Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricanes
Hurricanes have become more and more prevalent with 2021 closing out as a record sixth-consecutive year of above-normal activity. With storm activity on the rise and the season just a week away we are sharing insight on hurricane preparedness.
Prior to Evacuation
It is important to do the following prior to a storm.
Photograph your home. Take one photo of the front, left, right and rear of the home. Take a photo from the door way of the room, ceiling and flooring prior to the storm. This will help you prove damages were storm related.
Check your Insurance Policy - Understand you need to call to file a claim and put a secondary number on file as communication may be interrupted due towers damage.
Set up a phone tree, chat group or email chain that you can keep tabs on your friends and family. This helps limit communication and time necessary for internet which may be severely limited.
Hurricane Kits
It is important to create a kit of supplies that you could take with you if you are forced to evacuate. This kit will also be useful if you are able to stay in your home, but are still affected by the storm, such as through the loss of power. One common trend seen when hurricanes are approaching is a wide-spread panic. When this happens, people rush in large numbers to get all the supplies they think they need. However, if you prepare your kit ahead of time, you can alleviate a lot of the potential stress of a very chaotic situation. You should create your kit in a bag that you can easily take with you. Some recommended items to include are:
Non-perishable food (enough to last at least 3 days)
Water (enough to last at least 3 days)
First-aid kit
Prescription medications
Personal hygiene items and toiletries
Flashlights with extra batteries.
Important documents (wills, deeds, birth certificates, insurance documents)
Manual can opener
Candles and or battery powered lantern
Propane grill or cook top
Lighter or matches
Pet supplies
Books, magazines etc for car rides.
Cooler and ice packs
A plan for evacuation and separation due to road closures.
Securing Your Home
Know how to secure your home in the event of damaging winds, storm surge and flooding.
Cover all of your windows, either with hurricane shutters or wood.
Tape your windows if you do not have shutters.
Trim trees and shrubs and clear rain gutters.
Bring in all outdoor furniture, garbage cans, decorations, and anything else that is not tied down.
If winds become strong, stay away from windows and doors and close, secure and brace internal doors.
Make sure to unplug electronics such as televisions, stereos, computers and gaming devices.
Power Outages
In the event a storm should leave you without power, there are a few things to consider and help you be ready and stay safe outside of your normal hurricane preparedness.
Gas: Make sure your tank is full far in advance of an approaching storm. Most people wait until the last minute, rush to get extra gas for cars and generators, and subsequently gas stations can run out early. You can expect long lines and stations to be out of gas or unable to pump because of power outages. So have at least 1 back up can and secure it properly.
CASH: ATM’s, gas stations and restaurants my not be working due to power and communications lines being down. Prepare to have enough cash to get 2 tanks of gas and food for evacuation.
Cell Phones: Charge your cell phone and portable charging bricks and limit phone time to communication with your family, friends and the insurance company.
A/C: One of the most difficult parts of returning after a storm is not having AC. You will want to limit sunlight into the home and keep fans running only while in the room or for drying out of the property. When your power returns you will want to crank the AC. First you will want to make sure that the condenser unit is not damaged. If the unit is damaged do not attempt to use it. Secondly, although you will be tempted to do so, do not immediately drop the temperature to 68 degrees after a storm. There is a good chance you will over-tax the system leading to overflows of the emergency pans, damage to the control board or even damage . Try to prevent as much light from entering and warming the house by covering up your windows on the inside. If you have back-up or battery operated fans, don't run them unless you are in the room. Fans create a difference in perceived temperature but do not cool the room; instead they create a cooling effect by dispersing the heat off your skin. It is said they can actually add heat to a room just by running.
Water: For washing and flushing only you can fill a tub with water. For drinkable water, we recommend placing gallons of water in the freezer. These frozen gallons can be pulled into a cooler, or left to thaw. Count on a boil water advisory as the pump stations and water treatment plants may also be experiencing power outages. The frozen gallons moved to the fridge or stored in the freezer will help keep foods from perishing as well.
Food: Turn your fridge temp down and freeze food if possible, for more on this check: Freezing and Food Safety. Also, take a photo of your fridge and freezer as documentation for your food loss should it occur. If your power is out for an extended period of time (like with Katrina) they fridge may need to be shut/ taped and discarded. Document any food you have acquired from hunting prior to evacuation. Finally, when throwing out perishable items check: http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/refridg_food.html
Power Outages and safety: The CDC guide: Power Outages
Knowledge is power and knowing the cycle of a cyclone - Approach, Arrival & Aftermath can help you plan evacuation routes. Prepare ahead of time and listen to the directions of officials for the approach. Secure your home, or find a safe shelter for its arrival, and know how to proceed safely during the aftermath.
