When hurricanes and tropical storms come and bring disruption to entire areas and communities, the amount of damage that is caused can range in millions of dollars. Hurricane preparedness is incredibly important, especially when you need to get your home stocked with supplies, emergency food, etc. Although this is crucial, there is not a lot of information about what to do during a hurricane – you only ever hear about the aftermath and what is going on after the storm. Keeping that in mind, what are the not-so-necessary items you need in case of a hurricane?

According to an article from the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, there are some very useful things you can do to prepare for a hurricane, although you might not think of them normally:

Laundry & Dishes – No one likes dirty clothes or dishes, so why not prepare by doing as much as you can in preparation for a major storm? Having a large number of these items will be great, especially if you have to hunker down once the storm hits. Consider the fact that you might lose your home’s running water as well – mine as well get cleaning done beforehand!

Staying Occupied – There have been many instances where a tropical storm or hurricane lasts for a few days, leaving you with no choice but to stay inside and wait for the clear signal from local authorities. In a lot of cases, you may have to stay with a family member in another area. In either case, the article says that you should ready yourself for boredom – “Fill a box with books, cards, magazines, crafts and other activities to keep your mind from worrying and your family busy. This is particularly helpful for families with young children.”

Buy a Map – Your GPS can’t do everything, especially if you have nowhere to charge it. If you are trying to leave town in a storm and need to find a new route out of dodge. Make sure you have a paper map to help you get to safety.

Do you have any interesting tips for hurricane and tropical storm preparedness?