Storm Prep Tool Kit: Before, During, and After

Preparation Phase: Weeks Before Storm Season

These go into your kit in May or June if you live in a hurricane zone (Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30), or whenever severe weather season starts in your region. Assemble the kit when supplies are available and prices are normal, not after a storm is named and shelves are empty.

A portable generator (inverter type, 2,000 to 3,500 watts). An inverter generator powers a refrigerator, phone chargers, a fan, and a few lights simultaneously. Honda EU2200i, Champion 200951, and Westinghouse iGen2500 are well-reviewed models with manufacturer-rated run times of 4 to 10 hours per tank depending on load. Run the generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from doors and windows. Carbon monoxide from generator exhaust kills more people in hurricanes than the wind does. Buy fuel stabilizer (Sta-Bil or Sea Foam, $8 to $12) and store fuel in approved containers.

A battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio with NOAA channels. When the power is out and cell towers are down or overloaded, this is your only reliable source of local emergency information. Midland and Eton both make weather radios in the $25 to $60 range. Models with a hand crank and solar panel work even when batteries are dead. Our extension cord safety guide covers safe power distribution from a generator.

Flashlights (at least 3) and a headlamp. LED, with extra batteries stored alongside them. Plan for one flashlight per person in the household plus spares. Name-brand alkaline batteries (Duracell, Energizer) last 8 to 10 years in storage according to manufacturer shelf-life ratings. Rechargeable flashlights are fine as a primary option, but keep battery-powered backups for extended outages.

A battery bank (20,000 mAh or larger) for phone charging. Keep it fully charged and in the kit. A 20,000 mAh bank charges a typical smartphone 4 to 5 times. Solar-charging models (Anker, Goal Zero) are good for extended outages but charge slowly on cloudy days, so a pre-charged bank is the more reliable option in the first 48 hours.

Tarps (at minimum two 10x12-foot heavy-duty tarps, blue poly or heavier). Used post-storm to cover roof damage and keep rain out of the house while you wait for permanent repairs. Buy them before storm season because they sell out immediately when a hurricane is named. Heavy-duty tarps ($15 to $30 each) with reinforced grommets hold up better than the thin bargain-bin versions.

A cordless drill/driver with a charged battery. You will need it for installing plywood window covers, securing outdoor items to stakes, and making post-storm repairs. Keep at least one fully charged backup battery in the kit. Our cordless drill guide covers model recommendations.

Window and Structure Protection

Protecting windows and securing loose items are the most important pre-storm tasks. A broken window during a hurricane allows wind and rain inside, and internal pressurization can lift the roof off the house.

Plywood window covers (5/8-inch CDX plywood, pre-cut to window sizes). Pre-drill holes and label each panel with the window it fits. Use barrel bolts or concrete Tapcon anchors depending on your wall material (wood frame versus masonry). Practice installing them before you need to do it in the rain with a storm approaching. A sheet of 5/8-inch CDX plywood ($40 to $60 at current lumber pricing) covers approximately two standard windows.

A circular saw for cutting plywood if you have not pre-cut it. A jigsaw for cutting around irregular shapes like arched windows or bay windows. If you do not own these saws, borrow them from your FriendsWithTools group and cut all your panels before the season starts. Circular saw guide.

A hammer or mallet for driving stakes to secure tarps, tie-downs, and temporary barriers. A standard 16-ounce claw hammer handles most of this work.

Ratchet straps and bungee cords for securing patio furniture, grills, trash cans, and anything else that becomes a projectile in high wind. User reviews report that ratchet straps ($15 to $25 for a 4-pack) hold significantly better than bungee cords in sustained winds. Anything loose in the yard goes in the garage or gets strapped down.

Sandbags (empty bags and a shovel) if you are in a flood-prone area. Fill them with local sand or dirt and stack them across door thresholds and garage doors. It takes about 100 bags to protect a standard garage door opening. Woven polypropylene bags ($0.30 to $0.50 each in bulk) are the standard. Fill each bag about two-thirds full and fold the open end under when stacking.

Emergency Supplies (Non-Tool but Essential)

These are not tools, but they belong in the kit alongside the tools. Without them, the tools themselves are less useful.

Water: 1 gallon per person per day, minimum 3-day supply. FEMA recommends a 7-day supply for hurricane-prone areas. Fill your bathtub as a backup water source before the storm arrives. A WaterBOB ($25 to $35) fits inside a standard bathtub and keeps the water clean for drinking rather than just utility use.

A first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic, pain medication, any prescription medications (keep an extra supply), and a basic first aid manual. Add heavy work gloves and a dust mask (N95) for post-storm cleanup where you will encounter nails, glass, splintered wood, and contaminated water.

Cash in small bills. ATMs and card readers need power and internet. Neither works reliably after a major storm. Keep $200 to $500 in small bills ($1, $5, $10, $20) in a waterproof bag in the kit.

Important documents in a waterproof bag: insurance policies, photo IDs, property deeds, vehicle titles, and medical records. Digital copies on a USB drive and in cloud storage provide backup, but physical copies work when phones and internet are down.

A whistle for signaling if you are trapped. Simpler and more reliable than yelling, which exhausts you quickly. Many emergency kits include one, but a standalone safety whistle costs $3 to $5.

Recovery Phase: After the Storm

The storm passed. Now the real work starts. Recovery can take days or weeks depending on damage severity and power restoration timelines.

A chainsaw for downed trees and branches. Gas-powered (Stihl MS 170/180, Husqvarna 120 Mark II) or battery-powered (DeWalt DCCS620B, Milwaukee 2727-20) both handle storm cleanup. Safety gear is mandatory and non-negotiable: chainsaw chaps, face shield or safety glasses with ear protection, hearing protection, and heavy gloves. Manufacturer specifications on consumer chainsaws show bar lengths of 12 to 18 inches, which handles most residential tree debris. If you do not own a chainsaw, coordinate with your tool-sharing group. This is exactly the scenario borrowing is designed for. Our power tool safety guide covers chainsaw operation basics.

Loppers and a bow saw for branches too small for the chainsaw but too large for hand pruning (roughly 1 to 4 inches in diameter). You will process a large volume of debris in the days after a storm, and loppers ($20 to $40) handle the medium-sized material efficiently. Tree care tools guide.

A pry bar and claw hammer for removing damaged siding, trim, and roofing material. Work carefully because there will be exposed nails, splintered wood, and potentially unstable structures everywhere. A 15-inch flat pry bar ($10 to $15) and your claw hammer cover most tear-off and demolition work.

A wet/dry shop vac for water extraction if flooding occurred. Get it running as soon as power returns. Standing water causes mold growth within 24 to 48 hours. A 6-gallon or larger shop vac ($80 to $120) with a water extraction nozzle removes standing water from floors faster than towels and mops.

Tarps and a staple gun for temporary roof patches. Stretch the tarp over the damaged area, fold the edges under for strength, and staple through furring strips (1x2 or 1x3 lumber strips) to prevent the staples from tearing through the tarp material. This temporary repair holds until a roofer can make permanent fixes, which may take weeks after a major storm due to demand.

The generator (mentioned above) becomes critical in the recovery phase for running refrigeration to save food, sump pumps to remove water, fans for drying wet areas, and phone charging during extended outages that can last days or weeks after a major hurricane.

What to Borrow for Storm Season

Not everything in this list needs to live in your garage year-round. Some tools make more sense as shared resources coordinated through your neighborhood or tool-sharing group.

A chainsaw gets used maybe once a year for storm cleanup if you do not do regular tree maintenance. Borrow one during storm season and return it after the work is done. Make sure you have safety gear of your own, because that should not be shared.

A generator is expensive ($500 to $1,500 for a good inverter model) and sits unused 99% of the time. If your neighbor owns one, coordinate who provides what. Two people living next to each other do not need two generators if they can run extension cords between houses.

A pressure washer is valuable for post-flood cleanup of driveways, siding, and concrete surfaces. Borrow it for the cleanup phase and return it when the job is done. See our guide on tools you should share instead of buy.

A dehumidifier for drying out a flooded space. These are large, expensive, and needed for 1 to 2 weeks before they can be returned. This is a textbook borrow candidate. An industrial dehumidifier pulls 50 to 70 pints per day and costs $200 to $400 to buy outright.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need a Generator?

If you lose power for more than 12 hours regularly during storm season, a generator is a worthwhile investment. A 2,000-watt inverter generator runs a refrigerator, phone chargers, and a couple of fans simultaneously. It will not run your air conditioner or electric stove. For those, you need a 5,000 to 7,500 watt unit, which is louder, heavier, and uses significantly more fuel. Never run a generator indoors or in an attached garage, even with the door open.

How Much Fuel Should I Store for a Generator?

A 2,000-watt inverter generator uses about 1 gallon per 4 to 8 hours at 25 to 50% load, according to manufacturer specifications. Store 10 to 15 gallons in approved containers, treated with fuel stabilizer. That gives you 2 to 4 days of intermittent use (running the refrigerator 8 hours on, 8 hours off to maintain safe food temperatures). Rotate the fuel every 6 to 12 months by using it in your car or lawn mower and refilling with fresh gasoline.

What Should I Do About Trees Near My House Before a Storm?

Before storm season, have a certified arborist assess large trees within falling distance of your house. Dead branches, weak crotches (where two trunks diverge at a narrow angle), and co-dominant stems are the most common failure points in high winds. Proactive pruning costs hundreds of dollars. Emergency tree removal after a storm costs thousands, assuming a crew is even available. If a tree looks like it could hit your house, address it before the season starts.

Related Reading

• Tree Care Tools
• Power Tool Safety
• Extension Cord Safety