Hurricane Plans...Before, During & After

The Atlantic is really starting to heat up! With hurricane season running through November it's better to always be on your toes and stay prepared. While most of the time we will only see heavy rain & high winds with major hurricanes hitting in recent years it's important to have everything prepared. The best type of hurricane is the one that is completely predicted wrong or the one that just misses bringing that heavy rain I mentioned earlier...but what if you're not that lucky and have to bunker down or evacuate?

We put together the three stages of hurricane preparedness and we think it's extremely important to always be prepared. 

Before a Hurricane

All proper preparations should be done before the hurricane hits. This will ensure that you aren't left without certain necessities. When a major hurricane is headed towards your area, people tend to panic and stores run out of important staples like water, batteries, and flashlights very quickly. Truthfully, if you live in a hurricane prone area you should always be stocked with the staples so you never have to worry about the panicking crowds. 

Here are some helpful pre-storm prep tips:

• Make a plan. When emergency strikes it is important that you and your family have a plan in case you get separated. Agree on a common meeting place that is easy to find and a method of contact.
• Create a disaster kit. This should consist of water (one gallon per person per day for three days for all uses), three days worth of food, batteries, flashlights, first aid kit, cell phone with back up the charger, help whistle, garbage bags, pliers, a manual can opener, and any critical medications. Your valuable documents should be tucked away in a waterproof container as well.
• Fill all your gas tanks. This should be done as soon as possible because gas is usually one of the first things to run out of before a hurricane.
• Power outages are a common result of severe weather, and losing power can cause further damage to your home. Automatic standby generators, like those from Kohler, turn on within seconds of a utility power outage, run on propane or natural gas and are connected to the home, similar to an outdoor air conditioning unit. Automatic standby generators keep critical appliances operating when the power goes out, ensuring you won't go without refrigerators, and critical home systems such as air conditioning. 

If you live in a sound structure outside of an evacuation area and do not live in a mobile home, stay home and take these precaution:

• Check the condition of your home's windows as well as the weather stripping around them. Re-caulk windows where stripping is worn, and replace any windows that are damaged. If you live in an area prone to storms and high winds, consider investing in some plywood or permanent storm shutters that you can keep on hand to cover windows when a storm approaches.
• Fill your bathtubs. Line the bathtub with plastic sheeting or a clean shower curtain, or caulk the drain with silicone caulking — it holds water for weeks and cleans up easily when dry.
• Know your property's elevation level. This will help you in determining if your home is flood- prone and can help you prepare for storm surge or tidal flooding.

During a Hurricane

During the storm, there is a lot to anticipate. You hear howling winds, rain pounding the windows and boarded up windows, and the thought (threat) of a tornado makes sitting through a hurricane quiet intense. Follow these tips for staying safe in your home during a hurricane:

• Stay inside and away from windows, skylights, and glass doors. Find a safe area in your home (an interior room, a closet or bathroom on the lower level).
• If flooding threatens your home, turn off electricity at the main breaker.
• If you lose power, turn off major appliances such as the air conditioner and water heater to reduce damage.
• Do not use electrical appliances, including your computer.
• Do not go outside. If the eye of the storm passes over your area, there will be a short period of calm, but at the other side of the eye, the wind speed rapidly increases to hurricane force and will come from the opposite direction. Also, do not go outside to see "what the wind feels like." It is too easy to be hit by flying debris.
• Beware of lightning. Stay away from electrical equipment. Don't use the phone or take a bath/shower during the storm.

After a Hurricane

This is when things start to settle in. There are more deaths and injury after a storm than when one hits! SO be careful! Anything that is broken is replaceable. A life is not. It's easier to completely wait out the storm than to bolt outside to see if you lost a tree in your front yard. Most people are too anxious to get outside and view the damages to their property and come in contact with downed power lines.

 Follow these suggestions for staying safe after a hurricane:

• Remain indoors until an official "all clear" is given.
• Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires of any kind under any circumstances. Stay away from puddles with wires in or near them. Do not touch trees or other objects in contact with power lines.
• USE PHONES FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY. Call 911 only for life-threatening situations.
• Call police or utility companies immediately to report hazards such as downed power lines, broken gas or water mains, overturned gas tanks, or any other dangerous situation you come across.
• Watch for weakened roads, bridges, tree limbs or porches that could collapse unexpectedly.
• After power is restored, check refrigerated food for spoilage. (Spoiled food is the cause of much sickness two days to a week after the storm.)
• When reinstalling a CB, TV or satellite antenna, check in all directions to be sure no power lines are nearby. The same goes for climbing trees to clear debris.
• Do not operate charcoal grills, propane camping stoves or generators indoors.

Evacuating

If you live near the coast or in a flood-prone area, you may be asked to evacuate. Your "plan" should include researching your evacuation route and making arrangements in advance with family or friends for a safe place to stay.

Area public shelters are for people who have no other place to go. If you must stay in a shelter, listen to news broadcasts for announcements of shelter openings. Shelter volunteers do their best to make you comfortable, but a shelter is not a very comfortable place. Stay with friends or relatives if at all possible.

• Those with special medical needs (oxygen, etc.) should go to special needs shelters only. Special needs shelters do not provide hands-on medical care, only medical monitoring. Bring a caregiver with you if need.
• Only service animals are permitted in public shelters. Shelters that allow pets are limited, so other arrangements should be made for your pets.
• Bring food and snacks. Meals may not be available during the first 24 hours.
• Bring your identification, valuable papers, and medications in their original containers.
• Bring baby supplies.
• Bring blankets/sleeping bags, pillows. Those are either not provided or limited in supply.
• Bring cards/games/books to pass the hours.
• Bring flashlights and a battery operated radio or TV with extra batteries for all.
• Stay inside and follow directions that are given for your comfort and safety.
• You will not be allowed outside until the official "all clear."

Traveler Advice

If you happen to be visiting and a storm threatens you during your visit, keep informed with local news and follow any evacuation orders that are issued. If you aren't required to evacuate, follow the tips above to help keep you and your family safe.