The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began predicting the possibility of an active hurricane season in January with a campaign to make “resolve to be ready” a New Year’s resolution if you live anywhere near the coast. FEMA gave four reasons that it’s important for people to prepare early.
- Disasters are becoming more frequent.
- A plan can save the lives of you, your family, and your pets.
- Preparing can save you money.
- Preparing can better connect you with your community.
Each year since 2015, a tropical storm has been named before the actual start of the season. Moreover, many of them have formed near Florida. In fact, weather experts have discussed moving the official start of the hurricane season to mid-May.
That’s only a few weeks away.
Forming your plan
National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is concerned about the increased strength of recent storms because it can leave little time for preparation. “You can’t make plans during the storm. You have to be ready to go,” he said.
Know the evacuation routes in your area and have your escape route planned out in advance. If city officials are recommending evacuating, don’t wait until the last minute. Grab your family and go! The longer you wait, the more crowded the roads will become and things tend to slow down to a crawl.
Of course, since hurricanes form over the ocean, it’s unlikely that you would get caught without any advance warning. Still, having a plan in place ahead of time gives you some peace of mind. And, by preparing in advance, you won’t be scrambling to locate the supplies you and your family need as the storm draws closer.
Gather the things you and your family will need to weather the storm. Things like nonperishable food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, chargers, a first aid kit, blankets, clothes, personal items, and pet supplies. You’ll want to have activities and toys for the kids stored away too. Lastly, it’s a good idea to have some cash on hand as well. ATMs won’t work if there isn’t any power.
Technology preparedness
FEMA suggests you download their app to get real-time alerts, safety tips, and to locate open shelters should you need to evacuate. You can sign up with your local Office of Emergency Management to receive text or email alerts about emergency situations in your immediate area.
Take photos of important documents in advance and save them online or in a secure place where you can access them during an emergency. Photograph your property too so you can use the images for inventory for insurance purposes if necessary. And, speaking of insurance, you’re more than likely covered if you live in an area in danger of flooding, but if not—it takes 30 days for flood insurance to kick in so get on it.
Also, if you don’t know how to shut off your water, electricity, and gas, it’s time to learn.
It’s also a good idea to set up some group text lists so you can communicate with neighbors, family, and friends at the same time. Take a current picture of you and your pet together in case it gets lost—things can get chaotic quickly.
Batten down the hatches
Hopefully, you’ll never experience the terror of losing your roof during a hurricane because once the roof goes, it’s likely that your entire home is going to be destroyed. Running a thick bead of construction adhesive—otherwise known as glue—down each side of the rafters where they meet the plywood roof deck can triple your roof’s wind resistance. It’s not hard to do. In fact, many homeowners tackle that job themselves rather than hiring a contractor to handle it.
If your home is older and you don’t have hurricane windows installed, you should consider doing so. The tempered glass used to construct the windows adheres to a sheet of high-tech polymer. The polymer holds the glass in place so it’s not going to fly apart if hit with flying debris.
Garage doors are another place you should consider reinforcing because it’s estimated that up to 90% of homes that are completely destroyed lose their garage door first. Once the wind gains entry to the home through such a large opening, it can do its worst in an incredibly short length of time.
If you can’t afford to install hurricane-resistant doors, you can reinforce your exterior doors instead. There are ready-made kits available at home improvement stores. Or, you can purchase brackets and metal rods that reach from above your door to the floor. Install the brackets on either side of the door and when a storm is imminent, insert the metal rods into the brackets and you’re set.
If you’re using the bracketing technique on your garage door, experts suggest that you drill holes in the floor of your garage to anchor the rods when you insert them into the brackets.
Pools and landscaping
Walk around your property to determine if you need to have your trees pruned or any branches removed. Heavy foliage can cause trees to blow over more easily. When you keep them pruned, the wind passes through them instead of the leaves forming a barrier. The force of the wind relentlessly pushing against the leaves coupled with the heavily saturated ground can equal disaster.
If you’ll be planting trees in the future, consider planting trees that better withstand storms. The University of Florida determined that sand live oaks are the most resistant to wind damage. Other trees that stand up to a storm and thrive here in Florida are the Southern magnolia and the bald cypress.
You can prepare your pool for hurricane season too. Don’t drain it though because when the ground becomes heavily saturated, it can float your pool right out of the ground! If your pool—or lanai—is enclosed, check to see that the tie-downs are tightly secured.
If a storm is coming your way, bring in any furniture and decor that are in danger of blowing away.
Safe and sound
Taking precautions now is the best way to keep you and your family safe this hurricane season. Remember, though, that if government officials suggest evacuating, you should heed their advice. Storms can change in an instant and you don’t want to discover that you’ve waited too long to get out if you need to get your family to safety.