If you are in charge of your neighborhood hurricane shelter or have chosen to have one installed in your garage or basement, you are going to need to make sure that it is well-stocked or else it is not going to be any use at all. You might be able to go down there during a storm, but if there is no food and water, everyone in the shelter will be forced to leave to seek these items, possibly before the storm is over. Here are some tips for stocking a hurricane shelter to make sure that everyone is able to stay down there as long as possible.

1. Food and Water

The first thing that you are going to need to purchase is food and water. You will want to purchase as many gallon-sized jugs of distilled water that your hurricane shelter can reasonably hold without cutting down the amount of space there is for people to occupy. When you are purchasing food, you are going to want to stay away from foods that will go bad, such as meat and dairy. You might not be able to get the refrigerator to stay on during a storm and these items could quickly become useless. Instead, stock up on dried goods and cans of food in different varieties. Also pick up condiments that won't go bad in order to add flavor and variety in case you and others are stuck in the shelter for a long time.

2. Medication and Medical Supplies

Next, you are going to need to make sure that you have all of the medical supplies to take care of basic emergencies. Ensure that you have enough painkillers, bandages, bandage tape, wound disinfectant, sterilized needles and thread, and any other medical supplies that would ordinarily be contained in a first aid kit. You won't be able to deal with the worst injuries and illnesses, but you will be able to manage day-to-day cuts and scrapes, fevers, and headaches, improving the morale of the shelter.

3. Stoves and Fuel

Finally, you are going to want to make sure that you have at least one propane stove and enough extra propane to run it regularly for at least a week. This is critical because it will help you cook the food, which maintains morale and health, boil water for sterilizing medical equipment, and keep everyone warm.

For more information, talk to a company that specializes in creating hurricane shelters for residential areas, such as Door Depot Of SW Florida Inc.