Update 5/4/2020: It is Hurricane Preparedness Week. Hurricane season is beginning soon. It runs from June 1 to November 31. The Atlantic and Gulf are heating up. Now is the time to take my post to heart. Prepare now, not when your area is under a watch or warning. If you have any questions or comments, leave me a comment.
Living in Central Florida for 30+ years sometimes makes me feel like a hurricane veteran. Growing up my father had a deep interest in everything weather-related, partly because he teaches meteorology at the local college. People seek him out and ask his opinion. Are we going to get hit? That interest rubbed off on me. Today, my friends look to me for weather advice. I’ve turned into my father. Ha, ha!
In those 30+ years, I’ve lived through a fair share of tropical storms and hurricanes. Some so small you hardly knew a storm was striking. Some so large and scary you weren’t sure if the house would survive the storm. I’ve learned a lot over the years. So, today I bring you My 13 Tips for Hurricane Season.
Before the storm…
1. Prepare before the storm.
When summer arrives stock up on non-perishable foods like can meats, fruits and vegetables, crackers, shelf-stable milk, and granola bars. If a storm approaches your area you will want at least a week’s worth of food for every person. Get your bottled water early. It always seems to run out when a storm is approaching. Don’t forget your hurricane supplies like batteries, tarps, flashlights, can openers, a first aid kit, and an ax. Have a way to cook without power, like a propane stove. And get bug spray! Rain brings bugs, lots of bugs.
Update 5/5/2020: With the introduction of Covid-19 into our world we now must add face masks and cleaning supplies (Clorox wipes) to our hurricane kits. Also, make sure to have a minimum of a week’s worth of medicines on hand if a storm threatens.
Ready.gov/hurricanes has a great disaster supply kit list.
It would also be wise to clean up the yard. Clear away broken limbs. Put away unnecessary items that may blow away. Sharpen your saws and axes.
If you have hurricane shutters, do you have all the pieces needed to install them? Do you know how to install them properly? Plywood and fasteners run out quickly once a storm is approaching. Taping windows has been proven not to help.
Do you have a generator? Before a storm comes, make sure it runs properly and that you have plenty of gas to run it. Lines at the gas station will be very long once a storm is predicted. Many stations will run out of gas.
2. Have a plan
Prepare your hurricane plan. What size storm will make you evacuate? Where will you go? Know the route to evacuate. If you’re staying, what do you need to do to prepare to ride out the storm? How will you prep your house and yard? What happens when you return? Are you ready for the power and water to be off?
Know which neighbors are staying in case their house is seriously damaged you will know whether to search for them inside. If they are staying, consider using 2-way radios to stay in touch. Make sure you have their contact information.
Have a plan to connect with your family and close friends after the storm.
3. Follow the experts.
Know who to trust on social media, television, and radio. When the power goes out, have a way to get information from a radio. Cell service may be spotty, so don’t rely solely on your phone. Frequently, SMS is more reliable than talk and data. Before a storm strikes listen to your local emergency management, they are there to keep you safe.
On the internet and social media, I like to follow my local news station, The National Hurricane Center, The National Weather Service, Mike’s Weather Page, and Tropical Tidbits.
Find out if your local community sends out emergency alert notifications. If they do, sign up. If you don’t want to get notifications on your cell phone, then at least have a battery-powered weather radio handy. Have a way to be alerted to tornadoes or other emergencies.
If a hurricane is approaching your area…
4. Prepare a safe room.
Where is the safe room in your house? A safe place you can go if the storm gets really bad or a tornado is approaching. Stock your safe room with essentials like food, water, flashlights, blankets, and a radio. You may be in there a while.
5. Take pictures.
Take pictures of every room in your house and all sides of the outside. After the storm, you won’t know what will be left or damaged. Pictures give you proof of pre-storm conditions. Your insurance may need them if you make a claim.
6. Fill your car with gas.
The gas station lines will be long. Many will run out of gas. After the storm, many stations won’t have power. Get the gas you need early.
7. Turn down the temperature.
Turn down the temperature in your freezer and refrigerator. If the power goes out, you want it to stay as cold as possible for as long as possible. Also, turn down your house’s air conditioner. Freeze your family! It may be the last time they feel cool temperatures for a while.
After the storm passes, try to keep doors and blinds closed as much as possible. It will help your house stay cool. After a day or so, the house will warm up. If you don’t have a generator you’ll want to cover your freezer and refrigerator with a comforter or quilt to help it stay as cold as possible. Open it as infrequently as you can. You will want to eat your refrigerated and frozen food first. No one knows how long your power could be out.
8. Freeze water.
Freezing bags and jugs of water will help keep your freezer cold when the power goes out. Plus, it will provide you with clean drinking water after the storm.
9. Fill your bathtub.
In all the storms I’ve lived through we have never had an issue with the water supply. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. We’re always prepared for the worst. We fill our bathtubs with water before every storm. If the water supply is shut off, you need water to flush toilets.
Also, fill lots of water containers. Not only will you need water to drink, but you’ll also need water to bathe. You can never have too much water!
10. Do your laundry.
If the power is out for days, you are going to need clean clothes. Make sure everything is clean before the storm.
11. Have cash.
If the power is out, you won’t be able to use debit or credit cards. Make sure you have plenty of cash on hand.
12. Keep your important papers in the dishwasher.
If you’re really worried about water intruding your house and you don’t have your important papers stored in a waterproof safe, put them in the dishwasher. No water will get in. Just remember to take them out before running the dishwasher.
13. Charge your cell phone.
With a storm bearing down, the power could go off at any moment. Have all your devices charging before that happens. Also, have a car charger handy. If the power is out, it may be your only way to charge your phone.
Tropical storms and hurricanes can be very scary, but if you are prepared you will be better off. Do you have any tips to add to my list?
To read more about my experience with a hurricane check out Hurricane Irma was a Scary Storm.
Disclaimer: The opinions listed in this post are strictly my own. I did not receive compensation for this post. I am not an expert. If a storm approaches, please follow the advice given by your local emergency management.
I appreciated the tip you shared about filling your bathtub so you have lots of extra water, I had never thought of this. I just moved to an area that is super prone to hurricanes. I’d like to get some storm shutters to keep my windows safe during one.
Thank you for the tip to take pictures of your home and everything inside and out to prep for a hurricane. I think one thing that would definitely help is installing hurricane screens on your windows. Something tells me that every little bit helps when it comes to hurricane preparedness.