What emergency supplies do coastal NC and SC homeowners need for hurricane season?

Essential hurricane supplies: 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 72 hours, non-perishable food for 72–96 hours, battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio, flashlights and extra batteries, first aid kit, 7-day supply of prescription medications, cash in small bills, and important documents in a waterproof container.

How much water should a coastal NC family store for hurricane preparedness?

FEMA recommends 1 gallon per person per day minimum, with 3–4 days as the standard target. For a family of 4, that's 12–16 gallons minimum. In the aftermath of major storms affecting coastal NC (like Florence in 2018), water service disruptions can last much longer — a 2-week water supply is a more robust target for coastal properties.

What supplies are specific to coastal NC and SC hurricane preparedness?

Coastal-specific additions: waterproof containers for documents and valuables (flood risk), marine-grade rope and anchor points for securing outdoor furniture, battery-operated bilge pump for homes in flood zones, satellite communicator for post-storm communication when cell networks are down, and a generator with fuel storage.

How should I store emergency supplies for a coastal vacation home?

Keep a portion of supplies permanently staged at the vacation home — particularly water, non-perishable food, flashlights, first aid, and medications. Don't assume you can resupply after a storm warning — grocery stores in coastal NC and SC sell out 24–36 hours before a major storm landfall.

Does having hurricane shutters affect my emergency supply needs?

Hurricane shutters protect your home's structure but don't eliminate your personal supply needs. Shelter-in-place decisions (staying vs evacuating) are made based on storm severity, evacuation zone, and local emergency management orders — not shutter status. Supplies matter regardless of shutter choice.

Essential Emergency Supplies for Hurricane Readiness in Coastal NC and SC

By Matthew Burns|American Hurricane Shutters|Updated March 2025|8 min read

Essential emergency supplies for hurricane readiness laid out for a coastal North Carolina home

Emergency Supply Baseline1 gallon water/person/day for 72+ hours, 72-hour food supply, weather radio, first aid kit, 7-day medications, waterproof document container, cash in small bills. Coastal homeowners should target 2-week water supply given post-storm infrastructure disruption history.

Essential emergency supplies for hurricane readiness are the personal preparedness layer that complements the structural protection of hurricane shutters. Shutters protect your home; supplies sustain you and your family if power, water, and access are disrupted post-storm. AHS installs hurricane protection across coastal NC and SC — here’s the supply framework that makes that protection part of a complete preparedness plan.

1 gal/dayWater per person minimum

72–96hrStandard supply target

2 weeksCoastal NC target post-Florence

CashCritical when power is out

The Core Supply List: 72-Hour Baseline

Water: 1 gallon per person per day × 72+ hours. Coastal NC/SC homeowners should target 2 weeks given post-major-storm infrastructure disruption history
Food: Non-perishable items (canned goods, peanut butter, crackers, protein bars) for 72–96 hours without cooking capability
Weather radio: Battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio — cell towers often fail during storms
Flashlights: LED flashlights with fresh batteries, plus battery backups or hand-crank lights
First aid kit: Standard kit plus any household-specific supplies (bee sting kits, prescription medications)
Medications: 7-day supply of all prescription medications, refilled before hurricane season if needed
Documents: Copies of insurance policies, IDs, property records, and medical records in a waterproof container
Cash: ATMs often fail post-storm; small bills for purchases at open retailers

Coastal NC/SC Specific Additions

Waterproof containers or dry bags for valuables and documents (flood risk)
Generator with 5–7 days of fuel storage (run outside only — carbon monoxide risk)
Battery-operated fans (coastal NC heat combined with power outage is serious)
Marine-grade rope and tie-downs for securing outdoor furniture and equipment
Satellite communicator for post-storm communication in areas with cell outage
Battery-operated bilge pump for homes in designated flood zones

Vacation Home Supply Strategy

Stage a portion of supplies permanently at your coastal vacation home: water (rotate annually), non-perishables (rotate annually), flashlights, first aid kit, and a physical map of evacuation routes. Coastal NC and SC grocery stores sell out 24–36 hours before major storm landfall — don’t assume you can resupply on arrival. See our hurricane shutters FAQ for more on storm prep.

Frequently Asked Questions

1 gal water/person/day for 72+ hours, 72-hr food, weather radio, first aid kit, 7-day medications, waterproof documents, cash.

FEMA minimum: 1 gal/person/day for 3–4 days. Coastal NC target: 2-week supply given post-Florence infrastructure disruption history.

Waterproof containers, generator with fuel, battery fans, marine-grade rope, satellite communicator, bilge pump for flood zones.

Stage permanent supplies at the property — water, non-perishables, flashlights, first aid. Rotate annually. Don’t rely on pre-storm resupply.

No — shutters protect your home structure; supplies sustain your family. Both are necessary parts of a complete preparedness plan.

Complete Your Hurricane Protection

Hurricane shutters + emergency supplies = complete preparedness. AHS installs rated shutters across coastal NC and SC. Call +19102561288.

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