also save $2 off any Advil item 18-count or larger and $4 off any Zyrtec (24–90-count), Children’s Zyrtec (8-oz), Rhinocort Spray 120, or Visine Value Twin Pack.

Other must-have items for me are Ziploc Big Bags, Space Bags, and Flexible Totes. I've been a Space Bag user for years and have always kept my kids' baby quilts and other precious keepsakes in them to protect their treasures from the elements. But more recently, after a friend’s home flooded, I've started to worry about other types of items I should be protecting.

I just purchased Ziploc Big Bags and Flexible Totes to protect some of our most cherished family items. This Flexible Tote is housing all of our family photos and baby books. I've got the XL Big Bags full of important documents like birth certificates, passports, insurance papers, and other important paperwork and memorabilia that I want to protect. Grab them now and you'll save $2 with a manufacture's digital coupon during the .

I'd love to hear your must-have items for hurricane season.
Tell me what they are below!

Also, I wanted to share a few other things you should do at the beginning of hurricane season:

• Purchase flashlights, batteries, and a battery-operated radio.
• Purchase candles and matches.
• Order any prescription medications you may need as soon as you hear about an upcoming storm.
• Withdraw cash as electricity outages will prevent you from using credit/debit cards for purchases.
• Gather some electricity-free entertainment (think board games, card games, books, and magazines) to keep you and your kids busy.
• Charge all electronics (including backup battery packs) before the storm in case of outages.
• Stock coolers with ice in case electricity goes out for a prolonged period of time and you need to keep fridge and freezer items safe for consumption.
• Refill propane tanks. If you've got an in-ground tank, check your meter to see if you're going to need to be refilled soon. If you've got a removable tank for your gas grill, consider getting a backup tank. You can prepare all sorts of food on your gas grill if your power goes out for a prolonged period of time, and you can't use your electric range or oven.
• Be sure you have hurricane shutters or plywood if you don't have impact-resistant glass windows and doors. Plywood and shutter material become scarce when a storm is on the horizon. If you can, secure some early in the season.
• Trim trees and bushes around your home to prevent storm damage.
• Clean out your gutters before heavy rainfall occurs.
• Bring all outdoor furniture and decor, garbage cans, etc. to prevent items from becoming airborne and damaging your home.