“The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach and that it blows from one point of the compass at a time.” – Gertrude Atherton.
Hurricane season was quite active when it started this year, but it is now in a sort of pause. That’s an opportunity for those who live in areas affected by hurricanes or the surrounding regions bordering these areas to review their plans and adequately prepare. Last year had a record 30 Atlantic storms. Fourteen of those were hurricanes. Though the current season is taking a little breather, August looks to resume activities. The Saharan Air Layer is currently suppressing tropical storm activity, but as this fades in August and a forecasted high-pressure system establishes over the northeastern United States, a steady stream of tropical storms and hurricanes could barrel in directly to the United States. Instead of bending away from the U.S. and skirting the coastline as years before, the conditions are perfect for these to hit populated areas directly.
Even if that doesn’t happen, we have seen the devastating effects of hurricanes over the last two decades. The damage to structures and the displaced people can stretch for hundreds of miles inland, away from the coastal regions. High winds, rain, flooding, power outages, road closures, and more could happen far from the shoreline and spill over into communities hundreds of miles away. The time to prepare for a hurricane is long before they even name the hurricane– before it even appears on any map or forecast. In this blog, I’ll review some of the basics of hurricane and extreme storm preparedness, but I’ll also provide a couple of hacks that can help you weather the storm better.
KNOW YOUR ZONE
Make sure your vehicles are gassed up. Even if you plan on weathering the storm in your home, you need to have a plan to get out of the disaster zone. Know where you will go, and keep that as your backup plan. In the period leading up to, during, and right after a disaster, food, water, and fuel will force many to desperate measures. Make sure to factor in your security with all your preparations. Consider the safety of your home zone, but also consider how safe the evacuation routes may or may not be. Know the areas prone to flooding, and know how to get out if you have to. If you decide to evacuate or are ordered to do so, don’t delay. Shut off the power, gas, and water to your home. Stay ahead of the masses of people who will evacuate. Hurricanes can cause significant damage for a hundred miles inland, but they are confined to a geographical path. You can get outside of that path if you act quickly. Make sure everyone in your family can connect with a family or friend far outside the disaster zone. In this way, if you are separated, you will be able to reconnect.
If you are in your home when the storm hits, make sure that you are in a low, interior room. Go to a safe area, such as an interior room, closet, or downstairs bathroom. Never go outside the protection of your home or shelter before there is confirmation that the storm has passed the area. Stay away from windows, skylights, and glass doors. Never go outside the protection of your home or shelter before there is confirmation that the storm has passed the area. The eye of the storm could create a temporary and deceptive lull, with high winds still approaching.
WATER
All that said, every hurricane that hits results in people scrambling for cases of water. In extreme cases, people are sickened by drinking compromised water or dehydrated while sitting in floodwaters. With modern forecasting, we see the disaster of a hurricane days before it ever strikes. While others adopt a wait-and-see approach that leads to desperation later, secure your essential water resources right now–long before a tropical storm even appears on the maps.
FOOD
Without electricity or a cold source, food stored in refrigerators and freezers can become unsafe. Bacteria in food grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and if these foods are consumed, you can become very sick. You will want to raid your refrigerator and plan on eating or cooking what is in there in the early part of the disaster. Also, consider stocking up on ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables. Freeze-dried foods will take up very little space but will provide you loads of nutrient diversity. Protein bars, powdered milk, and dried cereals will give you a feeling of fullness. You should consider two types of food: food that you can store in your home for surviving the aftermath of the hurricane and food you will need to take with you if you are forced to evacuate. If you are forced to evacuate, make sure you have at least 72-hours worth of food with you.
MAKE A KIT
RETURNING HOME
CONCLUSION
If there’s anything good about a hurricane, it is that you can see them approaching long before they show up at your door. Even knowing that many people fail to prepare until the very last moment. This leads to panic and desperation and can make a passing storm into a lasting disaster. If you live in any coastal region, prepare for the most likely disaster of a hurricane or tropical storm. Don’t be caught off guard. You will find that the preps you do put in place will get you through a host of other disasters, as well.
What do you think? What’s the one lesson you learned when you survived a hurricane? What do you wish you would have known?
As always, please stay safe out there.