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Crystal Coast Hurricane Kit Builder

Hurricane prep
Build Your Crystal Coast Hurricane Kit

Tell us who lives in your house and we will build a supply list with the right amounts of water, food and medicine for a Crystal Coast storm. Check things off as you go. Your progress saves on this device.

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1. Who are you packing for?

2. How long should it last?

3. What applies to you?

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Amounts follow the usual FEMA and Red Cross guidance: one gallon of water per person per day, plus extra for pets. Your checkmarks are saved only in this browser.

When to build your kit

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the busiest stretch for the Carolina coast is usually August through October. Shop early in the summer, before a storm is in the forecast. Once a hurricane is named and heading for the Crystal Coast, stores in Morehead City, Beaufort and Cape Carteret sell out of water, batteries and gas cans fast.

Shop for your kit in May or June. When a storm is three days out, you want to be filling the gas tank and bringing in the porch furniture, not standing in a checkout line.

Know your evacuation zone

North Carolina sorts coastal neighborhoods into evacuation zones so officials can call for an evacuation one area at a time. Look up your address on the state’s Know Your Zone map at ReadyNC, write your zone on your kit, and follow updates from Carteret County Emergency Services. Bogue Banks, Down East and the low-lying neighborhoods along the sounds and creeks are usually among the first areas told to leave.

A few Crystal Coast tips

  • Ask about re-entry before the storm. Beach towns can limit who gets back onto the island after a storm. If you live or own property on Bogue Banks, check with your town about re-entry passes ahead of time.
  • Flood insurance is separate. Most homeowner’s policies do not cover flooding, and a new flood policy usually has a 30-day wait before it kicks in.
  • Get the photos done now. Walk through your house with your phone and record every room. It makes an insurance claim much easier after a storm.
  • Plan for the bridges. Everyone leaving the islands funnels over the same few bridges, so leave early when an evacuation is called.

Get your home storm ready

Want the roof checked, storm damage fixed or a generator installed before the next storm? Tell us what you need and a local pro serving Carteret County will reach out. No cost and no obligation.