Are You Ready For Hurricane Season?

Hurricane season is here and when the forecast calls for extreme weather, the last thing you want is to be in a mob of people getting last-minute supplies. It definitely pays off to be ready in advance!

Things such as food, water, first-aid supplies and clothing should be in your emergency provisions. We'll break this down a little further to give you some ideas on how to prepare and organize.

Hurricane Aerial View | Source | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr

Hurricane | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr

Food and Water

  • For normal, active adults, figure on a minimum of two quarts of water per day. In hotter weather, double that amount to a gallon per day. Keep three to five days' worth of water on hand.
  • Don't store water in breakable containers like glass bottles (and milk jugs are too fragile). Instead, buy half-gallon and gallon containers or a collapsible five-gallon container.
  • Keep three to five days' worth of non-perishable food on hand, as well. Opt for high-protein choices like canned meat or tuna, beef jerky, nuts, peanut butter, granola bars and trail mix. Avoid highly processed or carbohydrate-rich foods like crackers or chips, which won't leave you feeling satisfied for long.
  • If you've got a baby in the family, be sure to keep infant food on hand.
  • Don't forget spices and condiments, and you should probably stockpile a few sweets and comfort foods to break the monotony if you're forced to get by on rations for a prolonged period.
  • Think about what to do if the power goes out for a prolonged spell. Have a cooler with plenty of ice or ice packs for the perishables. It's also a good idea to have a propane stove, gas grill or charcoal grill ready so that you can actually prepare some hot food when the power is out.
  • Don't forget your pets! Make sure that you have pet food and supplies and that your pets have current ID tags on their collars. Have photos of them on hand and transport them in pet carriers — it's less stressful for them.

Tools and Supplies

Common sense dictates that there are some basics you're going to need if things get rough. Here's  a checklist of tools and supplies you're likely to need:

First Aid and Medical Supplies

It's a good idea to keep a stocked first-aid kit on hand. Things like bandage tape, gauze pads, rubbing alcohol, sanitary hand wipes, exam gloves, tweezers, antibacterial ointment, a cold pack, sunblock, insect spray and an Ace bandage are all great things to keep in a first-aid kit.

Don't forget to keep any prescriptions you might need, as well as supplements and non-prescription drugs.

Household Preparation

Before the weather gets bad, secure any loose patio furniture or other objects that could turn into missiles in a high wind. Make sure your roof is in good shape and that your windows and doors have a secure, positive seal. If you're in the direct path of a storm, you may need to board up your windows. Reinforce your garage door if you have one. Make sure your insurance policies are up to date and take an inventory of household items with pictures and serial numbers.

The important thing here is to ensure you get out well in front of this. Don't wait for the last-minute runs on the grocery stores and home-improvement stores. Be prepared long before things turn bad.

Also, if you have a generator, know where to place the unit so that you can run it safely and exhaust fumes won't make their way into the house. It's a good idea to start the generator well in advance and make sure you have plenty of gas on hand for it.

Flood waters splash against tires

Flood waters | Getty

To Stay Or To Go

So you've been monitoring the developing weather situation, and it looks like the worst of it is going to miss you. Don't be too confident, listen to local weather officials — tornadoes, high winds and torrential rains are likely even at the outward edges of a hurricane.

Even if you've been through it before and know what to do, you should never ignore evacuation orders. Even the most well-built, solid house can be heavily damaged in a severe hurricane or tornado. If the authorities say you need to go, then go. There's nothing at your home that's worth your life.

Your Vehicle

Park your vehicle in the most secure location available. If you can't park in a garage, try to avoid potential hazards like large limbs, power lines and low-lying areas that are prone to flooding.

And if you're ordered to evacuate, don't just figure you can ride it out and hope for the best. Make sure your vehicle is ready to go with a full tank of gas and in top mechanical condition (good tires, new wipers, and all fluids topped off). It's a good idea to keep all your emergency supplies in a trouble bag in case you have to leave in a hurry, so make sure your vehicle has enough room for what you need.

If you live near the coast, you already know that sea spray and salty air is bad for your car's finish (not to mention salty floodwaters from a storm surge) and can easily promote rust, so don't let it start. If you come back and find your vehicle's been flooded, you've got a new set of problems to handle. Is it worth saving or should you just contact your insurance carrier and file a total-loss claim?

One last thing. You've heard it a hundred times, but it's worth saying again: don't drive through deep water. You might be driving a big heavy vehicle, but it's not as heavy as the tons and tons of water that are flowing across a low-water crossing or a flooded road. Besides, when the water's up to your vehicle's rocker panels, you can't see what's ahead and could easily drop into a washout or end up off the road and in trouble. Turn around and don't drown!

Last updated September 26, 2022

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