Hurricane Season Is Already Here – Are You Ready???

Hurricane season in the United States runs from June 1st  through November 30th. I usually get supplies in early June and put them in a plastic container under the bed to hide them from the chicken. For some reason, she loves to steal the Hurricane supplies.

As the humid days of June roll in, my thoughts drift to battening down the hatches and stocking up on provisions. Though hoping the storm misses us, one must prepare for a hurricane’s potential wrath. I tend to squirrel away a few tinned foodstuffs and water bottles as insurance against our seasonal visitor’s blustering gales.

Experience, the wisest of tutors, has taught me to recognize those trusty canned goods that bring a soothing touch to the palate when electricity fails and the stove lays dormant. The modest delights, such as the rich, ruby-hued salmon against the crunch of crackers or the childhood echo in the sharpness of ravioli consumed straight from the tin, become treasures in the wake of a storm.

Before the skies darken, ensure the larder is flush with plates, cutlery, and paper towels so one can focus on keeping the heart and home intact. Remember your pet’s chow, too. And, of course, a bottle or two of clear spirits calm the nerves and warm the gullet when huddled around flickering candles. 

Below is a list of what I usually get for two adults and a little poodle. These non-perishable supplies keep nicely for the next go-round.

 It is about surviving without a fridge for three days.

• 8 bottles of spring water, one gallon each.
• 9 cans of salmon.
• 9 cans of Vienna sausages.
• 9 cans of Chef Boyardee ravioli or whatever flavors you like.
• Fresh fruit (bananas, apples, pears, etc.). Not too much in case the electricity goes kaput.
• Canned fruit.
• 1 or 2 boxes of CapriSun juices.
• 1 big tin of Ducales crackers because they taste so good and are very crunchy and delicious, even on their own.
• Packets of ketchup and mustard, which you most likely have in your pantry already.
• 1 or 2 cans of butane gas to use with your wok, assuming you have a wok and gas stove, which have served me well in the past.
• 1 bag of dry dog food and 1 pack of doggie snacks. Remember dry-in, dry-out, wet-in, wet-out. It will be wet enough outside, no need for runny dog caca inside the house at this time.
• Paper plates, plastic utensils, kitchen paper and garbage bags
• Candles, or safer yet, battery operated lamps, flashlights.
• Batteries
• The biggest bottle of Vodka you can afford to keep the parents calm. You can substitute with your poison of choice – wine, beer, whisky, and bourbon. Whatever.  Keep away from children and dog.

Suggested Hurricane Menus

Breakfast – Vienna Sausages with ketchup. Juice. Fresh fruit.

Lunch –  Salmon mixed with a little ketchup and mustard to make a spread. Crackers. Canned or fresh fruit. Juice. Vodka for Mommy, in moderation, to calm the nerves because of the lack of air conditioning and constant and inevitable proximity with another female and a dog.

Dinner – Chef Boyardee, straight out of the can if there is no way to warm it. Juice. Fruit.

*Doggie gets his dried food, snacks, and water *

I mentioned the wok because if you have one with a gas stove, you can give your family a warm meal even if you do not have electricity. Always a treat when your regular stove is out-of-order.

Please check here for an official list of the supplies you should have on hand.

if fortune smiles on us and the storm decides to leave us unmarked, these imperishable provisions will endure until the next round of storms. Let’s hope the rain, floods, lightning, and thunder will also choose to dance around us this hurricane season. So, let’s lift our spirits, literally and metaphorically, for we will do as we must.

_{The cover and the palms photo was generated with Leonardo.Ai}