Hurricane Preparedness

Is The Worst Yet To Come?
Are You Prepared?

The height of the hurricane season (August and September) is rapidly approaching and we've had it easy so far. After the 2004 and 2005 seasons, with a total of four hurricanes affecting our area, we had a break in 2006 and 2007 with no storms. What this season holds in store for us is still to be seen and, of course, everyone asks themselves if we will have another Wilma in our near future. Whether it's another Wilma or not, you need to be ready.

We are encouraged every year to have everything in place to prepare for a storm before hurricane season starts on June 1st, but few actually do. For your own safety and comfort, not to mention the protection of your property, you need to take protective measures now.

Whether you own or rent you need to protect the inside of the house by either having hurricane shutters or plywood. If you have neither it might be too late to get the shutters, but plywood is still readily available. Make sure the plywood is at least ½” thick and don't forget to get the anchors. Be prepared to bring all potted plants, lawn furniture and other loose objects from the yard inside.

I recommend getting an electric generator. Though a storm might only last a few hours, the after-effects of the storm, especially power outages, could last for weeks. A generator will definitely make your life more tolerable. They can run the refrigerator, television, lights and even small air conditioners, but it will not run your stove or central air. I have found that 5 gallons of gas will run my 5500-amp generator for about 12 hours and only ran it at night. Safely stock up on gasoline for the generator. I know gasoline is expensive, but the way gas prices are going, buying 20 or 25 gallons of gas now is like a savings account. It will be worth more after hurricane season is over, thus you will be saving money. Don't forget to buy gasoline preservative since even gasoline will go bad; you will also need motor oil for the engine. Make sure you purchase heavy-duty extension cords to run the electricity into your house. Do not run the generator inside the house due to carbon monoxide fumes. Run the generator a safe distance from the house away from open windows. For cooking you will need a small, propane gas powered camping stove.

Purchase a couple of flashlights, fresh batteries and don't forget a battery-powered radio. Oil lamps and candles may be more romantic but they are dangerous. If you plan to purchase a small, battery powered television, remember that television broadcast standards change in February 2009, thus rendering that TV useless.

Gather all your important papers together, including deeds, titles and insurance policies and put them in a watertight container. Standing water is common after a storm. Make sure you have insect repellant along with a well-stocked first aid kit.

Purchase canned food or other foods that can be easily stored without spoiling. If you have a generator you can purchase frozen foods, but make sure you turn both the refrigerator and the freezer to the coldest settings (which you should do whether you have a generator or not). Stock up on drinking water. It is recommended that each person have five gallons of water per day. Plan for at least three days food and water and remember that your pets will need food and water also. It was announced earlier this year that FEMA will no longer be supplying ice, so make or purchase extra ice and put it in the freezer or a good, well-insulated cooler chest. Fill your bathtub with water for use in flushing the toilet. If you are on medications, go to your pharmacy and get your prescriptions refilled.

Make sure your car is in good operating condition with a full tank of gas. You might need your car to evacuate if ordered to do so. Generally, if you are located west of U.S. 1 you will not be ordered to evacuate but may do so if you like. Know where your nearest hurricane shelter is located and be aware they don't accept pets. You may need to evacuate out of the area to a hotel room. Make sure all members of your family have your phone number, keep in touch with them and if you do evacuate, let them know where you will be staying.

Go to your bank and get cash. In case of widespread power outages, ATM machines may not be working for a few days and point-of-purchase ATM card readers may take even longer to come back online.

A hurricane watch is issued when a storm is expected to affect your area within 36 hours. That is the time to start shuttering your house, cleaning up the yard and completing all your preparations. By the time hurricane warnings are issued, all your preparations should be completed. A hurricane warning is issued if the storm is expected to hit within 24 hours. But don't be fooled by the warnings. When Hurricane Katrina hit us in 2005, we were only under only tropical storm warnings (Katrina didn't turn into a full hurricane until immediately before coming on shore). Many never prepared for a hurricane because Katrina was only a tropical storm and many were seen trying to put up their shutters in 50 mph winds, which is extremely dangerous. All of the local radio and television stations go into hurricane mode with a constant feed of storm updates and preparation hints. Most radio stations carry the television station audio feeds. Follow all emergency procedures you are instructed to follow.
Be careful when walking around your property after the storm. Your yard could be littered with broken glass and other debris. Also watch for fallen power lines. They could be live and should be avoided at all costs. City officials did an excellent job after Hurricane Wilma by picking up debris within days after the storm passed. It's your responsibility to clean your yard of branches and other materials and use your local city's recommended bulk trash procedures. Don't go driving around sightseeing. In many cases, traffic lights will be inoperable and driving could be hazardous. Also, leave the streets and highways open for emergency vehicles.

Get your food, gasoline and other items and have them ready now. I've seen many people buy plywood, cut it and put it on their windows, only to throw it out right after the storm passes. They then stand in line buying more plywood for the next storm. Store the plywood, as it will last for years. When and if a storm threatens, grocery stores will be very busy and all supplies will run out quickly. Canned food can last for years so buy it and keep it a while.

This is a brief rundown of the procedures you need to safely wait out the storm. For a complete list of hurricane preparedness procedures, visit the website of the National Hurricane Center at NHC.NOAA.gov.

If a storm does threaten this area, please be safe and remember, hurricane season doesn't end until November 30th.