FLASH

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes has excellent information and ideas for protecting your home.

Hurricane Preparation

Being prepared can reduce fear during an emergency and decrease losses that accompany disasters.

This page will focus on various things you can do to prepare for a hurricane, however these same steps will help you with all the natural disasters we mentioned.

Before Hurricane Season Begins

Check Your Existing Supplies:

There are a number of items that you should check early and make sure that they are functional. When a storm is approaching you will usually be too busy to get these fixed or replaced.

  • Make sure generator is still working.
  • Check condition of chain saws.
  • Inspect sleeping bags for mildew or tears.
  • Make sure lanterns are still working.

Hurricane Box:

A hurricane box is a box (water tight plastic preferred) of emergency supplies used exclusively for hurricane preparation.

High Priority items:
  • Flashlight(s)
  • Radio (battery powered)
  • Batteries.
  • Can opener.
  • Candles.
  • Matches and lighter (disposable).
  • Paper plates and cups.
  • First aid kit.
  • Duct tape.
  • Toilet paper
  • Household medicines (aspirin, Peptobysmol, eye drops, ...)
  • Wet wipes and sanitizing gel
  • Trash bags
  • Work gloves
  • Rope
  • Sterno

Critical Document Folder:

Create a folder for storing copies of all your critical personal and insurance documents.

  • Birth and Marrige certificates
  • Social security cards
  • Bank account records
  • Home inventory list and/or pictures
  • Proof of residence (utility or other bill)
  • Passports
  • Homeowners insurance information
  • Car titles
  • Medical information (prescriptions, doctors names & numbers)
  • Drivers licence and credit card information
These can be kept in a standard binder and plastic page protectors can be used to easily access and protect your papers.

When a Hurricane is Possible - (Preparation Mode)

If a hurricane is about 4-5 days away and you are still in the possible region that may be hit you should go into preparation mode and act on the assumption that it will hit.

Run Errands:

Now is the time to run errands! Critical items will get harder to find, lines will get longer, and many places will shut down so that they can prepare.

  • Get gas in all cars and in containers for generators
  • Get some cash and some travelers checks - (if power is lost many places will not take credit or debit cards)
  • Purchase some non-perishable food items
  • Make sure your hurricane box is ready (do you need batteries?)
  • If you have a pool fill up containers of chlorine

Outside Prep:

These are items that may take a bit more time and should not be left to the last minute. Do not put limbs or trash down by the side of the road unless you expect the trash to be picked up before the storm.

  • Wrap and tie landscaping plants with a towel and rope
  • Clear any limbs that may rub or hit the house in heavy winds
  • Take down dead limbs that will get blown off in heavy wind
  • if you have a fireplace make sure the damper is closed

Inside Prep:

Remember that following a storm you may not have any power at your home or anywhere nearby for several days and possibly weeks.

  • Wash laundry
  • Take care of any bills that may be due soon.

When a Hurricane is Emminant - (Lockdown Mode)

The hurricane is 2-3 days away and you are still in a region that may be hit. You should now go into a Lockdown Mode. Focus on your house and stay off the roads if possible. If you haven't already done so, you will need to make a decision about evacuating. Prepare to evacuate even if you do not plan to. If conditions change or you change your mind you need to be ready to go quickly.

Outside:

Time to focus on the items that will be an inconvienience but are critical for the safety of your house.

  • Install hurricane shutters
  • Tie down loose objects (garbage cans, lawn furniture)
  • Bring potted plants inside or into the garage
  • Drain about 6 inches of water out of pool to allow for heavy rainfall
  • Add extra chlorine to the pool (if power goes off your pool pump will not be working)

Inside:

Even though items are "inside", there is always the possibility that your house may be damaged. Wind, water and debris may still get in and cause problems.

  • Reinforce inward opening doors
  • Use duct tape to seal sliding windows where panels come together and may leak
  • Wrap valuable pictures or electronic items with plastic bags and make sure they are off the floor
  • Turn the refridgerator down to its lowest setting. Drop about one setting every 12 hours.

Evacuation: What to do before you walk out the door

If you do decide to evacuate you want to leave your house as safe as possible.

  • Unplug electrical items
  • Shut off non-critical electric circuits (leave refridgerator on)
  • If your house uses gas, shut off the outside gas line
  • Make sure all doors and windows are locked