Preparing for a Hurricane: What You Need to Know
This blog post is here to help you prepare for the next hurricane that will happen in your area.
Whether it be a category one or five, there are some things that you need to know about before the storm hits.
We will go over what supplies you should have on hand and how to prepare your home so that it can withstand the powerful winds of a hurricane.
Hurricane Preparation Checklist
The importance of being prepared for a hurricane is the difference between life and death. It’s important to put together the most essential items before a storm hits. Your preparation checklist should include water, non-perishable food items (canned goods), first aid supplies, and batteries for radios/flashlights.
Having these necessary items will help you last through the disaster so that you can wait out the hurricane in your home instead of having to venture out into the floodwaters.
You should also make sure you have flashlights, candles, and matches on hand in case of a power outage during or after the storm. You will need these for light if there are no working street lights left when you leave your home to go somewhere safe. Don’t forget about having extra batteries too!
It is also a good idea to have sandbags on hand so that you can block your home’s entrances if the floodwaters get too high. You don’t want water coming into your house and ruining all of your belongings!
You should also put together an emergency kit for each family member just in case they are stuck at school or work while this is happening. Make sure to include the items that you will need for an unexpected overnight trip outside of your home with food, water, and medications if needed.
You should also make a list of all important phone numbers including family members’ houses, doctors/hospitals in case someone gets injured during the storm or power outage, insurance companies, and your neighborhood block captain.
If you have any pets, make sure to put together an emergency kit for them as well! They will need food, medication, and medications just in case they are stuck outside during the storm. Make sure to bring your pet’s leash so that you can take it with you if necessary too!
How to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane
You should already have a plan in place for the route that you will take when going out to go somewhere safe during a hurricane. Make sure everyone is aware of where they need to be and what time they should leave your home so that no one gets caught outside in dangerous storm conditions.
Be prepared for flash floods from heavy rainfalls from the hurricane and for power outages if the storm causes a lot of damage to your home.
If you live in an area that is prone to floods, make sure not to climb into your attic during flooding because this can cause serious injury or death (it’s like drowning twice!)
If you have wood shutter windows, remove them before the hurricane hits so that they don’t become projectiles in the wind and break your windows! You should also bring inside all outdoor furniture, decorations, or anything else that can be picked up by strong winds.
Make sure to board up your windows if you do not have shutters before a hurricane hits so that glass is prevented from breaking everywhere when it does. If there are any windows in your home that cannot be boarded up, you should tape them up with duct or masking tape.
You also want to make sure that all doors and windows are securely closed before the storm starts and anything loose outside is put away (grills/decorative yard items).
If there is something like a trampoline or gazebo in your yard, you should take it down or tie it to a strong tree so that there is no chance of it flying away and injuring someone.
Make sure to bring any items indoors like lawn furniture, children’s play equipment, and trash cans (and anything else that could become projectiles) before the storm starts too!
Final Notes:
Hurricanes are very dangerous and they can be deadly if people don’t have a plan in place before the hurricane hits.
Don’t forget to keep all of these tips in mind when preparing for a forecasted hurricane!
These items will help you last through the disaster so that you can wait out the hurricane in your home instead of having to venture out into the flood.
Please make sure that everyone in your home knows what they should do if you are separated during the hurricane and go over this plan with your kids so that they feel safe and know what to do in case the worst happens!
