How to Prepare for Hurricane Season

Mother nature can be both beautiful and devastating. One of the most unmistakable examples of nature’s darker side is hurricane season. While hurricanes are often captivating and awe-inspiring, they can also cause widespread damage to property, land, and people.

However, due to the fact that hurricanes are formed on large water bodies, they are easier to predict than tornados, which in contrast originate on land and strike with little warning. In fact, people living in high-risk hurricane zones usually have somewhat of a time window to prepare.

Despite this, it can still be difficult to know exactly where and when a hurricane will hit, and research has found that climate change is making hurricanes stronger. Therefore, it’s more important than ever before to take the appropriate measures when preparing for hurricane season.

Keep reading to learn about some of the essential precautions you should take to minimize potential damage.

Make an Evacuation Plan

While evacuation is not always necessary in the face of a storm or hurricane, especially for those living on the coast or in a mobile home, it’s often a reality. Although the government will usually provide evacuation instructions in these circumstances, it’s still important to have your own plan in case disaster strikes.

Having a plan ahead of time will ensure that you are aware of the closest shelters, how to evacuate your pets, and what items you need to take with you. This will also help you keep birth certificates and important documents safe. Store any essential papers and valuables such as jewelry or cash in bolted safes or inside a safe deposit box. Keep this container inside of a closet or other enclosed space within your home to maximize protection.

Protect Your Home

Hurricane winds can be extremely strong, and they can turn materials and objects into projectiles which can damage property or injure people that are in the vicinity. It’s common for doors and windows to break as they get hit by items, which can then lead to rain entering the building and causing further harm.

Let’s explore some of the most effective methods with which you can protect yourself and your house to avoid these dangers:

• Install storm shutters with impact-resistant glass to your windows and doors, or nail plywood on top of them if you don’t have access to shutters
• Trim or cut frail trees or branches to avoid them falling on your property or land
• Move cars to higher ground or park them against the garage doors to avoid power lines or trees falling on top of them
• Bring all outside furniture and objects such as toys, plants, and chairs into the interior of your home
• Unplug any outside appliances and store them in protected areas within the home
• Seal any outside openings such as electrical outlets, cable or pipe exits, and vents to prevent water from entering your home
• Designate a shelter room which is on the first floor, has no windows and is in the central part of your house

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Having an easy-to-access emergency kit is crucial in the case that you have to evacuate your home or if an injury occurs which must be treated quickly. When hurricane warnings are issued, people often run for the stores, and it can be difficult to find certain essential items.

Keep the following emergency supplies on hand in an easily accessible location in advance of a hurricane hitting:

• Long-lasting or non-perishable food which doesn’t need to be refrigerated or cooked
• Portable radio and other types of transportable communication devices
• Bottled drinking water that can last for at least three days
• Wrenches and other basic tools or materials that can be used for emergency home repairs, such as plywood or a hemmer
• Prescription drugs which you have to take regularly
• First-aid supplies and medicine
• Matches or a lighter with extra fuel
• Candles, lamps, or flashlights with charged batteries
• Blankets and extra clothing in case of extreme weather
• Toiletries and other essential self-care items
• ​​Extra batteries or rechargeable batteries

After having prepared your emergency supplies, it’s also important to regularly check the expiration dates of any perishable food or medicine and to replenish these accordingly. It’s no use carrying a pack of uneatable food with you as you escape an incoming storm.

Also, make sure that your car’s gas tank is full, your cell phone is charged, and that any generator you have is working and loaded. It’s also helpful to have extra fuel ready in case power outages occur.

Pay Attention to the News

Staying informed during hurricane season is another key step to being properly prepared in the case of an emergency. Follow NOAA Weather Radio or your local news channel for weather updates, and make sure you follow any orders by government authorities when a major storm is incoming.

Keep a satellite phone, HAM radio, or walkie-talkie on hand in case of a power outage or if your phone is out of battery. This way, you can continue to receive important information after the hurricane has already hit.