Hurricane season 2021: List of emergency supplies you should have

Keeping and maintaining a disaster-preparedness kit is recommended for everyone who lives in an area regularly threatened by hurricanes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, but storms are known to occur before and after those dates.

Officials encourage residents to assemble a kit early. Doing so ensures there are adequate supplies available on store shelves and prevents a rush — and shortages — that regularly occur when a storm is imminent.

Predictions for the 2021 hurricane season

►After a brutal 2020, another above-normal hurricane season predicted: 17 named storms expected

►2021 hurricane forecast from WeatherTiger: We just might have a normal season this year

More:Atlantic hurricane season 2021: What you need to know about forecasts, when it starts, when to prepare

► Florida Disaster.org checklist

► FEMA basic disaster supplies kit

► Red Cross kit

Make extra ice ahead of a storm in case of a power outage. Store the ice cubes in freezer bags, or freeze water bottles.

Repurpose plastic storage containers into coolers and save foam coolers for food and drinks. You can also use your washing machine as a cooler by filling it halfway with ice first.

Place important documents and photos in freezer bags and label them with a permanent market. Consider making another copy of the important documents in a freezer bag and storing it in the dishwasher (it can act as a waterproof safe).

Fill up the tub with water to use to flush the toilet or wash surfaces or clothes.

Use a pool float in a pinch as an air mattress. If you have to evacuate and don't have enough beds available, a pool float will be much more comfortable than the floor.

Charge your cell phones and try not to use them if the power goes out. Texting uses less power than a cell phone call, so use text messages when possible to conserve power.

Know where your utility shut off valves are in your home and how to use them.

Check with your county's Department of Emergency Management to see if you can receive text alerts about weather events specific to your area.

1. Do all your laundry before the storm hits. It may might be a long while before you can use your washer and dryer again.

#HurricaneHacks:Practical tips for riding out the coming storms | Our View

2. Clean out your garage and trim trees well ahead of any storm. The last thing you want to be doing as a storm approaches is dealing with clutter so you can park your car inside. Likewise, trees you ignore now might need professional (and pricey) "surgery" after the storm.

3. Check your fences and figure out if you'll need to secure them with zip ties or rope, prop them up with a 2-by-4 — or remove gates altogether, which just might permit the wind to blow through your yard and keep the fence upright.

4. If you rely on a generator when the power goes out, buy another gas can and fill it, now. The more you have, the better.

5. Look for a hand-crank emergency radio that also serves as a flashlight, alarm, and can charge your cell phone. Just make sure to have rechargeable batteries for it.

6. Fill every container you have with potable water and stick them in the freezer. That way you've got plenty of ice, and when it melts you can drink it.

7. In that same vein, buy a collapsible 5-gallon camping jug or two, and fill with water before the storm approaches. There is no need to frantically run around searching for bottled water as the storm approaches.

8. Buy LED battery-operated lights and tape them to the wall; they look like light switches, are relatively cheap and last a long time.

9. Set your air conditioning as low as it can go the night before the storm. Your house will be freezing for a few hours, but when you lose power and the temperature starts to rise inside and outside, you'll be happy you did.

10. If you have lots of meat in your freezer, consider cooking it before the storm hits rather than letting it thaw, and maybe spoil, when the power's out.

11. Buy battery-powered fans now, before the rush.

12. Park your car in the garage and back it up against the garage door to prevent a cave-in. Experts are split on how effective this is, but it can help prevent the door from "twisting" due to high winds.

► Red Cross

►FloridaDisaster.org

►Ready.gov

Support local journalism and stay in the know. A subscription to a USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida newspaper includes unlimited digital access on your desktop, tablet and mobile devices, and a newspaper's e-edition, a digital replica of the print edition. Choose from 18 Florida publications here.