With hurricane season finally starting to ramp up, I thought this would be a good time to remind you about the best ways to stay safe in a big storm.
Even if you don’t live in a hurricane zone, these tips could come in handy for dealing with extreme weather. And remember, Hurricane Sandy ended up affecting 24 different states in 2012.
Folks in Puerto Rico certainly don’t need any reminders. They just got slammed by Hurricane Fiona, causing their fragile power grid to go down. The Category 1 storm caused some 1.4 million people on the island to lose power. The storm then soaked the Dominican Republic.
Puerto Rico was without power for several days, according to LUMA Energy, the private company that handles the transmission and distribution of electricity in the U.S. territory. Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi said, “The damages that we are seeing are catastrophic.”
Plan ahead and stock up on supplies
More Atlantic hurricanes are expected to develop over the next month or so, with Ian being the big one closing in on Florida. As with all disasters, the key is to be prepared.
First things first. Have an emergency response plan in place in case a hurricane or other big storm heads your way. This plan should include a 72-hour survival kit and knowing your evacuation routes.
It’s also crucial to have backup power and plenty of survival food and water stockpiled. The American Red Cross recommends a three-day supply for evacuation and a two-week supply for home.
Before it strikes
One thing that is impractical to do in advance – but which you should be ready to start executing at a moment’s notice when you hear a hurricane is heading your way – is preparing your home. This involves:
- Boarding up windows with plywood or installing storm shutters.
- Securing your roof and siding to your house frame with straps.
- Reinforcing garage doors, trimming long tree branches and bringing outdoor furniture into your house.
- Familiarizing yourself and your family with utility shut-off switches and valves in your house in case you need to evacuate.
Other activities you should engage in prior to a hurricane approaching your area are:
- Familiarize yourself with emergency routes and shelters. Print out those routes and keep them in your vehicle’s glove compartment.
- Make yourself aware of community shelters in your neighborhood just in case you need to use one.
- Make sure your car has a full gas tank and that important items such as a first-aid kit are in your car.
During and after
During a hurricane, assuming there was no evacuation order and you decided to ride it out, monitor emergency radio and mainstream media reports.
Close your blinds and move your most valuable possessions away from windows. Then stay away from those windows, close interior doors and remain in your home’s interior rooms.
Once the storm has passed, continue to monitor weather reports and try to use flashlights instead of candles if your power is out.
When you return after evacuating, keep an eye out for flooding, ruptured gas lines and damaged structures. Be aware that water may have become contaminated. Report any damage sustained by your home to your insurance agent as soon as possible.
Items to gather
Of course, there’s more to preparing for a hurricane or other type of storm than survival food and water. You’d be wise to have these items handy as well:
- Flashlight and extra batteries. Or better yet, a solar-powered, tactical flashlight.
- Battery-powered or hand-crank emergency weather radio
- First-aid kit and medications
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents
- Family and emergency contact information
- Blankets, extra clothing, boots, gloves, etc.
- Cash
- Maps
$500 off our bestselling generator
I saved one of the most important items until the end. A major storm such as a hurricane will almost assuredly bring power outages. You need to be able to restore power quickly to keep food fresh, lights on and electrical devices working.
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A storm featuring power outages is not going to wait for you to get ready for it, so now is the time to prepare. This generator – which you can charge for free with the sun – can power your fridge, freezer and much more.
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You can’t lose with this life-saving backup power deal. But you and your family can certainly win.
