Eco friendly hurricane preparedness? Why does it matter?
I’ve lived through Hurricanes Bob, Ernesto, Fran, Irene, Isabel, Jeanne, and Sandy, which was so fierce it was called a superstorm. I’ve had to survive several “derechos,” too. Plus, just three months ago, I was trapped for three hours in a terrifying flood and had to be rescued by first responders.
Especially with hurricanes, you know they’re coming, and you want to do everything possible to be prepared. But before you rush out and buy cases of plastic bottled water, crates of paper plates, and bulk bags of single-serving plastic-wrapped food, take a pause.
You don’t need to give up your green lifestyle simply because a hurricane is coming your way!
Check out these 10 eco friendly survival tips. They are the same ones I follow whenever I’m faced with a hurricane or other natural disaster. I hope they’ll help you, too.
→ Secure your home by putting away any items that could go airborne (like chimes, porch furniture and tools).
→ Caulk around windows and doors if rain could get in; if necessary, board up windows.
→ Clear drains and gutters so water can flow freely off the roof and into downspouts to get away from your house.
→ Trim loose tree branches to reduce the chances that they’ll fall on you, your car, or your home.
→ Have a “go bag” ready that includes important papers, toiletries and possibly a couple of changes of clothes, your computer hard drive or lap top and other key electronics, and other essentials.
→ Pack an emergency first aid kit that includes whatever medicine you need. And of course…
→ EVACUATE if the authorities believe that’s your safest course of action.
Eco Friendly Hurricane Preparedness Survival Guide
Here’s what you may need both during and after a hurricane – and how to keep it green.
Note: For convenience, I’ve provided Amazon links so you can see what I’m talking about. Plus, if you need these soon, you can get them delivered quickly. You may also be able to find most of these items at your local hardware or grocery store. If you do buy them at Amazon, I’ll earn a teeny, tiny commission that helps Big Green Purse bring you helpful info just like this. Thanks!
DRINKING WATER
You could lose access to your water supply if pumps stop working or if the supply becomes contaminated because there’s some kind of breakdown at your water treatment plant.
Authorities recommend you have a three day supply of water on hand for every person in your household. That means about three gallons of water per person, to use for drinking as well as cleaning.
Rather than buy cases of plastic water bottles, fill up gallon-sized water jugs with filtered tap water. You can also use pitchers, Thermoses, large water bottles and even cooking pots.
The LifeStaw Personal Water Filter removes bacteria, parasites and even microplastics so you have drinking water wherever you need it.
Large reusable water jugs are also a good option. Though I almost never recommend buying plastic, reusable jugs that are used only occasionally can help you avoid dozens of single-use throwaways.
Here are two options. Both are collapsible, so you can store them and save them for the next emergency.
Wash all the containers well in hot water. Wait until the day the weather event begins. Then, fill up your containers and cover them tightly, then use sparingly as needed. The water should easily last for three days.
Don’t leave plastic containers in the hot sun.
Once they’re empty, let them dry out completely, then store them in a cool, dry place.
Finally, if you must buy bottled water, choose the largest containers rather than cases of single-
use throwaways.
Need a new water bottle? Here are 5 we like!
PERSONAL HYGIENE
If by chance you do lose water, you’re still going to want to clean up.
Each person should have a washcloth available for their hands and face and a sponge bath or two.
You’ll find lots of soft organic cotton wash cloths here, as well as those made from bamboo.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap could come in handy as well. Get the unscented soap and use it for personal hygiene and to wash dishes.
Just remember that any soapy water can contaminate other water supplies, so if you pour soapy water out, make sure you do so at least 200 feet from a storm drain, creek or river.
Once an emergency has passed, this is still a great soap to use around the house.
Skip the antibacterial hand cleaners, but if you do need handi-wipes, look for those made with plant-based ingredients free of alcohol, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial dyes, fragrances, and triclosan.
Babyganics Hand and Face Wipes is one option. Honest Co. is another.
NOTE: Baby wipes are NOT biodegradable. Nor should you flush them down a toilet. Check with your municipality as to whether they can be recycled in your community.
FOOD
Have food on hand that doesn’t require refrigeration or cooking. This could include canned tuna and other fish; dried cereal; fresh and dried fruit; peanut butter and jelly; snacks and cookies; soups; and breads and crackers.
If buying canned tuna and salmon, the two brands I think taste best are Sustainable Seas and Wild Planet.
Sustainable Seas sources tuna caught only by pole and line.
That way, there are no other fish or sea creatures unnecessarily caught in nets and killed.
Sustainable Seas is endorsed by The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program and the Blue Ocean Institute. Plus, it tastes good!
Wild Planet sells salmon, tuna, sardines, anchovies, and more.
The pink salmon is really delicious, and can be eaten right from the can or mixed with a little mustard or other condiment.
Like Sustainable Seas, Wild Planet sources its tuna only from pole or troll catch fisheries, not purse seine nets that catch a lot of other fish or sea animals.
Other Food Tips:
In the event of a power outage, keep freezer closed. Open the refrigerator minimally and quickly. Make ice in advance and as soon as the power goes out, put big blocks of ice or ice cubes in your refrigerator to help keep it cool. Have a cooler out and ready if needed.
POWDERED, BOXED OR CANNED MILK AND MILK SUBSTITUTES
If you lose power, one of the first foods to spoil could be your milk. I personally love milk in my coffee and tea, so I always make sure I have some kind of milk on hand in the event of an emergency.
Though I don’t make a habit of buying single-serving milk, I keep a few cartons of single-serving organic milk boxes in my pantry for emergencies.
If you live dairy-free and prefer almond milk, you can also find single servings in a variety of flavors.
Brands like Silk are organic and Non-gmo verified.
COOKSTOVE OR GRILL
I have a gas stove, so even when I lose power I can cook because I can use a match to light a burner.
If you have an outdoor grill, make sure you have enough propane to meet your cooking needs for as long as the power outage lasts.
Skip a charcoal grill as they generate a lot of air pollution.
Here are some camping stoves that work well and are good to have around in a power outage.
Solar ovens could also come in handy – once the sun starts shining again!
LIGHTING
Candles – Avoid using tapers or any candle that could easily tip over and start a fire. Choose beeswax or soy candles, which are healthier than paraffin candles that emit air pollution.
This 100% beeswax emergency candle won’t tip over, and it will give off a lot of light.
You can also group tea light candles together to create a cozy light source. Keep them on a tray or dish, not just on your table or counter, and definitely don’t put them on paper as a precaution against fire.
LuminAid – LuminAID solar lanterns are inflatable and can be charged either by the sun or USB port. That means you can also use them to charge a cell phone.
I like this company because they also provide emergency relief to communities that are hard hit by storms.
They were very active in bringing lighting to residents in Puerto Rico after hurricanes there demolished the island power plants.
Head Lamp – The beauty of a head lamp is that it shines light in the direction you’re looking while freeing up your hands so you can do other activities.
This headlamp uses rechargeable batteries and shines enough light for reading, cooking and anything else you may need to do to make a power outage more tolerable.
Flashlights – LED flashlights give off very bright light. Most of them are battery powered, so if you opt for battery flashlights, use rechargeable batteries like this one does.
Rechargeable Batteries and Charger – You can get rechargers for most batteries. Recharging batteries reduces the number of batteries you’ll use over time.
My Big Green Purse community recommends using Energizer rechargeable batteries and the charger they come with, rather than a generic brand.
Solar Garden Lights – One Big Green Purse reader brings her solar powered garden lights in from outdoors and takes advantage of the light they emit. Brilliant!
DISHES and DINING
Resist the urge to buy a stack of paper plates, plastic forks and knives, and paper napkins. Greener options include:
Reusable plastic, like the options made by Preserve.
Again, I don’t advocate buying much plastic at all.
But these won’t break, so if you can’t wash them right away, you don’t have to worry about storing them. And once you get them, you can use them for picnics and parties, too.
Corelle – One Big Green Purse readers uses Corelle dinnerware as her back-up, not just for emergencies but for parties, too.
Corelle is extremely durable and doesn’t easily break so, like Preserve, could be a good option if you can’t wash it right away.
Another advantage of Corelle is that it is quite thin; it won’t take up a lot of room when you store it.
Camping plates – If you already go camping, you probably have a set of metal plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery.
If you don’t but your area is prone to power outages and other emergencies, now might be a time to get a set. These are indestructible, easy to store, and easy to clean.
If you don’t have the water to wash your dishes off right away, wipe them off with a damp sponge until you can. Dip them in a pot of water that you’ve added a couple of drops of bleach to if you need to reuse them; the bleach will help disinfect them.
By the way, reduce the need for dishes in the first place. Focus on one-plate or one-bowl meals and lots of finger foods.
Just in case you want to turn an emergency into a party,
don’t miss our post on plastic-free party supplies!
If you lose internet access, you can stay up-to-date on what’s happening by listening to a radio.
I personally prefer a radio like this one: it can be hand cranked when you have absolutely no power, but can also be charged by solar or battery.
It includes a flashlight and a port so you charge your cell phone, too.
CHARGERS
You’ll want to keep phones and other mobile devices charged, and possibly your lap top or computer.
Charge everything up in advance, and charge portable battery packs as well.
Car Lighter Charger – plug into your car’s cigarette lighter, or to the USB port in newer cars
Solar Chargers – There are a wide variety available to charge phones and other mobile devices, as well as laptops.
Keep in mind that if it’s stormy and cloudy, there may not be enough sun to charge your device. Charge them in advance, and recharge them when there’s enough sun to do so!
TRASH BAGS
If you end up with debris that can’t be recycled, use trash bags made from recycled materials, like these.
They’re made from 70% certified post consumer recycled materials and belong to 1% For the Planet.
I’d love to hear about how you prepare for a hurricane or other emergency.
Plus, please let me know if you have any recommendations for our eco friendly hurricane preparedness survival guide. What products and services make your life easier during a power outage or other natural disaster?
