How to Prepare Before Hurricane Season

The best time to start preparing to weather a storm is well before it hits. Before hurricane season arrives, families should take these steps:

Step One: Create a Storm Plan

The most important aspect of hurricane preparedness is to have a plan in place before the storm hits. For most, that means knowing when and where to evacuate and how to prepare the house before leaving to minimize potential damage. 

Even for those who plan to leave town at the first sign of a hurricane forming, though, an emergency preparedness plan should cover every possibility, which means it should also cover what happens if the family shelters in place. Everyone should know where to gather if they get separated before, during, or after the storm and how to access things like emergency food supplies and clean water.

Emergency preparedness plans should also include contact numbers for both local emergency response services and a friend or family member from out of town whose number is guaranteed not to get disconnected. Finally, read through the rest of this article to learn about essential details of planning for a serious storm such as how to prepare the home, when to evacuate, and what to do after the hurricane is over.

Step Two: Stock Emergency Supply Kits

Whether families evacuate or shelter in place during a hurricane, they’ll need certain supplies to stay safe and healthy. Keep them in an emergency supply kit that doesn’t get touched except when hurricanes or other serious storms hit to make sure everything will be ready.

A standard emergency supply kit should include non-perishable food, a filter such as The Berkey for producing clean water, and a supply of each family member’s essential medications. Doctors usually recommend keeping a month’s worth of each of them since pharmacies may not be open after the storm. If the family has very young children, include some formula, as well. If there are pets, include dog or cat food. An emergency kit for sheltering in place should help families survive at least two weeks without power, clean water, or access to stores.

Remember that it can take several days for the aftermath of a storm to be resolved. That means an emergency kit needs to cover all the basics for at least three or four days. If the power goes out, flashlights or headlamps for every member of the family are essential. Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kit, as well, plus necessary safety and hygiene items like wet wipes, and hand sanitizer.

Some families keep separate emergency kits in the trunks of their cars or easy-to-access places inside their homes called go-bags. These individual kits should include all the basics such as a personal supply of food, water, and medications, plus a small first aid kit. They should also include copies of the owner’s important documents like passports, wills, and medical records, plus a change of clothes. Keep in mind that in a worst-case scenario, family members may wind up having to carry go-bags out on foot so they need to be light.

Step Three: Learn How to Prepare the Home

There are some steps property owners can take to protect their houses at any time. They include making alterations to the home or landscape such as:

•  Trimming or removing nearby trees that could fall on the roof.
• Installing permanent storm shutters to protect the windows.
• Keeping gutters and downspouts clean and free from debris.
• Installing a sump pump.
• Elevating the essential components of heating and electrical systems above potential storm surges.

Some people also add pre-cut plywood sheets over their windows for extra protection and collect protective materials like sandbags and plastic sheeting that can protect against water damage. Before the storm hits, be sure to secure outdoor furniture, trash cans, propane tanks, grills, and other items so the wind can’t pick them up.

Step Four: Learn Emergency Preparedness Skills

Some people like to go a step further before hurricane season starts and learn relevant emergency preparedness skills. Learning basic first aid is a good example. The best way to do so is to take a training seminar. However, organizations like the CDC also offer basic information about things like wound care, injury prevention, infectious disease management, and other important topics online. Reading through a few articles won’t replace intensive training, but it can still help.

Evacuating vs. Sheltering in Place

The simplest and best way to decide when to evacuate instead of sheltering in place at home is to pay attention to emergency broadcasts, reports, and messages. If the authorities are issuing orders to evacuate, everyone should take those seriously. Staying home to protect a house is never worth risking the health and safety of the family. The only exception to when people should shelter in place instead of following evacuation orders is if the driving conditions are dangerous enough to make it safer to stay home.

Steps to Take After Receiving an Evacuation Order

Getting an evacuation order can be scary. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare makes it easier to stay calm, though. Don’t panic. Just take these simple steps:

1.  The first step is to load the family’s emergency supply kit into the car. Aside from the basics covered in that kit, people should only bring things they need, such as cell phones and chargers, medications, a form of identification, and some cash. 
2. Unplug the appliances and turn off the electricity, gas, and water.
3. Follow the evacuation route, even if there’s traffic, to avoid flooded or blocked roads. Keep in mind that it takes just six inches of moving water to leave a car stalled out or even sweep it off the road.

Have someone in the car get in touch with the family’s emergency contact or call the local emergency management office to ask about accommodations for people who are evacuating.

What to Do When Sheltering in Place

Local authorities don’t always issue evacuation orders. If they don’t, it’s up to each family to decide whether to leave for higher ground or stay to protect their homes and belongings. In some cases, sheltering in place may also be the only option, such as if all of the roads into town have already been flooded or washed out. Here’s what to do:

•  Stay inside, even if the weather currently looks calm. The eye of a storm is always calm, but the wall of winds that swirls around it often causes the worst devastation.
• Stay away from windows.
• Pay attention to radio and TV updates.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for portable generators if the power goes out.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed to delay food spoilage in an outage.
• Be ready to leave if the home gets severely damaged or the authorities issue an evacuation order.

Keep the family’s emergency supply kit easily accessible and put together so it’s easy to grab in case of an evacuation.

What to Do After a Hurricane

Whether families have evacuated and are returning home after the storm or leaving the safety of their shelters upon receiving word from the authorities that it’s safe to do so, they also need to take steps to ensure their health and safety after a hurricane. The first is to continue paying attention to the news or emergency broadcasts. There could be flooded roads, downed power lines, or other potentially dangerous obstacles, which are usually reported on local stations.

When evaluating the property, be wary of not just downed power lines but also broken or damaged gas lines. Other hazards found in or around homes could include sharp, broken objects like glass, damaged tree limbs, and unstable structures. Families that are returning home after evacuating to find serious damage to their properties should wait until a trained professional deems it safe to enter.

Most families want to start fixing up their houses as soon as the storm is over, which is usually fine. Just be careful of potential safety hazards and be sure to wear appropriate clothing. Homeowners should also keep track of damage to their personal property as they go. If there’s structural damage to the home and it’s not safe to move back in, families should call their homeowners’ insurance companies immediately to find out about temporary accommodations. If not, they can start dealing with the damage to their belongings by taking an inventory of everything destroyed by the storm.

Preparing for the Worst Leaves Everyone in a Better Position

Taking all of the hurricane preparedness steps above requires substantial work, especially for homeowners who need to find ways to stormproof their properties in addition to creating emergency plans, putting together kits, and learning basic skills. When a hurricane is about to hit, there’s not always enough warning to prepare thoroughly, though. Preparing for the worst now leaves everyone in a better position should a serious storm roll through.

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