The Houston Prep Kit & Evacuation Plan That Actually Works
Not a generic supply list off the internet — the kit and the plan we'd hand a neighbor here on the Gulf Coast, with the homeowner steps people always forget.
Keri: Joseph, confession — for years my “hurricane kit” was a flashlight with dead batteries and whatever was left in the pantry.
Joseph: You and most of Houston. The problem is everyone waits for the cone, and by then the shelves are empty and the gas lines are around the block.
Keri: So let's build the real one — the kit, the plan, and the homeowner stuff that the generic lists skip.
Part one: the kit
Federal guidance is refreshingly specific, so we'll start there and then add the Houston reality.
The core kit (build it in May)
- Water: one gallon per person per day, at least a 3-day supply (ready.gov)
- Food: at least 3 days of non-perishable food + a manual can opener
- Power & info: battery or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio, flashlights, extra batteries, power banks
- Health: first-aid kit, 7-day medication supply, copies of prescriptions, hand sanitizer
- Cash: small bills — card readers and ATMs go down with the power
- Documents: waterproof folder with IDs, policies, deed/mortgage info (covered in Part 1)
- People & pets: supplies for infants, seniors, anyone with medical needs, and your animals
- Comfort: change of clothes, sturdy shoes, blankets, whistle, local maps
Joseph: Houston add-ons: mosquito repellent — standing water means mosquitoes — and a full tank of gas in every vehicle before the storm is named.
Keri: And tarps, rope, and work gloves. Not for the storm — for the cleanup, which always comes.
Part two: the plan (and why “zone” means two different things)
This trips people up constantly, so let's be clear.
Flood zone (FEMA) tells you about insurance and water risk for your property. Evacuation zone tells you whether and when officials may tell you to leave for a hurricane. They are not the same map.
Texas runs a coastal evacuation framework, and Gulf Coast counties use evacuation zones and reentry phases. Know your zone now, and decide in advance: shelter in place or leave? (Source: Texas Division of Emergency Management; Houston/Harris County Office of Emergency Management.)
Your evacuation plan
- Look up your evacuation zone and the routes out of your area before the season
- Pick a destination and a backup — family, friends, or a hotel inland
- Plan for pets in advance; not all shelters take them
- Agree on an out-of-state contact everyone in the family checks in with
- Leave early when told to. Don't wait to “watch the house” — that's how people get trapped (ready.gov; National Hurricane Center)
- Know that the deadliest hurricane hazard is water, not wind — never drive through flooded roads (NOAA / National Weather Service: Turn Around, Don't Drown)
Part three: the homeowner steps everyone forgets
Keri: This is the part we add that the FEMA list doesn't — because we look at your house as an asset, not just a shelter.
Joseph: Right. Before you walk out the door:
Before you evacuate or hunker down
- Know your shutoffs. Water, gas, electrical — find them now, in daylight
- Secure projectiles. Patio furniture, grills, trash cans, decor — inside or tied down
- Protect openings. Storm shutters or pre-cut, labeled plywood for windows
- Confirm your coverage. Standard homeowner's policies don't cover flood, and NFIP flood policies usually have a 30-day waiting period — you can't buy it once a storm is named (FEMA/NFIP via floodsmart.gov)
- Photograph everything if you haven't already (see Part 1)
- If you're mid-listing or under contract, call your agent. Showings, inspections, and timelines all shift around a storm — get ahead of it
Joseph: That last one is the difference between a stressful storm and a stressful storm plus a blown-up real-estate deal.
Keri: Which is exactly what Part 4 of this series is about. But first — build the kit this weekend. Future you will be grateful.
Buying or selling on the Gulf Coast this season?
We'll help you weigh flood zones, insurance, timing, and the homeowner prep that protects both your family and your deal.
Contact The Property Joes GroupMore in the series: Part 1 — Document Your Home Before the Storm · full guide on the Storm Ready hub.
Sources
- ready.gov (FEMA / U.S. Department of Homeland Security) — Build a Kit; Make a Plan; Hurricanes; Evacuation (ready.gov/kit, ready.gov/hurricanes)
- National Hurricane Center (NOAA) — Hurricane Preparedness; water-safety / Turn Around, Don't Drown (nhc.noaa.gov/prepare)
- Texas Division of Emergency Management — coastal evacuation zones and Texas preparedness; flood insurance via floodsmart.gov (NFIP) (tdem.texas.gov)
The Property Joes Group — Keller Williams Memorial
1220 Augusta Dr Ste 300, Houston, TX 77057
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