Hurricane Preparation is the Key to Hurricane Survival
Despite the lives lost and the devastating destruction that hurricanes leave behind there will always be those who refuse to leave their homes. Whatever the reasons, and for most they are quite personal, you need to be sure that you are as prepared for the aftermath of the hurricane as you can possibly be. The general rule of thumb has always been to have enough food to last 7 days minimum without power and/or water. Last summer we learned that this is not often adequate but 7 days worth is a good start and much better than not being prepared at all.
For the exterior of your home, use common sense and clear any debris, lawn ornaments, plants, tools, toys, and furniture that could potentially become missiles propelled by the devastating winds of a hurricane. You want to board your windows so that flying glass doesn’t become a hazard inside your home; I highly recommend that you purchase Ploylox window clips to make this process easier. Move vehicles up to higher ground on your property if you are at risk of flooding, and as we learned last year, if you are near any body of water during a hurricane you are at risk of flooding and the closer you are to the water, the higher your risk of the deadly and devastatingly destructive tidal surge (which seems to be particularly devastating in Gulf Coast regions because of the shallow waters).
For the survival of your family, there are several things you want to make sure you have inside your home.
1) Flashlights and extra batteries. A good rule of thumb is one working flashlight for each family member. This is one case though when more is more and not a bad idea. Hide the extras somewhere that is high and hopefully will remain dry.
2) Weather radio with extra batteries. This will provide you with lifesaving information about what is going on not only weather wise but also community wise during the aftermath. This will be your lifeline to the outside world should you find yourself cut off for a while.
3) Ice chests filled with ice. This serves multiple purposes actually. Once the power goes out, you can keep foods that you will use often in the ice chests rather than opening and closing the door to the refrigerator and allowing the cold air to escape even faster. The ice is also cool for those who have suddenly found themselves in sweltering heat with no air conditioning. And the ice will eventually melt which will require water that while it may not be ideal for drinking, can be used sparingly in order to wash hands and cleaning.
4) 2 gallons of drinking water per person, per day (14 gallons per person is highly recommended). You really only need to look back to last summer in New Orleans to realize how important drinking water can become in a relatively short amount of time.
5) Canned goods and non-perishable food items in waterproof containers. You want enough food that doesn’t require heating to last a week. Good things to have on hand are saltine crackers, canned meats, fruit snacks (these are really good for kids), dried meats, chips and other salty foods. Make sure you have hand sanitizer and a can opener in your hurricane kit.
6) A change of clothing for everyone in the house in a bag (preferably waterproof) that is packed and ready to go should you need to leave your home suddenly.
7) A good first aid kit. Make sure it is stocked and located in a central area.
8) Diapers, formula, medicine for teething, diaper rash, baby wipes, and any other supplies that you may find yourself in need of for your baby.
9) Make sure you have a good supply and a copy of any prescriptions that you may need.
Remember that it is important to stock up on storm supplies early rather than waiting for an approaching storm when you will find the lines long and store stocks seriously depleted. Keep a �hurricane kit’ of these things in your home and don’t touch the items in your kit unless you are in a hurricane.
Hurricane lamps and candles are not a good idea for lighting your home during a hurricane. You do not want to create a fire risk at a time when rescue workers may not be able to get to you. Hurricanes are one of the most deadly forces of nature and not to be taken lightly. It is estimated that Katrina was only a category 2 hurricane at landfall and she managed to dish out an unheard of amount of destruction in her wake. Take all hurricanes seriously. If you are planning to leave your home for a hurricane leave early to avoid the huge traffic pile ups that can occur (I know a 3 hour drive took 9 during the evacuation for hurricane Ivan and others have taken far longer than that) and the risk of being caught driving in the heat of the storm.
Use common sense when preparing for a hurricane and be prepared to be without power and other conveniences for at least a week (often much longer, not all of the gulf coast has recovered nearly one year later) and you will be uncomfortable, your children will be bored, and you will probably never want to eat canned meat again for as long as you live. These are the hardships we endure in order to live so close to paradise.
