Hurricane Preparation for Families
First of all, teach your children how to dial 911 on every phone in your house. Most homes these days have two to three internal phones, not including cell phones, and it seems they all function differently. Teach your child how to dial remotely and on your cell phone, in the case of an emergency. Role-play with them what to say to an operator and what they might experience if someone were to approach them for safety. In my home, we have our phone number, address, and local contact information for an emergency on our refrigerator. My children know their full names, my full name, and my husband’s full name. I do role-play with them because safety is such an important discussion topic. It’s hard for children to decipher who is a “good” stranger and who isn’t. I tell them not to open the door for anyone unless I’m behind them, unless there is an emergency and the person has on a uniform and can tell them their name. Even writing that is confusing, let alone explaining to young children.
I think it’s important during a storm to discuss the situation as a family. The first large hurricane that came through Central Florida, we felt safe in our home, and decided to stay. Naturally, all of the family member’s employers’ decided to shut down business for several days until the storm had passed and debris cleared up. My kids thought this was a vacation since everyone was home. I was a nervous wreck, had blankets in the hallway in case of tornadoes, with every size battery pulled out for every radio, flashlight, etc. that existed in my home. I’m also a nervous eater, so I spent most of the time in the kitchen hoarding snacks, after ensuring we had enough consumable canned food for three meals for six “emergency” days per person. It sounds nuts, but that is what is recommended. Needless to say, I learned through experience how to calm down and work together as a family through the weather.
It is definitely important to acquire essential goods needed in the home in case of an emergency. I mentioned food earlier, which is definitely important, but water especially important. Consumable water in the area after the third hurricane through Central Florida was almost non-existent. I make sure I have plenty of beverages on an average day, so not being able to locate water was definitely new to me. I started buying milk and pouring out the milk to make room for water. This was far cheaper than buying the flavored water drinks that are now sold, especially at “hurricane prices”, and I honestly felt better knowing that I had some stocked water. Did I mention I was a nervous eater?
Essential goods include candles, matches or propane lighter; flashlights, a battery operated radio, cell phones (or even walkie talkies), cash, food, water, and any other essentials needed for the family. If your family has special needs or medications, make sure there is a supply available, and close to reach if you need to evacuate your home in a rush.
Know and practice drills in your home. Make sure family members know where to go if a window breaks and knows the safest place in the house, generally an interior room that doesn’t have any windows. Most Florida homes don’t have many interior rooms, so closets and bathrooms function as the best closed in space. Hurricanes don’t only strike in Florida, but I use this information from a “personal approach”.
Not only should children understand the important safety measures to be taken, but they can also understand what will happen during the storm. In our home, weather was very windy, rainy, and very different from a normal thunderstorm, even a bad thunderstorm. Kids generally get spooked by storms, so letting them in on what might come will better prepare them for the noises that bad storms can make. Kids can listen in on live broadcasts on the storm and even track the storm on a map, if they’re old enough. If school is out and there isn’t any electricity, kids will need anything to keep them entertained. They will surely be excited to pull out an oversized United States map to play with. This year, I hope to be less anxious with any bad weather, but will feel more prepared and have a more accurate list of needs as I approach the local super center, and now hopefully you will too. Good luck.
