Hurricane Safety Zone - Hurricane Preparation

Hurricane Preparation Tips

The Fine Points of Hurricane Preparation

When it comes to hurricane safety what is the best way to prepare? Hurricane preparation plays a big role during the hurricane season. Knowing what to do when a hurricane hits can ultimately save your life. Hurricane preparation is key before, during and after the storm. Make sure you have your hurricane guide, hurricane evacuations route and hurricane preparation tips. The number one hurricane preparation tip --Don't underestimate a storm!

As we've seen many times in the past, a hurricane's behavior is often unpredictable. That's why hurricane preparation steps need to be taken in advance of hurricane season. Here are some of the basics:

If you have hurricane shutters, make sure all the hardware to install them is accessible. If parts are missing, replace them before hurricane season.
Determine where the safest place in your home will be during a hurricane. Generally, you want to avoid windows and doors.
Stock up on bottled water (about a gallon per person for each day you're without safe drinking water) non-perishable foods, batteries and flashlights.
Make sure you have a battery-operated radio to keep tabs on the storm in case you lose power.
If you need to evacuate, place breakables in your bathtubs and cover them with pillows, blankets and towels. Gather anything of sentimental value that can't be replaced (pictures, important documents, etc.) and take them with you. Notify family members of where you're going to be. It's also a good idea to bring sleeping bags and pillows in case you end up stranded somewhere you didn't mean to be.
Before you evacuate, make sure you car's fluids are topped off, the windshield wipers and lights work, there's plenty of air in the tires, you have maps and a full tank of gas.

Making hurricane preparations is everyone's job. There are a lot of things to consider when thinking about your property and what type of damage can be done (flooding, etc.) if you don't take hurricane preparation seriously. Everyone should join in the hurricane preparation process. If one person loses a life, we all lose. Learn your lesson from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.