How To Prepare For A Hurricane | 2022

Hurricane season is upon us and preparing for a hurricane can be stressful. If you don’t know how to prepare for a hurricane, that could amplify the stress and increase danger. Florida has seen a lot of new residents this year, mainly from other parts of the country. Follow the tips in this guide and you’ll be much better of if and when a hurricane hits.

Gather Emergency Supplies

During and even after a hurricane, you may need supplies to keep you and your family healthy and safe. There is a real threat that a hurricane could cut off your power and water supply for multiple days and even weeks. You also may not be able to drive because of damage to your car or roads may be flooded or blocked by trees etc. Prep the following supplies and be sure to keep them handy.

• Emergency food and water. (Canned and boxed foods. Bottled water. Plenty of pet food.)
• Emergency medicine. (Pain medication, prescriptions, anti-bacterial, pet prescriptions.)
• Emergency battery packs and other power sources, like flashlights. (Don’t forget extra batteries, AA, AAA etc.)
• Important documents, including medical papers, passports, and ID.
• Toilet Paper and soap.
• A fire extinguisher.
• Candles.
• Cash.
• Create and emergency and evacuation plan. Go over these plans with your family.
• Place all emergency supplies into a plastic tote or easily moveable container. This will be your hurricane kit.

Prepare Your Home

Make sure that your front and back yard is clear from any debris. The last thing you want is a bicycle or a tree branch flying through your living room window at 100 mph. Move bikes, patio furniture, outdoors grills. Move any loose propane tanks and building material inside or under cover.

Cover windows and doors if necessary. If you’re lucky enough to have them, use storm shutters. You may also nail pieces of plywood over the outside window frames to protect glass. Be prepared to turn off your power to prevent unnecessary damage to electronics. If you notice flooding, compromised power lines, or you have to leave your home for any reason, turn your power off.

Fill clean water containers with drinking water, enough to last up to a week. You’ll want to do this in case you lose your water during the hurricane. You can also fill up your sinks and bathtubs with water for washing or to use as water for pets. Check the batteries in Carbon Monoxide and smoke detectors. Be prepared to stay put, but have an evacuation plan, like we discussed earlier, in case authorities recommend evacuation. If authorities do recommend evacuation, grab your tote with all of your supplies and follow their evacuation instruction.

How To Prepare For A Hurricane: Evacuation

If authorities do recommend evacuation, grab your tote with all of your supplies and follow their evacuation instruction. Unplug all your appliances. Especially if you have gas, be sure to turn off the gas and electricity.

Follow the roads that emergency workers recommend in spite of traffic. They have recommended these roads for a reason.  Call the local emergency management office and ask if they offer accommodations for owners and their pets.

How To Prepare For A Hurricane: Staying Home

Make sure that you and your family always know where your emergency supply kit is. Your kit should be easily accessible. Be sure to listen to the radio or TV for updates on the storm. It may be enticing to go outside, especially if it looks calm, but it crucial that you stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear that the hurricane is over, from officials. The “eye” of a hurricane is its calm center, but once it passes, the storm will be back again with full force. Stay away from windows even if you have them covered, just to be safe. Always be prepared to move if authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged. You may need to go to a neighbor’s house or an emergency shelter.

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