We’re well into hurricane season and the National Weather Service is already naming big storms. Current predictions are projecting the busiest hurricane season since 2005—the year of Katrina and Rita. Three to seven major storms are on the horizon; developing a disaster plan may be a matter of survival, particularly for waterfront communities. Before the storm comes, here’s some tips so you know what to do:
Step One: Build a Kit
It’s best to prepare to be away from home for a few days. Your house might survive the storm, but chances are you will be without water and electricity for at least a day or two. Even after the storm settles, you may need to stock up for a few weeks while local authorities work at restoring lost power and water. The American Red Cross suggests keeping a kit in your home that will last for two weeks.
Your kit should include the basics:
- Water (one gallon per person per day)
- Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food
- Emergency blankets
- A week’s supply of medication
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Battery-powered radio (try to get your hands on an NOAA weather radio)
- First-aid kit
- Sanitation and personal-hygiene items
- Copies of important documents like medication lists, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, and proof of home ownership
Depending on the needs of your family, there may be other items to include. Think about things like baby supplies—diapers, formula, and bottles—or any special items needed by the elderly members of your family. Items like two-way radios, extra health-care items (glasses, etc.), and duct tape are good to have on hand, too.
Store your emergency kit somewhere in your home that is cool and dry to make sure it stays in top shape should you need to take it with you. Check your supplies periodically to make sure any expired goods are replaced. The last thing you want is to be without something like medication in the middle of an evacuation.
Make sure you have cash on hand for emergency purchases.
Include maps of the area in your kit. No matter how well you know your community, severe weather can change terrain, destroy road signs, and rattle your memory a little as well. Having a visual map will help you regain your bearings and make smarter decisions as you determine the best route out.
Step Two: Make a Plan
It’s a good idea to create a pre-arranged plan with your family, just in case you’re not all in the same place when the hurricane arrives.
Locate the safest place inside your home in case leaving is not an option. Determine a meeting place away from your home that everyone is familiar with. Plan to meet there if it is impossible to return to your home during the storm or in case of an evacuation. Decide your evacuation route ahead of time. Think in terms of tens of miles rather than hundreds. Know where you would go and where you would stay in case of an evacuation.
Make a family member or friend your “out-of-area contact.” If your community loses power or local phone lines are jammed (which almost always happens), the contact person can act as a messenger between family members who can’t reach each other. Don’t forget that texting often works even when phone calls won’t go through because it doesn’t need as reliable of a connection. If you can’t get a call out, try sending a text message.
Don’t forget about the pets. Know what you would do with your animals in case of a hurricane. Keep information for pet-friendly motels and hotels on hand so that if you are evacuated, your furry friends will be safe too.
As with every emergency plan, it’s a great idea to do a practice run a couple of times a year. Load up your supplies. Drive your escape route. Keep your plan fresh in your mind so that if the time comes and you really do need to react, you’ll be ready.
