Hurricanes and wild fires are some of the most devastating, and costly, natural disasters known to man. However, with a hurricane, you can prepare for it. By preparing your home and family before a hurricane occurs, and knowing how to react after a storm has passed, are fundamental to helping you to protect your property and keep you and your loved ones safe and secure.
The week before the hurricane
Be prepared, save your life: There are lots of hurricane models that will predict the path of the hurricane, but it’s just a prediction. Nothing will replace common sense, being prepared and including evacuating.
Listen to the authorities: The local state and governmental agencies will often give the best advice – but they can often be wrong like Lee County during Hurricane Ian when they issued the evacuation warning late. However, you need to know what works best for you as sometimes you need more time to prep for your dogs or large family.
Essentials and supplies: Do you need medication daily, specific diet, drinking water, and food for the pantry. Get those things weeks before as the hurricane is expected to make landfall as you can anticipate lots of people rushing to the store to get the essentials, or sometimes beer.
Evacuating for a hurricane
If you decide to leave before a hurricane, what do you need to do so that you get away from the impact area safely.
Time: Allow yourself ample time to leave and get to the destination with time to spare knowing that lots of people will be doing the same thing. Build an additional 5 hour buffer and listen to the news on road conditions, traffic and highway closures.
Secure your home: Whether you rent, or own – secure everything. The last thing you want is a lawn chair in the living room cos it flew through the windows and leaving thousands in damages. Remove anything that can fly, and if you have hurricane shutters – it’s time to test it.
Pets, kids and family: When traveling with pets, kids and older family member. Know that it will take some patience and with the stress from the maniacs on the roads that are trying to escape the hurricane – have a few cups of tea and patience. Bring games, and know that more frequent pit stops might be necessary.
Transportation and gas: Have a reliable transportation that can get you to your destination and also at least a full tank of gas. If you don’t – talk to your neighbors and see if they can help. If not, call the city non-emergency line or the police non-emergency line for transportation option. Lastly, if you drive an electric car like Tesla, you might want to consider charging before and the destination chargers might be full and unavailable.
Staying for a hurricane
Pay attention to local weather reports on radio or television, to have a secure room to take refuge, and to have plenty of non-perishable food and water available. Know that electricity will go out, there be little to no emergency service that will get to you and also phone service might be unavailable.
Here are things you want to address the night before the storm if you are hunkering in your home.
- Ensure that you know where your disaster supply kit – The kit that you build should sustain you and those in your household for at least 72 hours. Beyond the disaster supply kit, it might be a good idea to get a first aid kit.
- Home walk through to check if garden furniture and fixtures – Bring inside all garbage receptacles, garden hoses (disconnected from hose bib), outdoor patio plants, pots, chairs, tables, furniture, and pool cleaning equipment.
- Move all furniture away from the windows, cover it or move it to rooms that are least likely to receive damage.
- Computer and files – Back up important documents on a jump drive and cloud storage.
- Take pictures of your property – With the most recent pictures, this might come in handy in the event that you do have some damage and insurance company storm adjusters might need it.
- Emergency plan – Review your emergency plan with your family and friends about how to contact each other and where to reconnect should disaster strike when you are not together.
Do checkout the other blog post about Hurricane Preparation for landlords and renters.
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