If a hurricane is approaching, it’s essential to be prepared. Start by packing a carry-on suitcase with enough basic clothing and hygiene items for three days, ensuring you’re ready should the need arise to evacuate quickly.
Lisa Bedford, founder of the blog “The Survival Mom,” emphasizes that this task is an easy one to check off your to-do list, even if you might need to unpack that emergency bag again soon. She notes, “The worst thing is to stand still and do nothing. Focusing on these small tasks can truly help keep your mind from spiraling into panic.”
The key to hurricane preparedness lies in action. Merely having a plan is insufficient if you don’t follow through. Effectively coping with the storm involves calmly progressing from one task to another while taking care of your home, family, and yourself.
Scott Meredith recalls his experience moving from Illinois to Florida’s Apollo Beach eight years ago, where he didn’t initially grasp the importance of impact-resistant windows. Two years ago, in anticipation of a hurricane threatening his community, he spent eight hours multiple times putting up hurricane shutters.
When a hurricane directly hit his home and tore off the roof, he realized the need for an upgrade and decided to invest in new windows, saying, “At that time, we didn’t understand its value. We were completely ignorant, like anyone coming from a non-hurricane region.”
He also upgraded his garage door and installed a wind-resistant door in the patio. Now, his prep time has significantly reduced from half a day to just a few minutes.
Inside the home, simple preparations can help you handle the most common storm-related risks, such as power outages. It is advisable to do laundry, wash dishes, and prepare several meals that can be easily reheated on an emergency stove.
Bedford explains, “This is very useful because you might find yourself without the chance to do these things for several days.”
If you have a gas camping stove, a kettle could prove invaluable. It can be used not just for cooking oatmeal, coffee, and soup but also for boiling water in case municipal water lines break and the water becomes contaminated.
Gather all your electronic devices in one place and ensure they are charged. Prepare plenty of lanterns equipped with LED bulbs along with extra batteries for power outages.
Meredith’s first generator could only power lights and one refrigerator. He learned firsthand that Florida’s heat and humidity combined with the lack of airflow from sealed hurricane shutters made the house uncomfortably hot.
He shared, “If the power goes out, it gets pitch black and unbearably hot because everything is turned off and there’s no air circulation, making it really tough.”
His new generator operates on natural gas and can maintain the entire house’s functions as usual. Additionally, he has two smaller backup generators and propane tanks.
Bedford advises pulling out your generator early, filling it with fuel, and checking that it is functioning properly, along with having extra spark plugs and propane on hand. Her family once experienced a situation during a hurricane where poor ventilation led to carbon monoxide leaking into the attic.
You can often purchase used generators at significant discounts. They may not have had extensive usage, but gasoline generators can require cleaning the carburetor due to sediment left by stale gasoline. If you plan to store fuel for an extended period, it’s wise to add a fuel stabilizer, especially if the gasoline contains ethanol.
Be sure to have extra extension cords and a portable power source—a battery or solar-powered charging station for your devices.
“A large capacity portable power source can charge your laptop or keep it running for a while, providing you a way to stay connected and receive updates or news,” Bedford points out. During a storm, some individuals may still need to log into their work computers.
Your evacuation plan can be straightforward, such as calling friends or family to see if you can stay with them if you must leave your home. However, it’s crucial to remain aware of potential dangers that the news may not inform you about. Bedford suggests looking at a map to identify any bodies of water surrounding your community.
When Hurricane Harvey struck, its rainfall was devastating, flooding many homes in her area due to the opening of a dam at a lake upstream.
She advises, “It doesn’t hurt to check if there’s something upstream that could bring about destructive consequences, even if the rain or wind doesn’t appear intense. You might only realize the danger when it’s too late.”
If your household includes babies, elderly individuals, pregnant women, or anyone with chronic health conditions, you may need to evacuate even if you’re outside the designated evacuation zones.
Bedford recommends looking at the map to find hotels along evacuation routes. If you have pets, don’t leave them behind; even hotels that typically don’t allow pets may make exceptions during evacuation periods.
Collect all vital documents and identification for your family in a single folder, and pack small family heirlooms and photo albums in your vehicle in case an evacuation is necessary.
While people are the priority, you might also want to save your possessions. If you reside in a flood zone, one strategy is to remove interior doors from their hinges, stack them on top of furniture, and place valuable items above them.
Bedford suggests, “Walk through each room and ask yourself, ‘If this room is going to be flooded with three feet of water by tomorrow morning, what would I want to save from here?’ It doesn’t hurt to think ahead.”
An essential part of surviving a storm is to focus on the immediate tasks at hand without worrying about anything else, and to complete what you can as early as possible.
Bedford explains, “In fact, doing this builds more confidence and helps you make better decisions than waiting until the last minute.”
She adds that if you have kids, you can frame the storm as an opportunity for a fun, unplugged activity. Ensure everyone has their own flashlight and invite them to gather games, books, and activities for use during and after the storm.
According to Meredith, one beneficial aspect you’ll discover while preparing for storms is the sense of community.
“There is truly no individualism or arrogance here. Neighbors all help each other. No one charges for it. We understand and support one another,” he elaborates.
Ultimately, preparation and community support play crucial roles in weathering the storm effectively and safely.