Best products from r/TropicalWeather

Even if your wife is planning to breastfeed, have formula on hand just in case. I'd recommend the ready-to-feed (RTF) stuff that comes in the little bottles (like this). That way you don't have to worry about your water source, or washing/sterilizing bottles. You can get individually wrapped nipples for them, too (Amazon link). One of the other commenters said you have to refrigerate the RTF formula, but that's only true once it's been opened.

If your wife *is* planning to breastfeed, i'd recommend a manual breast pump and/or a haaka in case baby has trouble latching and she wants to express milk. They have electric pumps with battery powered options, too, if you want to look into that. (in this case you'd obviously also need bottles and a way to wash/sterilize them).

Obviously diapers and wipes too. Another thing is we do so much freakin laundry, which, in the event of an extended outage, wouldn't really be possible. So more onesies and swaddles than you think you need and burp cloths/rags in case you have a spitty baby.

Some items we Amazon Primed in the first week or two that we didn't know we needed: simethicone gas drops, probiotics, vitamin d drops, velcro swaddle, different size pump flanges, slow flow nipples, saline spray/drops, miracle blanket swaddle, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Newborn babies are hard, and I hope you don't have to deal with a hurricane at the same time! Praying for calm weather in your area!

Welcome! Storms are always far more "fun" to follow when you are afraid you are going to die have skin in the game.

Let's see. Sales tax relief week starts May 31. Get some lanterns like these, which are awesome. And make sure you get flood insurance. If you are renting, make sure you get rental insurance.

Good luck! Hurricanes honestly bring out the best in Floridians, so when the big one is coming, we do pull together.

Amazon sell these awesome reusable washable pads. They're huge and really durable. Highly recommended. I also like the grass/sod in the kiddie pool idea. Could even lay grass on top of these reusable pads too.

Medline Softnit 300 Washable Underpads, Pack of 4 Large Bed Pads, 34" x 36", For use as incontinence bed pads, reusable pet pads, great for dogs, cats, and bunny https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FED594/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UYpCDbK1P3KW5

If you plan on leaving, please bring your pets with you. They would be terrified and could possibly pass away. We are able to make snap decisions like hiding in a closet, bathroom, basement, etc. They are not. It is dangerous to leave them alone, even if you think your cat can take care of herself for a few days in a well-built home with food, water, and a litterbox.

Pet travel list

• Food
  
• Clean water
  
• Bowl for food and water. There are collapsible bowls that do not take up much space
  
• Collar if they have one
  
• A leash and harness
  
• Medication
  
• Treats
  
• For cats: a portable litterbox
  
• Dogs: weewee pads if necessary
  
• For cats: a bag of litter
  
• For cats and small dogs: ensure that your carrier is in good shape as they can become stressed and attempt to break out.
  
• Their bed so they can be comfortable wherever you end up sleeping until you return home.
  
• Something with a familiar smell to comfort them
  
• Toys
  
• Baby wipes in case they need a quick grooming
  
• Paper towels
  
• Disinfectant spray for cleaning any waste
  
  Check out Airbnb if you are still having difficulty finding a hotel. Many are offering rooms for free, and are willing to be lenient towards pet policy. Some local animal shelters and veterinarians are offering free microchipping. I am not in Florida, unfortunately, so I am unsure who is offering it. Be sure to check and ask around on Facebook or tune in to the local news. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

I know of two, purchasable options that exist:

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Security window film on the inside of windows - won't stop glass from breaking, but will control glass particles and could prevent something like a branch breaking all the way through the glass: https://www.amazon.com/Security-Window-Film-Wide-Roll/dp/B004LDBPY2

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Hurricane clips exist, which let you place plywood in the window casing without drilling (not an option on all window types, but pretty great if it works for your space): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014PYV0P0/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_AlBADbHFM1CCB

I have the same situation. I've boarded up a few times, and the first couple of times I was in a hurry and I just screwed directly through the plywood into the stucco around the window. Yes, it left holes after I took it off, but it works, though you do need to have plywood that's larger than the window opening. To do that, I bought Tapcon screws like these. They're made to screw into concrete and anchor something. The packs of these screws also come with a drill bit that works on concrete. It's easier if you have a hammer drill, but that's not required. So I'd just drill straight through the plywood into the stucco in each corner(ish), then screw those blue screws in. I think I did that for two different hurricanes back in 2004 (I'm in Orlando) and it worked fine.

Later, to stop putting holes in my house every time I boarded up, I put in some bolts sort of like these (I can't find exactly what I used) that are threaded on both ends. Then you just slide the plywood over the holes (assuming you drilled matching holes in the plywood) and put a wing nut over it to lock it down. The bolts I got came in a set with the wing nuts and even with rubber covers for the exposed inch or two of bolt to keep the threads clean. Yes, I've got these white pegs sticking out of the corners near my windows, but it is pretty easy to put the boards up now.

I’ve been reading an amazing book about Polynesian settlement. You should check it out. It’s fascinating and a really good read. The problem is it’s led to a google earth and Wikipedia binge where I’ve learned about islands formed by a god doing goatse to captain cook to the physics of sailing and now I’m ready to leave my family and buy a sailboat.

He was a pioneer in establishing what we know now as the NWS so you aren’t far off. One of the best books I’ve ever read is called Isaac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson(Devil in the White City) that reads like a firsthand account recreated with what’s known from the actual history.

It’s a relatively quick read and it really dives into interesting things like how poor communication(among other socio-political issues) between the US and Cuba prevented the news of the 1900 storm getting out in enough time to do much about it. The book was gifted to me when I lived in Houston, and interestingly enough also explains how Houston became the dominant port city as a latent effect of the 1900 storm’s effect on Galveston and any future it may have had as the big-dog port city.

If you live on the coast and have a bathtub, I would recommend investing in a waterbob some point. They're like $35, they hold 100 gallons, and they don't take up much room for storage. Flashlights are good, but battery powered lanterns are better light sources for a room. Above all, make sure you have some bug spray.

I'm a first time homeowner in FL and am considering boarding my windows when the time is right.

However, in the past I lived in a stucco house with deep window casings where I could use Plylox, which are fantastic!

In this house with Hardie board siding and wood window sills, the window is not nearly as deep so plylox won't work. Is there a good mounting system that I can put into the window sills and reuse without having screw into the sill each time I need to put plywood up?

Edit: I guess I'd use something like this maybe? https://smile.amazon.com/Simpson-SPS25344-KT-Storm-Panel-screws/dp/B008BQ2CTW/

Your best bet is UCAR (a non-profit consortium created by 100+ research universities in meteorology), which has a wide array of online modules/lectures across the geosciences, in a program called COMET. They're all free and searchable by topic: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_detail.php

One textbook that covers what it seems like you are interested in is "Numerical Weather and Climate Prediction" - https://www.amazon.com/Numerical-Weather-Climate-Prediction-Tomkins/dp/0521513898

If you're interested in studying phenomena in the midlatitudes or tropics, I can recommend some other textbooks, but don't want to make a giant reply if it's not necessary.

Absolutely! While they don’t make the specific one I own anymore, gotta love old stuff that still works, this is comparable:

5 Gallon/20L Collapsible Water Container BPA Free FDA Approved PE Portable Water Carrier Bag Water Outdoor Storage For BBQ Camping Hiking Climbing Fishing Picnic Emergency https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776W7JM5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VwVKBbBSZ44DS

One suggestion from past experience, buy a tire plug kit like this or this. If your area is hit by a serious storm there will be roofing nails and other debris on the roads. The plugs will usually do a good job with nail punctures and it's easy to do.

You'll be hard-pressed to find a better introductory textbook than Wallace & Hobbs. It's a comprehensive and informative introductory tome that still manages to have lots of judiciously chosen pretty pictures.

https://www.amazon.com/Atmospheric-Science-Second-Introductory-International/dp/012732951X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505767093&sr=8-1&keywords=wallace+and+hobbs+atmospheric+science

Amazon has water storage bags that fit in your tub (let me know if I need to edit the link out) if your tub leaks like my in-laws' or you get squicked out by drinking tub water.

I'd generally recommend people put their cellphone on Airplane (and stop using it) as opposed to completely powering it off. I find that a modern smartphone can last days in airplane, and turning it on and off wastes a lot of battery power on startup/shutdown.

Having no network access means your phone can go into a deep powersaving sleep. If you have portable batteries, ensure they're charged and UNPLUGGED before the storm hits (due to surges, same goes for any other important electronics such as cells and laptops).

If you still have cell service and need to communicate, shut off your wifi and mobile data and go old school. Text messages require minimal power, and your phone should be able to stay like this for some time without losing too much charge. Using data, be it wifi or cellular, will deplete your cellphone battery in hours.

I'd also recommend having one of those foldable USB solar panels (https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1504892356&sr=8-4&keywords=usb+solar, they really work!!) as a way to recharge devices if the grid goes out for multiple days. Too late to buy one, but if you have one, dig it out.

Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson gives some background on hurricane dynamics while going through a case study from one of the deadliest natural disasters in US history. it is a fantastic piece of non-fiction for both the story and the science.

Can't agree more. Headlamps are invaluable, I got a lot of use out of mine during Irma.

I would skip the 5W Panel and jump straight to something like this which would charge your phone and power bank a lot quicker.

I would recommend a waterbob: https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504580873&sr=8-1&keywords=waterbob

While I'm not one to discourage people from cleaning their bathrooms, I would think a 65-100 gallon water bladder would be a safer/smarter way to store drinking water in the tub (or in general): https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

Buy a WaterBoB instead.

link

There's a thing you can buy that fills your bathtub with water in a plastic bag.

Ever try one of these? Giant plastic bladder that sits in your tub and holds water. https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

A Water BOB https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

Instead of collapsible water containers, I bought a WaterBob bathtub container. If anything is headed my way, it gets filled up. After the flood in 2015 city water was screwed for almost 2 weeks in my area. 100gal is enough for about a month for me, my kid, and my dogs if needs be.

If you wanted a glimpse into what tropical weather forecasting was at the turn of the 20th century read Isaac's Storm.

It's a page turner and will give you a good understanding of where we were as well as educate you about one of the worst disasters in US history.