As desirable as it is to live minutes from the beach and the shoreline, the lifestyle also comes with the risk of being hit by a hurricane. If you live near the Atlantic Coast, from Virginia down to Florida or along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas, you are in an area that is prone to being struck by a hurricane. When a hurricane might hit is a guess. If a hurricane will hit is just a matter of time.
From June 1 through November 1, the southeastern portion of the United States is officially in Hurricane Season. There is a chance that a hurricane will form and strike the United States at some point during this time period. The National Hurricane Center and your local weatherman will keep you informed of the danger with plenty of advanced warning.
A tropical storm watch is issued when sustained winds between 39 and 73 miles per hour threaten a coastal area within 48 hours. It is upgrade to a Warning when the same conditions are only 36 hours away. A solid red maritime flag indicates a watch. Two such flags indicates a tropical storm sarning, the higher level of danger. When sustained winds of 74 mph or more approach the coast and may hit within 48 hours, a hurricane watch is issued. At 36 hours from landfall, the watch becomes a hurricane warning. A red maritime flag with a black square indicates a hurricane watch. Two such flags indicates a hurricane warning.
With plenty of advanced notice of an impending hurricane, preparing for the storm is a simple matter of following a few basic instructions.
Have an Escape Plan
Know how you will evacuate your house if conditions warrant. Be ready to jump in the car and leave on short notice. Plan several routes in case one route is blocked. Have several possible locations to which you might go. You can consider shelters set up by the local authorities, friends or family out of harm’s way or even spending a few nights at a hotel. Make sure the whole family knows the plan and communicate your intentions to at least a few friends or family members so they can contact you if needed.
Secure Your Home
There are a number of ways to secure your home against high winds and flying debris. First, long before any storm is threatening, you should have your house inspected and make sure everything is up to code. Take steps to reinforce your roof, garage door and any other areas that are not tightly sealed. Buy plywood and cut it to size to cover your windows. You should get at least 1/2 inch plywood. Label the plywood so you know which piece goes to each window. Alternatively, you can buy some more expensive, but easier to handle, rigid aluminum panels that are customized to your windows. Have them on hand, because when a hurricane is only a few days away, they probably won’t be available. Other things to do are to bring lawn furniture, potted plants and anything else that might fly through the air like a missile, indoors
Family Pets
If you have to evacuate, you need to make provisions for your pets. Many shelters do not allow pets, but a few do. Check with the local authorities for any pet friendly shelters. Otherwise, consider a facility that shelters pets. If there is absolutely nowhere to take your cat or dog, leave them at home with plenty of food and water. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get back to your house a day or two after the storm passes.
Staying at Home
If you decide to stay home, make sure you have the necessary supplies to be self sufficient for at least 3 days, preferrably longer. Supplies include plenty of water for drinking, cooking and washing. If the power goes out (very likely), it is helpful to have a standby generator. Make sure it is installed outside and is working properly. Food and medicine are a few more essentials. Other handy things to have are flashlights, battery operated fans, cell phones and a few waterproof tarps.
When the storm hits stay inside. Don’t go outside to see just how strong it is. Tune into your local weather station (have a portable radio) and when they say the storm has passed, you can go outside and assess the damage.