Hurricane Emergency Preparation

Believe it or not, the coastline of the United states is regularly battered by hurricanes – about five on the average – every 3 years.

The fact of the matter is that hurricanes do bring lots of winds – some as strong as a hundred miles every hour. Along with hurricanes also come water surges that reach to twenty feet in height.

Such cyclones are extremely dangerous, therefore preparing for their onslaught especially during the months between June up until November, is a smart and practical thing to do.

The following are tips and advice you could do to be able to best prepare for any worst that could happen when hurricanes come.

Be aware and beware

Understand and know that every hurricane is a lot different, preparing for the possible worst is usually the best option as it makes one prepare and be pro active.

Make a list and check it twice

Try to make up a list of all the items found in your backyard or front yard which you think you need to bring in the house when a hurricane hits. The items which could be included in this list are the tools for the yard or lawn furniture.

Trim it

As much as possible, try to keep shrubbery and trees trimmed. Doing so prevents any unnecessary entanglements brought about by tree branches or the like.

Drain it

As much as possible, try to ensure that all the gutters as well as drains in your area are appropriately cleared. This is so that further flooding is prevented especially during the bouts of long and heavy rainfall that usually accompany strong hurricanes.

Use shutters specifically designed for hurricanes

Using shutters permanently for the doors and windows is a much safer and better alternative that simply taping all the glass as doing the latter does not in any way prevent the glass’ breakage. You could also protect the window from the outside using plywood or the shutters.

Plan for an evacuation

As much as possible, develop a plan for evacuation. Try to communicate with your emergency local management chapter or office of the Red Cross.

They may be able to provide you with the route for evacuation as well as shelters that are nearby.

Prepare blankets

Have ready sleeping bags and blankets just in case there is a need for you to have to rush to a shelter.

Think about your pets too

Know in advance what you could do to take care of your pets. A lot of animals were abandoned during the onslaught of hurricane Katrina.

Gather needed emergency supplies

As much as possible, prepare supplies beforehand. Included in this list of supplies should be flashlights, batteries, a radio, water and food, first aid kits, can opener.

An additional tip is by turning the temperature of your fridge to the highest setting. The reason for this is when the power goes off, the cool air of your fridge will get to stay a lot longer, thereby preserving your food a lot longer.

Elevate your home and furniture

It is also a good idea to elevate your house especially if hurricane and flooding is a common thing in your area.

All in all, preparing for the worst is always the best course available. It could save you precious time and energy as well as possibly save your life as well as those of your loved ones.