Here is my- we live near the coast in Florida list -
- Stream live storm chasers.
- Bug out bags in case it's a strong CAT4+
- Instant dams in case I need to divert water.
- 25 gal. of gas and a couple of bottles of oil for the generator. (Since I don't have a power wall or some other more expensive solution that might get wiped out when the nearly inevitable CAT5 eventually hits. Instead of veering away at the last moment the way Michael did.)
- Boarding up the windows even though I have hurricane windows. (It will improve your mindset because the wind noise is incredibly dampened by the combo.)
- Confirm I have enough propane and lots of lump wood charcoal.
- Charge everything. Including all of the extra eneloops.
- Booze (for sanity reasons)
- Put in the tub liner and fill the tub with water. (also have life straws)
Here’s my Texas Gulf Coast List (22ft elevation)
- Follow storm chasers, NOAA NHC, Space City Weather
- Gas up the Suburban if it’s a CAT3 or higher (grab cat carriers and pack up kids)
- Check Generac (natural gas powered, extra oil and oil filter )
- Board up windows (house has sheet metal shutters)
- Bring in or tie down all exterior stuff (chairs, tables, pots, bench swing)
- Confirm I have a spare propane bottle and extra bag of charcoal
- Charge everything including car
- Check on Berkey water filters (basically big life straws in a water cooler), should already have canned food and several pallets of drinking water.
It’ll take a direct hit by a CAT 5 to flood my house. We even survived 50+ inches of rain from Hurricane Harvey. Found out we are the high point in the neighborhood by a few feet.
What we didn’t survive was a direct hit by Hurricane Ike which ripped our roof up (bad lot of shingles installed by home builder) and did $100K+ of damage. Luckily we left for that one and after 18 months of fighting insurance covered most it.