Preparing For A Hurricane: What You Need to Know

Hurricane season starts on May 15 in the north Pacific and June 1 in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. It ends on November 30. Before hurricane season each year, make sure you and your family are prepared by planning ahead. Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them on the refrigerator or near every phone in your house. Program them into your cell phone too. Prepare an emergency supply kit. Locate the nearest shelter and different routes you can take to get there from your home. If shelter locations in your area have not been identified, learn how to find them in the event of a storm

Preparing for a Hurricane

Research your evacuation route. Use a website such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency's gov or RoadIRApp. If you are in a flood zone, think about installing flood-resistant windows and siding. Ask your contractor about proper workmanship. Build your home to be more resilient to flooding. Repairs to a flooded home are generally more costly than repairs to a flood-damaged building. Plan for your pet. Bring in or board your pets if you live in a flood zone. Pack essential medications, clothing and personal items. Unplug electrical appliances. Disconnect and dispose of gas appliances. Grab pictures and important documents. Consider storing these items in a waterproof container. Look into the cost of shipping things to your safe area.

Planning Ahead

It's a good idea to know how you will evacuate in the event that an evacuation is necessary. You need to know how long you will be separated from your home. An entire day is considered minimum and 24 hours is preferred. Set up a communication plan. Have two ways to contact friends and family members in case of an emergency. Have a list of emergency numbers, including that of your local police and fire department, which are generally posted in your city or town hall, a utility company, a hospital or emergency services agency. You will need to know where to go in the event of an emergency. An item you should have is an emergency radio that receives several bands of frequencies and can reach all of your family and friends. Build a gas kit.

The hurricane supply kit

The following items should be in your emergency supply kit: At least three days of water At least three days' food Batteries Prescriptions Essential oils Fire extinguisher Flashlight Washable waterproof bag Medicine First aid kit Mosquito repellent Air mattress Sleeping bags Wind-up radio Blankets Canned food Carbon dioxide mask Small first aid kit Extra pair of glasses or contact lens Sleeping bag Waterproof matches If you have pets, don't forget about them!

Different routes to take shelter

Learn a family communication plan. Make sure you and your family know who to contact in case of an emergency, and when. Develop a crisis action plan. Limit spending money in preparation for a storm. This could help during an emergency if you need to wait out the storm without electricity or other utilities. For tips on how to save money, check out USA.gov. Find out if you qualify for emergency supplies through the Red Cross. When shopping, be sure to buy basic things that you need in your emergency supply kit, like water, nonperishable food, and medications. Buy an extra supply of any of these items in case you need to stock up for a hurricane. Check in with your insurance agent to learn if you qualify for flood insurance and insurance for contents.

Conclusion

Knowing what to do in an emergency is the most important thing you can do before a storm. All of these tips will give you a great start to your hurricane preparation. If you have any questions about what to do, call your local disaster agency, a local police department or fire station and talk to a professional. Related Slideshow: GoLocal: Benchmark Poll, October 2017 Prev Next Sponsor: GoLocalProv Sample: N=403 Rhode Island General Election Voters Margin of Error: +/- 4.9% at 95% Confidence Level Interviewing Period: October 9-11, 2017 Mode: Landline (61%) and Mobile (39%) Telephone Directed by: John Della Volpe, SocialSphere, Inc. Prev Next Are you registered to vote at this address?