We're not in the thick of the storms yet, which is a good thing. There is still time to prepare for the upcoming storm season. But what does it mean to be prepared? There are a few things you might want to remember about this swirling time of year.
Hurricane Preparedness week According to the National Hurricane Center, May 22nd through May 28th is hurricane preparedness week. Instead of calling your boss at 7:53am and telling him you are 'busy', it might be a good time to go over the basics of being prepared for a hurricane.
Ask yourself this: Do I have a plan if a hurricane comes? Where will I go if forced to evacuate? Hopefully you didn't make fun of your Aunt's sweater at Christmas, or you might be forced into an overcrowed hotel.
Do I have a supply kit? • Extra Water - 2-3 gallons minimum. • First aid kit - Storms cause catastrophic damage, and a little first aid can go a long way. • Clothing - extra changes of clothes in water tight bags is a must. Pack extra rain gear/rubber boots in case of flooding and persistent water. • Batteries - When a big storm hits, the power is going to go off, there's just not much • Flashlights instead of candles (yes, these lead to fires) • Non perishable food • Radio - Don't forget batteries for this! Also consider a crank up radio... they're actually becoming affordable. http://www.ambientweather.com/emra.html • Phones - fully charged before the power goes out. • Cash - in case credit card machines don't work • Entertainment - Books, cards or anything else that can be enjoyed without electricity.. Did I secure my home? Make sure all of your windows and doors in the house are securely shut and locked. The NHC reccomends rolling shutters instead of using quickly fastened plywood. While plywood may seem like a good solution, it is often poorly attached to a home and can fly off, causing even more damage. During an impending hurricane, plywood is often in short supply, leaving homes unprotected. Avoid this mistake, just call us! Parts of this article are referenced. For more information on how you can prepare for this year's upcoming hurricane season, visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml
