Staying at home for Hurricane Milton? Here’s a Manatee County disaster kit guide

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Many Floridians have evacuated their homes in anticipation of Hurricane Milton’s arrival on the Sunshine State’s Gulf Coast between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

However, Manatee County has guidance for those not in a mandatory evacuation zone or who have decided to ride out the major storm.

Here’s a list of items the county lists as part of a hurricane disaster kit :

• Up-to-date list of family medicines and dosages, along with doctor and pharmacy phone numbers, and a two-week supply of prescription medicines.
• Enough non-perishable food to feed your family and pets for three to seven days. Special dietary foods or baby food and formula, if needed. Replenish every six months.
• One gallon of drinking water per person, per day, plus water for cooking and washing (minimum seven days). Stock up on a few cases of bottled waters at your home and/or workplace in the event that there is a “boil water” order.
• Extra batteries for a camera, flashlight, radio, portable TV, lamp, etc.
• Infant items (medicine, sterile water, diapers, ready formula, bottles), if needed.
• Cash (ATMs may not be operational and banks could be closed without power)
• Emergency charger for cell phones and other devices (consider a solar-powered alternative)
• Generator (do not use indoors, in garages and 20 feet from your home and away from windows, doors and vents. Aim exhaust away from home)
• Fuel
• Ice chest or cooler and ice
• Charcoal, matches, and grill (do not use indoors)

And the following is to stow away until needed, per Manatee County’s guidelines:

• First aid kit including bandages, antiseptic, tape, compresses, aspirin and aspirin-free pain reliever, anti-diarrhea medication, antacid, and important phone numbers.
• Flashlights and batteries for each family member
• Portable radio and batteries
• Non-electric can opener
• Fire extinguisher (small canister, ABC type)
• Instant tire sealer
• Whistle and/or distress flag
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunscreen
• Plastic tarp, screening, tools, and nails, etc.
• Water purification kit (tablets, chlorine (plain) and iodine)
• Plastic trash bags
• Clean-up supplies (mop, buckets, towels, disinfectant)
• Garbage can or bucket with tight-fitting lid and cat litter (emergency toilet)
• Toilet paper, paper towels, and pre-moistened towelettes or baby wipes

Those staying at their home for Hurricane Milton are expected to see a Category 3 storm impact the area with 8 inches of rain soaking Manatee County, with higher rainfall totals in some areas.

The storm is also set to bring wind speeds in the 111-129 miles per hour range and life-threatening storm surge in the 10- to 15-foot range.

As of Tuesday’s 2 p.m. update, Hurricane Milton was about 520 miles southwest of Tampa in the Gulf of Mexico.

Are Manatee grocery stores open?

Most grocery stores in the area are closed if you’re looking for a last-minute trip for food supplies. Detwiler’s Farm Market said in a Facebook post that it closed its Manatee and Sarasota locations at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, with plans to stay closed Wednesday.

Grocery giant Publix was set to close stores at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed Wednesday with a scheduled reopening on Thursday.

Whole Foods has closed its local stores. Walmart and Sam’s Club have multiple stores closed, with a full list found on its locator map here .

According to its website, Winn-Dixie closed its Bradenton and Palmetto stores at 3 p.m. Tuesday and will stay closed Wednesday. Aldi’s four Bradenton stores are closed, with plans to reopen Thursday.