Hunker Down Guide to Disaster Preparedness

About Hunker Down Guide to Disaster Preparedness

Hi. My name is Jamie Robe, your host. I would like to talk directly with you... one-on-one... for just a minute or so... to find out if this podcast is for you. The dread of a hurricane warning. The rush to find supplies. The fear of what comes next. We’ve all been there. You can’t control the hurricane… You can control your readiness. Hurricanes and tropical storms seem to be becoming more frequent and more powerful. Based on the news stories, there seems to be more confusion at the government agencies (national, state, and local) tasked with helping people, like you and me, in the path of these damaging events. Waiting until the last minute is a very dangerous option. Hurricane preparedness isn’t just about checklists and gear. It’s also about building resilience and peace-of-mind. Hunker Down Guide is designed to meet you wherever you are on your preparedness journey. This community helps you move from being vulnerable to being prepared. Together as a community, we can provide you with the support, information, and guidance you need to move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling confident and ready. So if this makes sense to you, I hope you will subscribe and join us. Let’s Get Hurricane Prepped Together You can visit our online community website at https://HunkerDownGuide.com

Publisher

Jamie Robe

Category

education · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Apr 2025

Latest episode

19 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Aug 2026

   How My Dual Fuel Gen Has Saved Me Many Times After A Hurricane

   Explained - What A Dual Fuel Generator Is I get a lot of questions from people about generators. No wonder... there are tons of them out there. Some look good just based on price, BUT (there is always a BUT). think through the entire lifecycle and use of this generator. The #1 hardest part of having enough fuel ready when you need it most - after a major hurricane knocks your power out for a week. The #2 hardest part is to make sure the gen will even start after sitting in storage for who knows how long. I have found that my dual fuel generator has always come thru for me on both counts. In this episode I take you on a tour of my battle

2. 

   21 Jul 2026

   Five No or Low Cost Hurricane Prep Steps

   Facing a tropical weather threat can be very frightening. It can also be expensive. I have gone through a hurricane and had the power go out… and have felt the pain of losing all the food in the fridge / freezer. Honestly, some people under-prepare because they think it is just too expensive to try to be ready for a tropical storm or hurricane. Some wait until the last day and end up panic buying food, water, and supplies. Today we are going to go over 5 prep steps that can help you prepare without breaking the bank. Concentrate on the essentials, like the 4 steps we covered: Water to drink Food to eat A way to see at night with no power A way to keep your phone, your main communication lifeline to family and authorities, ready when cell towers come back online. Practice some breathing or easy meditation techniques when you feel stressed and get that panic buying feeling.  Write down your thoughts and share your concerns with family or friends. You can and will make it through the next tropical storm or hurricane, and it doesn’t mean you have to break the bank getting prepared.

3. 

   20 Jul 2026

   Tropical Update - Monday, July 20, 2026 - A Tropical Depression In The Gulf

   Things are spinning in the Atlantic basin, with a Tropical Depression 2 in the gulf. In this episode we take a look at the National Hurricane Center's projected path. It is less than 39 MPH sustained winds, so it is not yet a tropical storm. We also look at one of the newer tools out there - the Google Weather Lab. We have links to all these resources on the HunkerDownGuide.com site, under the Hurricane Tracking Room. We will definitely be keeping an eye on this system as it develops and slowly spins its way west along the Gulf coast. Visit us at HunkerDownGuide.com

4. 

   17 Jul 2026

   Tropical Friday - July 17, 2026 - Is Something Spinning In The Gulf?

   Welcome to this episode where we take a quick look at some of the forecasting tools from the National Hurricane Center. They have an area near Florida that has a 30% chance of development right now... and you can see it spinning in the Gulf. Will it turn into a tropical depression, storm, or hurricane? Stay aware by monitoring. Stay prepared by taking action now. This episode is on Hunkerdownguide.com https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/space/podcasts/post/tropical-friday-july-17-2026-is-som Video version here:  https://youtu.be/FcKFQkdRh8c

5. 

   9 Jul 2026

   Tropical Thursday on July 9, 2026 - Calm in the Atlantic with a few areas in the Pacific

   In today's episode I take us thru a few of the tools from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) that show us what is happening now and into the next week (or two). Right now the Atlantic side is showing no cyclone development is expected in the next 7 days. Excellent! On the Pacific there are several areas that show 60% or less chance of development, but it is likely they will all stay well south of Hawaii. Remember, we are only 1.5 months into a 6 month season. Keep working on your plan and your preps while is it calm. Things can speed up quickly in the tropics. Join us on HunkerDownGuide.com for the podcast, a free course on your hurricane plan, and other prep resources. https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/courses I also have a handy book "Day Before Disaster", all about step by step hurricane planning and prep. https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/book/

6. 

   6 Jul 2026

   Hurricane Prep Tropical Mindset Challenges as you Navigate the Cone of Stress + Beat Prepper Fatigue

   Every hurricane prep step you take today is a gift of time, calm, and safety you are giving to your future self + family As you prepare for a potential hurricane or tropical storm disaster, you may find yourself in two different types of negative mindsets. Believe me when I say, I have been-there, done-that. Based on what has worked for me and my family, I will talk briefly about each of these here. 1. The Long-Game Mindset: Beating Prepper Fatigue When you’re tackling long-term preparation, the biggest enemy isn't always a lack of resources—it's often momentum decay. It is incredibly tough to maintain focus on a project that drags on for days, weeks, or months, especially when it requires an annual commitment to review and update. Our brains are wired for immediate feedback, so pouring time, energy, and money into a system you hope you never have to use feels counterintuitive (and I have had neighbors and friends even chide me as they choose to do nothing). It’s easy to let procrastination take over, convincing yourself that you’ll get to it "next weekend," because the threat feels abstract until it isn't. Keeping your head in the game means reframing the effort: you aren't just buying supplies or cutting plywood shutters; you are buying future peace of mind and building a fortress for your family's safety, comfort, and well-being. - Chunk it down: Don't try to build the ultimate hurricane plan in a weekend. Break your long-term setup into micro-tasks (e.g., stockpiling clean water supply, testing your battery backup, topping off generator fuel) and schedule them over a realistic timeline. - Build an "Annual Reset" trigger: Tie your yearly review to a predictable, non-negotiable calendar event—like the official start of the season on June 1st—and treat it like an annual home inspection rather than a chore. Maybe make it a family "fun" event, with everyone having a task. - Focus on dual-use utility: Prioritize projects and gear that improve your everyday life or add long-term value to your home, so the investment never feels wasted even if the storm misses. Things like solar or other backup power, or a portable backup HVAC can all pay off when normal problems arise. In Florida, I can't tell you how many times our little portable HVAC has saved the day when the 3.5 ton Trane goes out because a lizard shorted the capacitor! Line of Encouragement: Every small step you take today is a gift of time, calm, and safety you are giving to your future self when the sky turns gray. 2. The Short-Term Crunch: Navigating the Cone of Panic When a hurricane track is locked onto your coordinates and the threat is actively breathing down your neck, your brain goes into survival mode, and that is a chaotic place to be. I have found that this cocktail of fear, overwhelming anxiety, and physical exhaustion makes it incredibly hard to think straight or stay focused on a checklist. Your mind starts racing with "what-ifs," adrenaline spikes and crashes, and suddenly choosing which documents to pack or securing the last window feels like an insurmountable mental hurdle. And in my case, as Director of IT at my job, I had to juggle the home prep with the professional prep required! In these high-stakes moments, the challenge isn't just physical labor; it's managing your own nervous system so you can make rational, decisive moves under extreme pressure. - Mute the noise: Step away from the 24/7 news cycle and social media feeds. Check the official coordinates and updates at set intervals (like the 11:00 or 5:00 advisories) to get the facts without the constant panic loop. I highly recommend you either find one weather station you really like and trust (one that is fact-based and not hype-focused) or stay with the National Hurricane Center updates. - Run on "airplane mode" templates: When panic sets in, don't try to think or improvise. Rely strictly on a pre-written, step-by-step checklist where the thinking has already been done for you. Just execute....

7. 

   3 Jul 2026

   Third Lesson from our Course Hurricane Plan 101 - Is My Home In a Hurricane Evacuation Zone?

   Today's episode is actually the third video lesson in our new course: Hurricane Plan 101 - The Big Question - To Stay or Get-Away. As the title of the course says, it is about empowering you with tools, data, and resources so that you can make the best possible decision about where you will ride our a tropical storm or hurricane, if it hits your area. In this lesson, I walk you thru how to use maps and online tools from emergency management agencies to find out if your home is in hurricane evac zone. This is one of the most important things you can check. I made this for 2 types of users: 1. People who just moved into a new area, perhaps near the coast or a river, who do not know the area. I start at finding your county all the way to the zone. 2. Long time residents who need to look it up as the authorities review and update zones. We will be following up with episodes based on the other lessons over the coming days. I hope you will come to the HunkerDownGuide.com website and sign up for this FREE course https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/courses. It is based on the chapter in my book "Day Before Disaster" - called Step 1 - Answer the Big Question - To Stay Or Get-Away https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/book/

8. 

   3 Jul 2026

   Tropical Thursday on Friday June 3, 2026 - Tropics Calm For July 4th Weekend!

   I hope you are all having a terrific July 4th Holiday. For this year it looks like we are lucky and no threats are looming. In this episode I look at the NHC site and also some looks at the high heat in the Gulf. I hope everyone has a great time with family and friends celebrating our country's 250th birthday! I also do a sneak peak at the new free course here at HunkerDownGuide.com about how to decide if you will shelter in-place or evacuate during a hurricane threat. It is a companion to the Step 1 chapter in my book "Day Before Disaster". As usual, you can watch this on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HunkerDownGuide Or listen on any audio podcast player - search for "Hunker Down Guide".

9. 

   1 Jul 2026

   Lesson from Free Course Hurricane Plan 101 - What is a hurricane evacuation zone?

   Today's episode is actually the second video lesson in our new course: Hurricane Plan 101 - The Big Question - To Stay or Get-Away. As the title of the course says, it is about empowering you with tools, data, and resources so that you can make the best possible decision about where you will ride our a tropical storm or hurricane, if it hits your area. In this lesson, I give examples of the impact of storm surge, and how scientific models are used to create hurricane evacuation zones. We look at some example maps and talk about the way that authorities use these to guide the evacuation decisions for people living in low, coastal areas. We will be following up with episodes based on the other lessons over the coming days. I hope you will come to the HunkerDownGuide.com website and sign up for this FREE course https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/courses. It is based on the chapter in my book "Day Before Disaster" - called Step 1 - Answer the Big Question - To Stay Or Get-Away https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/book/

10. 

    26 Jun 2026

    Jumpstart your prep with "Day Before Disaster - A Procrastinator’s Guide To Hurricane Preparedness"

    I am super excited to share my short video about how I created my book "Day Before Disaster" to help regular, busy people to prepare for hurricane and tropical storm threats. I wrote and illustrated this to be the “missing hurricane manual” everyone needs when one of these mega-storms is threatening. This book is designed to be a comprehensive guide for anyone, from the beginner to the seasoned prepper. It’s 216 pages are chocked full of detailed information and examples from real people who have prepared for and made it through some scary tropical weather. A shout-out to the wonderful and talented team at cine.mamba95@gmail.com who shot and edited this really nice overview. My goal is to reach and help as many people as possible. The book can be found here: https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/book/ The video is at: https://youtu.be/9zgZ1deMwrw

11. 

    25 Jun 2026

    Tropical Thursday - June 25, 2026 - Only 1 Named Storm So Far...Is This Normal?

    Things look calm on the NHC 7 Day Tropical Outlook. As of today, June 26, 2026, we have only had one named storm in the Atlantic side of the 2026 hurricane season. One of the HunkerDownGuide.com members just asked me "Is this normal?" In a nutshell, yes. One named storm by late June is historically normal. June storms typically occur only every one to two years. Saharan dust outbreaks are currently keeping the Atlantic calm. Hostile upper-level winds are actively suppressing tropical development. Maybe the impact of El Nino is starting? But it is the perfect time to start your preps: Review essential items for your hurricane emergency kit. Understand the specific hazards (wind, surge, flooding) that affect your region. Good place to start is taking our FREE Hurricane Plan 101 course at https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/courses

12. 

    25 Jun 2026

    Preview the Intro Lesson to the Free Course - Hurricane Plan 101

    Today's episode is actually the first lesson in our new course: Hurricane Plan 101 - The Big Question - To Stay or Get-Away. As the title of the course says, it is about empowering you with tools, data, and resources so that you can make the best possible decision about where you will ride our a tropical storm or hurricane, if it hits your area. In this lesson, I give an overview of the course and discuss why this is probably the #1 most important decision you will be making. Better to do this when you are calm and have the time to consult the websites, online tools, and even consult with government experts. You will then be able to decide what is your Plan A, and conversely, what is your Plan B. We will be following up with episodes based on the other lessons over the coming days. I hope you will come to the HunkerDownGuide.com website and sign up for this FREE course https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/courses. It is based on the chapter in my book "Day Before Disaster" - called Step 1 - Answer the Big Question - To Stay Or Get-Away https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/book/

13. 

    18 Jun 2026

    Tropical Thursday - June 18, 2026 - The blob became TS Arthur

    In today's episode, I look back at the development of the first Atlantic named storm - Tropical Storm Arthur. In our episode a week ago, Arthur was just an area with a 10% chance and it slowly developed into a rain event for the southeast US. I have this episode posted for comments and updates at https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/space/podcasts/post/tropical-thursday-june-18-2026-the I also do a sneak peak at the new free course here at HunkerDownGuide.com about how to decide if you will shelter in-place or evacuate during a hurricane threat. It is a companion to the Step 1 chapter in my book "Day Before Disaster". The free course is at: https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/courses

14. 

    13 Jun 2026

    Whatever you do, don't come up short of drinking water for your family during and after a hurricane

    In this episode I talk about why it is a great idea to store some emergency water every hurricane season. Clean drinking water is one of those things we take for granted, as in the USA it flows out of every faucet. But a tropical storm of hurricane can easily shut that source down in a moment. Our family had our water essentially cut off with a Boil Water Order for 6 days after hurricane Milton. Did you know that 3 gallons of water weighs as much as 2 bowling balls? Do you know how to figure out how much water each person in your household needs each day? Do you know how many days worth of water you need to keep ready? How long can you store bottled water? I cover it all here.  If you have my book Day Before Disaster, reference this in Step 4, page 63. Join us for discussions on this an all types of hurricane prep topics at https://www.hunkerdownguide.com The post for this episode is:  https://www.hunkerdownguide.com/space/podcasts/post/whatever-you-do-don-t-come-up-short-of

15. 

    11 Jun 2026

    Tropical Thursday - June 11, 2026 - First "blob" in the Atlantic

    In today's episode, I walk thru the long range forecast from the NHC, which it now shows a 10% chance of development over next 7 days. It looks like this mass of storms will likely move off into eastern Mexico this weekend, but we have to stay aware this time of year. As usual, you can watch this on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HunkerDownGuide Or listen on any audio podcast player - search for "Hunker Down Guide".

16. 

    9 Jun 2026

    Lowest Cost Metal Shutters I Have Ever Found!

    I am excited to share a random find I made last week of some really low cost hurricane shutters. I visited one of our local Habitat For Humanity Restore locations and found a mountain of metal shutters for sale. the prices are amazing. The price they are asking is really a fraction of the cost at any big box store. From $11 to $22. Same shutters new would be 3 to 4 times as much. Not sure if they have these at other Restore locations (900 across the US) but definitely worth a try. I cover this in detail in the latest episode. Check out this episode on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@HunkerDownGuide or as an audio podcast on any podcast app. Definitely a source that will get snapped up as soon as the first storm threatens later in the season.

17. 

    4 Jun 2026

    Tropical Thursday - June 4, 2026 - A look at current and future conditions

    Every Thursday we will do an episode on what is happening in the tropics. Today, June 4, 2026,  I show how to keep an awareness of the tropical weather outlook using official maps. I have a collection of resources on the HunkerDownGuide.com website, and I walk thru some of these in today's show. Everyone is welcome to visit the site and try these yourself. On the site here, look at the left menu, under the Tropical Weather section. Click on the Hurricane Tracking Room. We will do these tropical weather shows more often, once storms begin to form. There is a video version of this episode at https://youtu.be/CRCJOqceVWo?si=1nOakSDRWj4yasJy

18. 

    1 Jun 2026

    What does the 2026 hurricane season have in common with a campfire?

    June 1st officially opens the 2026 Hurricane Season. Well, June 1 is in the Atlantic Ocean, but in the Eastern Pacific it starts May 15. For both these regions that affect the United States, the season ends on November 30th. So we roughly have 6 months ahead of us. Hurricanes can actually form outside of that 6 month period, but historically, 97% of them fall inside it. There is a terrific graphic of the seasonal tropical activity to give you an idea of when the tropics are most active. They call these the campfire graphs. Atlantic: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/images/2021climo/AtlanticCampfire.png Paacific: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/images/2021climo/PacificCampfire.png September is usually the peak month. From a preparedness standpoint, these graphs tell us a few things. If you are early in the season, you have time to do some planning and preparation work. But keep in mind that a storm can (and often will) form up quickly at any time. If you approaching or in the second half of the season, better get your plans and preps completed. Remember, before a hurricane actually hits your area, there is still time to make and execute a plan. Join us at HunkerDownGuide.com as we explore the steps and actions you need to take to prepare and protect your family, home, pets, and property.

19. 

    22 Apr 2025

    Got to start somewhere on our journey to preparedness

    Hi. My name is Jamie Robe, your host. I would like to talk directly with you... one-on-one... for just a minute or so... to find out if this podcast is for you. Does it seem to you that extreme winter storms, 100+ degree temperatures, devastating floods and forest fires, EF-5 tornados, and even CAT 5 hurricanes are no longer a one-in-a-thousand-year or even one-in-a-hundred-year events? And does this scares you, in your gut feelings, as you ask yourself... "how do I protect myself, my family, my pets, my home?". You are not alone. I have lived my whole life in a region where threats can come every year... in my case, mostly tropical storms and hurricanes. But no matter where you live, there is a chance that you and your family could be affected by a nature disaster, like a hurricane, tornado, blizzard, firestorm, or earthquake - or even by man-made disasters like a hazardous material spill, nuclear accident, or terror attack. In this podcast we explore practical preparations and planning techniques that every-day people can do now to help them survive. And I personally like to add in the concept of - survive to thrive. If you have been meaning to create your own plan, buy some emergency food and supplies, or figure out a power backup system you could afford, then join us and start taking action now. Even if it is the day before disaster, you can still gather critically important things that may make a big difference if you actually take a hit. Again, this is not a bunch of theory. This is real-world education, for real people. People who want to take action, to reduce stress and reduce risk. If this resonates with you, then please join us. This isn't a simple topic, but we can acknowledge the strong feelings that disasters and even disaster planning can bring up. In fact, we can leverage our emotions... as we learn from each other, in a calm, logical approach. From my own personal experiences preparing for hurricanes for decades and then unfortunately riding out the real deal, I know that together we are stronger. So if this makes sense to you, I hope you will subscribe and join us. You can also visit us at https://HunkerDownGuide.comThanks for listening.

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Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100

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