Hurricanes are one of the most severe natural calamities. These intense storms originate from oceans, and usually have wind speeds between 65 -160 mph.
High speed winds can wreck almost everything in their way and bring about large thunderstorms that eventually turn into tornados, tropical storms, floods, landslides. They cause unforgiving destruction.
Hurricanes usually affect coastal areas close to the equator. But can you be prepared for such a catastrophe? It is never too early to prepare for a hurricane if you reside in and around a coastal city.
There are plenty of hurricane preparedness instructions given by government authorities and other organizations. The best way to keep you and your family safe is to have a plan ready when the hurricane strikes. This means getting the necessary insurance, construction work and the right kit for the situation.
Here are a few tips on how to prepare for a hurricane:
1. Fortify your Home
Generic windows and doors may be strong enough to keep you safe from the outside world, but they might not be strong enough to handle a hurricane. Replace your doors and windows with impact resistant doors and shutter.
You can also consider getting some hurricane shutters. These stop flying debris from causing any harm to you and your family indoors.
Once you are confident about the doors and windows, focus on your roof. Roofs are very vulnerable to hurricanes. Evaluate how good and strong your current roof is and think of investing in roof reinforcements and making other additions to it.
Tie-downs and lateral anchors are very effective and can save your roof and home from any hurricane.
2. Prepare an Emergency Kit
A disaster emergency kit is always a good thing to have around, especially when you are living in a disaster-prone zone. Hurricanes can be devastating and at times life threatening, so making a kit for the worst-case scenario might be a good idea. Here are a few things you should pack in your hurricane protection emergency kit:
Water: One gallon per person per day, for at least three days.
Non-perishable food: Canned beans, fruits, vegetables and meat that have a long shelf life
First aid kits: Along with the kit, it is advisable to keep prescription medication for people who have specific ailments in your home
Food and water for your pets (if you have any)
Flashlight for every room with extra batteries
Swiss Army Knife
Personal Identification Documents and other important papers
Some extra cash
3. Have an Evacuation Plan Ready
Hurricanes can get severe very quickly, so it is advisable to have a plan for you and your family. Many people who live in coastal cities hit the roads and temporarily shift to other cities that might not be threatened by the hurricane. If you have a relative or friend in such a city, keep them as an emergency contact.
Share all the necessary details like phone number and address with everyone in your family. Set up a common meeting place in case your family members get separated, so that they would know where to meet or whom to call during a disastrous hurricane.
In case you have pets, make a plan for their evacuation as well.
4. Document Your Equity
Hurricanes are very notorious for wrecking and destroying properties, home structures and other commodities. After a hurricane, filing for insurance can be a little painstaking if you do not have ample evidence and documentation.
Thus, it is always good to take photo or video evidence of your property and belongings; filing for insurance becomes relatively easier.
What to do During a Hurricane?
Heavy winds and rains are indeed very terrifying during a hurricane. As soon as the hurricane strikes, stay indoors while avoiding any basements and underground safe houses. Hurricanes tend to cause floods, and this could fill up your basement very quickly, so it is advisable to stay at ground level.
Use proper hurricane shutters and other protective measures to keep your home secure. Here are a few more things you should do during a hurricane:
1. Stay attentive and alert: During a hurricane you have to stay updated with the weather reports from local radio stations. Doing this will keep you informed about the situation outside.
2. Unplug all your electrical appliances: Most of the time, a hurricane is followed by intense floods. Electrical appliances usually are the first ones to get affected.
Appliances that get damaged can pose a major threat of electrocution for you and your family. Thus, it's always good to unplug all the appliances before a hurricane strikes.
1. Stay in touch with your neighbors and community: Everyone has their own way of handling situations like this, so it is a good idea to keep track of everyone around you. Especially if there are old people living in your neighborhood, make sure that they are prepared properly, and if not, then you can help them.
2. Sometimes the hurricane suddenly seems to slow down after a while. Do not get confused and take this as the end of the storm.
Most of the time, this lull is usually the eye or center of the hurricane. It is nowhere close to over, if you happen to be witnessing winds calm down. Wait for authorities to announce that the real danger has gone.
To Sum It Up
As soon as the hurricane ends, many people are always eager to get back to their lives. Take things a little slowly, calibrate all the losses, and reach out to people in need.
However, many hurricanes are not always as intense. Most of the time, people experience heavy winds and rain minus the destruction. Thus, before going overboard with your planning, you should get the simple things ready like hurricane shutters for your home, enough supply of food and water for your family and emergency medication.
If you have any questions about protecting your home from a hurricane, feel free to reach out to us at Door Depot of SW Florida at (941) 412-1883 and we would be happy to help you with any questions you may have regarding storm protection for your home!
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