Your Hurricane Season Checklist

Forecasters are calling for a quieter Atlantic season this year. Quieter doesn't mean skip it. It only takes one storm finding its way to Eastern North Carolina to make for a rough week, and peak season for us runs mid-August through late September. That gives us a window right now, while the shelves are stocked and nobody's in a rush, to get ready the calm way instead of the panicked way. Below is the list we'd hand a neighbor who asked us where to start: what to have on hand, how to store it safely, and the one thing worth doing before the season peaks instead of after.

Flashlights and extra batteries for every room, plus a battery or crank powered radio so you're not relying on a phone that may lose signal or charge.

Fill extra water containers, and top off fuel cans for a generator or vehicle. Store them properly, away from the house and out of the sun.

Tarps for a damaged roof, rope or bungee cords to secure them, and work gloves for the cleanup that usually follows any storm.

Always run a generator outside, well away from windows and doors. Generator exhaust is dangerous indoors or anywhere near open windows, no exceptions.

We carry and service more Stihl equipment than anyone in the area. If you've got a chainsaw for storm cleanup, bring it in for a tune-up before hurricane season peaks. That's not a job you want to be doing for the first time on a downed tree.

We carry the basics for all of the above, and like always, if you're not sure what you need, just ask. Stop by before the season peaks and let's get your household ready on your schedule, not the storm's. That's a lot less stressful than doing this two days before a watch goes up.

The team at Coltrain Hardware & Garden Center