Why Hydration Matters Before, During, and After a Storm
When a storm is tracking toward Jupiter, FL, water usually lands on the checklist as something to store rather than something to keep drinking. Both matter. Storm prep and cleanup are physically demanding work, often done in heat and humidity with no air conditioning, and how well you keep up on fluids affects how well you get through it.
- Circulation and stamina. Losing fluid reduces blood volume, which means the heart has to move a smaller supply of blood to deliver the same oxygen to your tissues. That is one reason hauling shutters, shifting furniture, or climbing stairs can feel disproportionately hard when you have not been drinking enough.
- Temperature regulation. Anyone who has ridden out a Florida power outage knows how quickly a closed-up house turns into an oven. Your body sheds heat by widening the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, which is why your face flushes when you exert yourself. When you are dehydrated, it takes a higher environmental temperature to trigger that response, so heat lingers longer. Keeping ahead on fluids helps that cooling system do its job.
- Joint and muscle comfort. Fluid cushions the joints and supports working muscle. Days of lifting, dragging debris, and bending at awkward angles are easier on the body when you are not running dry.
- Kidney function and waste clearance. Your kidneys need fluid to filter waste out of the blood and pass it in urine, and adequate intake supports normal urinary and kidney function. Severe dehydration can impair how well the kidneys work. Between disrupted meal schedules, pantry snacking, and storm stress, this is not the week to shortchange it.
Of course, you have to actually have water on hand to get any of this. Below are some hurricane hydration and water-related tips we have gathered over the years for getting through a storm on the Treasure Coast and in Palm Beach County:
- Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days.
- Do not forget your pets. Freezing plastic storage bags of tap water gives you drinking water for your best friends and helps keep the freezer cold once the power goes out.
- Fill your bathtub so you have water for flushing toilets.
- Turn your washing machine into a cooler by filling it with ice and beverages.
- Tape a flashlight to the bottom of a full water bottle and you have a usable lantern.
We hope these hurricane hydration tips help with your storm preparation. For official guidance, visit the National Hurricane Center's preparedness page, and stay tuned to your local news stations for storm updates. RevitalIV reopens as soon as it is safe to do so after a storm, and our IV hydration and vitamin infusions are available for anyone looking to rehydrate and replenish once things settle down. For patients who would rather not drive through debris, we also offer mobile IV treatments throughout the area. Watch our social pages for updated hours of operation. Our thoughts are with everyone in the path of the storm.
Book at RevitalIV in Jupiter, FL
RevitalIV is located at 1317 W Indiantown Rd, Suite 100, Jupiter, FL 33458, serving patients from Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, and across Palm Beach County. Call (561) 406-2202 or book a consultation.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary. Consult a licensed healthcare provider about your individual health situation.
