HOW TO PREPARE FOR TROPICAL STORMS & HURRICANES

Before every hurricane and tropical storm season, you should prepare your Emergency Preparedness Plan. Some important things to consider include creating an emergency supplies kit, making a list of emergency contact numbers, identifying evacuation shelters including pet-friendly ones, and mapping out the best routes to get there.

In the event of a hurricane warning, be ready for orders to either stay home or to evacuate. Never ignore a stay home order or an evacuation order as these are put in place for your safety.

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A WATCH VS A WARNING

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible, whereas a hurricane warning is more serious and serves as a definitive prompt for your family to prepare for the storm – and possible evacuation.

GATHER EMERGENCY SUPPLIES

Since tropical storms and hurricanes can cause disruptions to your power and water services and have the potential to damage your vehicle and/or flood the roads making it impossible to travel anywhere, it’s important to stock up on necessities ahead of time.

Your emergency supplies should include non-perishable food items, water, medicine, power sources, extra batteries, a radio, flashlights/headlamps, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and a waterproof pouch for your important documents/portable electronic devices.

PREPPING YOUR VEHICLE

It’s always a good idea to prepare your vehicle before the storm hits. If you know a storm is coming, you should fill up on gas and store your vehicle in a garage or some form of covered parking if you have access to it. It’s also a good idea to keep an emergency supplies kit inside of your vehicle in case you need to evacuate in a hurry.

GET YOUR FAMILY AND PETS READY

Make sure the whole family knows the emergency plan before a storm strikes. If your area is under a hurricane watch, be sure to actively monitor weather news services for any updates. If the watch gets upgraded to a warning, it’ll be time to put your plan into action. Your Emergency Preparedness Plan should include where the family (pets and farm animals included) will go in case of evacuation, the best ways to reach shelter, how your property needs to be prepared, and the location of any emergency checklists and supplies.

GET YOUR HOME READY

Making sure your property is prepared for the storm can help avoid damage to your home. You’ll want to begin by clearing your yard of anything that could blow around during the storm – making sure that large items such as bicycles, outdoor furniture, grills, etc. are either moved inside or covered and secured. Next, protect your windows and doors: to prevent debris and glass from entering your home during strong winds, you can board up your windows and doors with storm shutters, thick plywood sheets, and/or impact-resistant window film. In case of flooding, you’ll want to be sure you know the location of your circuit breaker and how to shut off the electricity. Lastly, check your CO detector battery and fill any available clean containers with drinking water.

YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU PREPARED EARLY

In the event of a tropical storm or hurricane, it’s important to act quickly. Having your plan in place and your emergency supply kit packed ahead of time will significantly reduce your stress if a hurricane watch does hit your area. Following these tips will help you to be prepared and help ensure your family’s safety. If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, we encourage you to get prepared before Hurricane Season begins on June 1st.