Hurricane preparedness – stay safe and weather the storm

INSIDE: HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS – STAY SAFE AND WEATHER THE STORM WITH EASE

Oh lord, here we go again…..it’s hurricane season and we’ve managed to escape to this point unscathed. But…we have one hunkering down on us and it made me realize we must get our kit ready.

First of all, I have read all sorts of things that are CRAZY!!! So let’s figure what we REALLY need to survive a hurricane and the possibility of power outages for a few days to weeks.

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Let me start by saying – our camping gear is KEY!!!! Check out this post to find out details.

1 – Should I stay or should I go?

It’s not just a great song….I make no recommendations on this matter. You need to know what you are willing to sit through and what you aren’t. I know my limits….But always error on the side of caution.

Prior to storms turning into hurricanes they are

1. Tropical Depression: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less.
2. Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the following are the categories of hurricane

1. 74 – 95 mph winds – Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.
2. 96-110 mph winds – Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.
3. 111-129 mph (MAJOR) – Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.
4. 130-156 mph (MAJOR) – Catastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
5. 157 mph or higher (MAJOR) – Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

2 – IF I go….What do fill my precious cargo space with?

First – EASY – children and pets first!!

Let me be REAL clear on this point….don’t leave your animals. If you can’t find a shelter that allows them, go somewhere else. Traveling an extra 10 miles to another shelter means you keep your pets safe with YOU! Use this site to help you find a shelter near you that ACCEPTS pets!

Do NOT leave them tied to a tree or in your backyard. If you leave them tied to a tree or fenced in the backyard, they can’t get to safe ground on their own.

Second – Everyone’s important documents

• Birth certificates
• Passports
• Social security cards
• Bonds

I will say this a MILLION times – yes they can be replaced, but not easily. Keep all of these in one place so you can grab and go when you need to. (Think all safety issues – fires included).

As for pets, ask your vet if they participate in the VitusVet or PetPage apps. Immunization records and pets chip numbers can be placed online and accessed with an app on your phone or in another vet’s office.

As for the kiddos, all immunizations should be on your state’s immunization registry. If it is not, you might want to think about getting another pediatrician….you can also take a picture of the records you need and store them in your phone’s cloud.

What you take with you are the things that you cannot replace easily. OR you need to start over somewhere else.

Third – Comfort pieces

• Luggage
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Travel cooler/snack bag
• Pet needs such as leashes, food, and bowls for the trip

Basically anything to make the trip to your evacuation destination comfortable, OR as comfortable as possible.

3 – IF I stay…..How do I prepare my home and my family?

We live in the age of advanced technology, advanced warnings, and therefore TIME TO PREPARE! Do not wait until the storm is within a few hours of you to start preparing.

Go over your emergency plan with the whole family – where to go in the house if a tornado hits, how to handle power outages, who goes where and with what animal.

First – Prepare outside of the home

• Board up windows – We do not do this. Because we have a big house with lots of places to take shelter if a window gets damaged. We also have insurance to replace these things, and the majority of the things inside. As long as we are safe, we don’t board them up.
• Purchase a generator – I highly recommend this! This is the exact one we have. It runs on gas – see below!
• Get GAS!!! Do not wait until the day before, even 2 days before is pushing it. This is the first place people go, get ahead of them. Fill up all your cars and gas cans too!
• Outside – bring in anything that could become a projectile. Plants, flowers, grills, furniture, basketball hoops (lay these down), and flags. Store them in the garage.
• Bug spray – make sure you have enough. There is always a calm before and after the storm….this standing air/water/humidity brings BUGS!!!! And who knows where these bugs have come from.

Second – Prepare the inside of your home

• Charge anything that needs charging – place all electronics in battery saving mode. Purchasing a power station may be beneficial for future charging needs.
• Go buy batteries, flashlights, lanterns – if you don’t already have them. If you have gone through this before….check and make sure they work.
• Catch up on laundry – if you can’t wash clothes for a week….you still need clean undies!
• Entertainment plan – what will you do if the electricity goes out? Board games, card games, coloring books, painting supplies – we make a trip to the Dollar Tree to stock up on different crafts.
• First aid kit – bandaids, cleaning spray, medications (including kids and adults), and gauze.

Third – Food – this is a different plan

AND yes it is very necessary to think like this.

• Get groceries – WHY do people get milk and bread? There is a method to the madness -what you eat first, second, and third. First, you eat things that go bad (milk and bread). Second, frozen foods – at this point, they might be defrosting, so eat them before they go bad. Third, canned goods.
• Establish a cooking plan – how will you cook the above mentioned foods? Camping gear comes in handy….propane, gas, wood? Remember – you need to think about time after the storm AND during the storm
• ICE – freeze as much water as you can. It will help keep things cold for longer. And you can drink it when it defrosts.

Fourth– Watch a reliable weather person……………………..

Do not give into the hype! Don’t panic, don’t freak out, and don’t make yourself insane. Relax and be realistic. Watch the weather, trust that you’ve prepared, and wait for the storm.

I always check out this site and this one.

Fifth– Last minute tips

• Fill one tub with water – if you lose power, you’ll still need to flush the toilet. I don’t do this until the day the storm is set to hit – sometimes it isn’t as bad as we think.
• Fill your reusable water bottles – you can never have enough water.
• Make sure you have a clear path to shelter in place. A place without windows; think under the stairs, or a central room like a lower floor bathroom. The idea is to be in a stable place with strong walls around you, or have a strong piece of the house near you (like the plumbing of a bathroom)
• If you are prone to flooding, sand bags around the doors will help, but probably not keep it out completely. Make sure things are on higher ground…even if that means you sacrifice one piece of furniture to do it.
• Take the trash out! If the garbage truck isn’t coming, take it to a dump. Nothing worse than going a week without trash pick up while you are cleaning out rotten food.

I hope these tips have helped you and your family survive this hurricane season. Remember – if you’ve prepared and don’t need what you’ve purchased, you can always ship it to the folks that do. Contact your local Red Cross to see how you can help during hurricane season.

Stay safe,