How to Prepare for a Hurricane
According to the National Weather Service, about five hurricanes hit the coast of the United States in any given three-year period. That doesn't sound like very many, and it's true that most people living in hurricane country won't experience a direct hit during the average hurricane season. The chances are pretty slim that your family will have to evacuate or that your house will be washed away in a flood after a Category 5 storm. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared.
Fully preparing your family and your home for a hurricane isn't an easy task. It takes a bit of time, a lot of thought and a fair amount of elbow grease. And it's definitely not something you do smack in the middle of hurricane season -- you need to start the process well ahead of time so you're completely ready by the time June rolls around.
All of your hard work will pay off in the end, of course. Once you've storm-proofed your house, devised your family plan, figured out evacuation routes and loaded up your emergency kit, you won't have to do it again. And you'll have tremendous peace of mind knowing that if a monster storm does approach, you won't be out with the crowds at the big home improvement store, desperately trying to find plywood for your windows.
In this article, we'll walk you through how to get your family and home ready for a hurricane -- and tell you what to do if the big one starts barreling your way.
The Off-Season
If you live in a hurricane-prone area, you might assume that your home is fairly storm-proof. And you might be right -- but you don't want to find out the hard way that you're wrong. You should never make any assumptions about your home's safety: It's your job to personally make sure that everything's secure. And the time to do that is definitely not when a hurricane is rumbling your way in late August. Take some time in the off-season to ask yourself these questions:
- Does my home meet code requirements for high winds?
- What's my property's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and hurricane-force winds?
- Are the garage doors and roof shingles reinforced?
- Do we have any landscaping or trees that could be a wind hazard?
- Are there hurricane straps securing the roof to the walls of the home?
If you don't have protection for your windows, now's the time to get it. Storm shutters are the best defense against hurricane-force winds, but plywood also works. If you can't spring for shutters, measure all of your windows and glass doors and get 5/8-inch-thick plywood cut to fit them. Store the window covers in a place that will be easy to access.
Family Plan and Emergency Kit
Having a secure home is all well and good, but it's only one piece of the hurricane-preparation puzzle. No matter how storm-proof your home, there's always a chance you'll have to evacuate it -- or be stuck inside it for days during a massive power outage. So, you're going to need a detailed family hurricane plan and an emergency supply kit.
Here are the crucial components of a family hurricane plan:
- Think of safe places to meet in the event of a hurricane if you're unable to stay in your home.
- Identify a safe room in your house where everyone can gather during a hurricane. It should be an interior room, preferably a bathroom or in the basement; stay flexible, though, and be ready to move to an upper floor in case of a strong storm surge.
- Memorize evacuation routes from your home, office or kids' school to a safe place, whether it's a motel, a friend's house or a shelter. The shorter the trip, the better.
- Have all emergency phone numbers stored in your cell phones. This includes an out-of-state friend or relative that the whole family can use as a point of contact.
- All adults should be certified in CPR and first aid.
And your emergency supply kit should include:
- enough water and nonperishable food for each person for three to seven days. Everyone should have a gallon of water per day.
- flashlight and batteries
- first aid kit
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio (batteries should be replaced every six months)
- multipurpose tool
- personal hygiene items
- a week's supply of medications, baby supplies and pet items
- car and house keys
- clothing, hats, shoes and blankets
- copies of personal documents and insurance paperwork
- cell phone chargers
Ninety-nine percent of your job will be complete once you've secured your home, figured out your plan and stocked your emergency kit. At the start of hurricane season every year, double-check your supplies and replace batteries to ensure that you'll be ready to hit the ground running if a hurricane does come your way.
Hurricane Approaching
The National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch when hurricane-force winds (74 mph) are possible in a certain area within 36 hours. This is when you fill up your car's gas tank and start securing your home. Close your storm shutters or board up your windows. Make sure there's nothing in your yard or on your deck -- like bikes, furniture, grills and propane tanks -- that could get flung around by the wind.
Begin implementing your family plan. You might not end up having to evacuate, but it's best to be prepared. Make sure you know where everyone is and that they know where to meet up. If your safe place is a hotel or motel, call and make reservations now.
Listen to the radio for updates and keep an ear out for sirens and warning signals. If a hurricane warning is issued, hurricane-force winds are expected within 12 hours. You should be finishing up your preparations by then. Crank up refrigerators and freezers to their coldest settings so food will last longer in the event of a power outage.
If You Go
If you've been getting ready since a hurricane watch was issued, you should be prepared to take off the minute you get evacuation orders. The longer you wait, the bigger your chances of getting stuck in a massive traffic jam. Try to consolidate everything as much as possible when you're packing -- the fewer cars on the road, the better, and you'll also want everyone in the same place. No need to pack up everything you own; just take the necessities.
If you have time, disconnect appliances (so there's less risk of electrical shock when power is restored) and turn off the gas, electricity and water before you leave. Make sure you have all important papers and documents with you -- ID, insurance policies, wills -- as well as medications.
You're going to hit more congestion the farther you drive, so try to pick the closest possible evacuation destination. The best-case scenario would probably be a friend or relative who lives in your area but doesn't have to evacuate. Don't be tempted to avoid traffic by getting fancy with your route -- follow the official evacuation routes.
If you have room in the car, bring your disaster supply kit. If you do end up staying in a shelter, you never know what kinds of conditions you might encounter. A shelter should be your last resort, especially if you have pets -- many don't accept animals.
When the storm has subsided, don't rush to return home. Wait for instructions.
If You Stay
If you don't have to evacuate -- or if for some reason you can't -- you might decide to hunker down and ride out the hurricane at home. First and foremost, remember that most people who get hurt during a hurricane are injured by flying glass and debris, so don't go outside, even if it seems like the storm is over. You might actually be in the eye of the storm, and you could be stranded outside when the winds kick up again.
Before you gather in your safe room, fill up bathtubs and any spare containers with water (the tub water can be used for washing and flushing the toilets). You might want to leave one bathtub empty -- tubs are always a good place to take shelter if you cover yourself with blankets or a spare piece of plywood.
Haul your emergency supply kit into the safe room with you, and make sure you know where a fire extinguisher is. Keep listening to the radio for weather conditions and instructions. Stay in the room -- and away from all windows and exterior doors -- until the authorities say everything is clear.
If you do end up having to evacuate, turn off your power, gas and water before you leave. Be very careful to avoid downed power lines.