It’s important to prepare for a hurricane long before severe weather is forecast for your area. Here are some easy steps to prepare for hurricanes and tornadoes.
Basic Preparations
Always have these items on hand during hurricanes or other emergencies:
- Food and Water: It’s important to stockpile drinking water and nonperishable food. Choose products that you can eat without cooking, and rotate food items in your pantry to keep them fresh. Also, keep a manual can opener on hand and stock up on pet food. When a hurricane heads your way, line bathtubs with plastic and fill them with water to use for bathing and flushing toilets.
- Fuel: Following a natural disaster, a gas grill might be the only cooking method available. Make sure the propane tank is full, and keep spare propane on hand. Also, if a hurricane is near, don’t wait until the last minute to top off your car’s gas tank — fill several approved gas cans as well. But be safe about it — never store gasoline in your home or near an ignition source such as a gas water heater.
- Lighting: You’ll need several flashlights and plenty of batteries. Also, portable battery-powered lamps are available in incandescent and fluorescent versions. Due to the increased risk of fire, avoid using candles. If you must use them, don’t leave candles unattended, and keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Information: After a natural disaster, a battery-powered weather radio and AM/FM radio are your lifelines to the outside world. Battery-powered televisions also are useful during and after hurricanes.
- Communication: Charge cell phones and keep a portable charger that you can plug into your car. Also, have a telephone that does not require electricity to operate.
- Medical Supplies: Fill prescriptions in advance and keep a first aid kit handy. Stock up on supplies like toilet paper, hand sanitizer and disposable diapers.
- Money: When the power is off after a natural disaster, cash is often the only method of payment. Keep smaller bills and coins on hand, since some stores may not provide change.
- Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Have battery-operated models that will work when the electricity is out.
- Tarps and Tape: Stock up on tarps, rolls of plastic, rope, and duct tape to use for emergency repairs after the storm.
- Tools: Charge cordless tools and make sure you have adequate hand tools to use while the power is out. A gas-powered chain saw comes in handy after the storm, but it can also result in serious injuries when emergency help might not be able to reach you.
Getting Ready for a Hurricane
While many hurricanes strike without warning, people in the storm’s path often have time to prepare. Here are some things to consider:
- Yard: Bring any lawn furniture, grills, bikes, toys, garbage cans, potted plants, and other loose items inside or store them in a garage or storage shed.
- Windows: Remove screens from the windows. If available, screw 5/8-inch thick exterior plywood over them.
- Trees: Trim overhanging limbs away from the house.
- Boats: Take tarps off boats. Then, remove any loose items and tie them down securely.
- Cars: Park cars away from trees and power lines.
- Utilities: Locate cut-offs for gas, electricity, and water. Have adequate tools on hand to turn them off if necessary.
Evacuation from Severe Weather
Most hurricane-related deaths are caused by rising water from rainfall, which can occur far inland from the coast.
So, if you live in a flood-prone area, be prepared to evacuate well before the storm arrives.
Also, store the following information and documents in a plastic bag or waterproof container to take with you when you leave:
- Insurance Policies: Car, homeowner’s, boat and life insurance policies.
- Financial Records: Statements from checking and savings accounts, stocks and bonds, loans and retirement plans. Also, grab your checkbook and keys to safe deposit boxes along with ATM and credit cards.
- Medical Records: Include allergies to medications and medical histories for each family member.
- Personal Identification: Birth certificates, Social Security cards, computer passwords, and contact information of friends and relatives.
- Household Inventory: A recent list of your home’s contents, along with photographs, will be invaluable when dealing with the insurance company. A DVD or videotape of your home and possessions is also helpful. (See Documenting Your Valuables)
The only thing worse than having your sensitive personal information destroyed in a storm is for it to be lost or fall into the wrong hands. Guard it carefully on the road and in shelters.
Other important items to take include sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, extra clothes, and a carrying cage and leash for pets.
Finally, if you have extra room, consider including irreplaceable items like family photo albums and scrapbooks.
