Hurricane Helene devastated a lot of the southern part of the United States almost two weeks ago. The hurricane left a lot of devastation and deaths unfortunately. The devastation left with affect the families and communities for a long time. Unfortunately, there’s a new hurricane on the horizon and its name is Milton. Hurricane Milton is expected to become a Category 5 and it’s headed to Florida. Hurricane season starts on May 15 in the north Pacific and June 1 in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. It ends on November 30. Hurricanes don’t only affect people living along the coast. They can cause damage hundreds of miles from the shore. Learn how to be prepared. There’s a major difference between a hurricane and tropical storm. Below you can find some ways to prepare for hurricanes or tropical storms.
Make a Plan
If you live in or near a place where a hurricane has hit, go ahead and make a plan. Write down emergency numbers and put it on the fridge. While you’re at, put them in your phone. Prepare an emergency supply kit while you’re at it. Locate the nearest shelter and different routes you can take to get there from your home. If you have pets, make sure you’re aware of shelters and pet-friendly hotels. Local animal shelters may be able to offer advice on what to do with your pets if you are asked to evacuate your home.
Have Emergency Supplies Available
During and after a hurricane, you may need supplies to keep your family safe and healthy. Remember that a hurricane could cut off your power and water supply. You also may not be able to drive because of damage to your car. Roads may be flooded or blocked. Be sure to prepare the following:
- An emergency food and water supply.
- An emergency medicine supply.
- Emergency power sources such as flashlights (don’t forget extra batteries).
- Safety and personal items.
- Important documents, including medical documents, wills, passports, and personal identification.
- A fire extinguisher. Make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it! Read the National Fire Protection Association’s tips for using fire extinguishers.
Have Your Home Ready
Clean Yard
There is a possibility there could be some dangerous winds. Make sure there’s nothing that could blow around during the storm and damage your home. Move bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, and building material inside or under shelter.
Cover Windows and Doors
Use storm shutters or nail pieces of plywood to the outside window frames to protect your windows. This can help keep you safe from pieces of shattered glass.
Turning Off Power
If you see flooding, downed power lines, or you must leave your home, switch your power off.
Have Water Ready
Fill clean water containers with drinking water. You’ll want to do this in case you lose your water supply during the storm. You can also fill up your sinks and bathtubs with water for washing. You may want to stock up on cases or gallons of water ahead of the storm.
Is Your Car Ready?
There are measures to take to make sure your car is ready for the hurricane. First off, you want to make sure you have a tank full of gas. If you have an electric vehicle, make sure it’s fully charged. The cars you’re not driving, move them into the garage or under cover. This is something you should have already and that’s an emergency kit in your car. Every dad should have one in their car. If you don’t own a car, consider making plans with friends or family or call authorities to get a ride if you need to evacuate.
What About Your Family and Pets?
Hopefully you have an emergency plan and if you do, this is the time to go over it with them. Keep checking for updates about the storm. Watch TV, listen to the radio, or check online. Call the hospital, public health department, or the police about special needs. If you or a loved one is older or disabled and won’t be able to leave quickly, get advice on what to do. Put pets and farm animals in a safe place.
Will You Evacuate or Stay Home?
If you know the hurricane is headed your way, will you evacuate or stay home? First off, always listen to authorities as to whether you stay or leave. If a hurricane is coming, you may hear an order from authorities to evacuate (leave your home). Never ignore an order to evacuate. Even sturdy, well-built houses may not hold up against a hurricane. Staying home to protect your property is not worth risking your health and safety. You may hear an order to stay at home. If driving conditions are dangerous, staying at home might be safer than leaving.
If You Need to Evacuate
- Grab your emergency supply kit and only take what you really need with you (cell phone, chargers, medicines, identification like a passport or license, and cash).
- Unplug your appliances. If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water.
- Follow the roads that emergency workers recommend even if there’s traffic. Other routes might be blocked or flooded. Never drive through flooded areas—cars and other vehicles can be swept away or may stall in just 6 inches of moving water.
- Contact your local emergency management office and ask if they offer accommodations for owners and their pets. Learn more about evacuating with your pet.
If You Need to Stay at Home
- Keep your emergency supply kit in a place you can easily access.
- Listen to the radio or TV for updates on the hurricane.
- Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message that the hurricane is over. Sometimes, weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but then quickly gets bad again.
- Stay away from windows—you could get hurt by pieces of broken glass or flying debris during a storm. Stay in a room with no windows or go inside a closet.
- Be ready to leave. If emergency authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go to a shelter or a neighbor’s house.
Know the Difference Between a Hurricane Watch and Warning
Listen for National Weather Service alerts on TV or radio or check for them online. There are two kinds of alerts:
- A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles per hour [mph] or higher) are possible in a stated area. Experts announce hurricane watches 48 hours before they expect tropical-storm-force winds (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) to start.
- A hurricane warning is more serious. It means hurricane-force winds are expected in a stated area. Experts issue these warnings 36 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected in the area to give people enough time to prepare for the storm.
In the meantime, check out these ways to protect your home from hurricane or storm damage: https://daddyshangout.com/2022/04/03/8-ways-to-protect-your-home-from-hurricane-and-storm-damage/
