12 Ways You Should Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane
Yvonne Fish
Nobody wants to experience a hurricane, but if one should head your way, these tips will help make sure you and your home are prepared. Days ahead of the storm is when you need to begin thinking about what your plan of action is.
When the storm is a few days out, stores begin running out of the necessities like water, fast & low maintenance food and gas stations begin raising (or running out of) gas.
Check out the list below and make sure you have all the boxes checked!
1. Make a basic storm kit.
A basic storm kit is designed to get a family through 48 hours without electricity and basic services. Your basic storm kit should include blankets, garbage bags, batteries, a three-day water supply and two days worth of food.
2. Fill Gas Containers
The one resource that gets overlooked is gas. When the storm passes and you could possibly need to check on someone the last thing you want to do is run out of fuel. The gas stations go through the storm just like your home does and could undergo damage to the pumps or be closed leaving you stranded.
3. Start Moving Stuff
Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools. Anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
4. Review Evacuation Plans
You and your family should pick two locations to go to for safety in the event of an emergency. Choose one out-of-town person as an emergency contact and create a list of emergency contacts that can be kept in a safe, readily available place.
5. Locate Water and Electricity Shut-Offs
Finding the water and electricity shutoffs should be among the first things you do when you move into a new home. They should be near the top of your to-do list when a hurricane is expected.
6. Prepare Windows, Doors and Garage Doors
If you live in an area susceptible to hurricanes, it’s best to prepare the home for those conditions with shutters. Brace your doors and secure your garage door, which has a likelihood of blowing away in a storm. Hurricane shutters are a great option.
7. Turn Refrigerator and Freezer to Coldest Setting
If the power does go out, your food will stay cold a little longer.
8. Unplug Electrical Appliances if Power is Lost
Unplugging your appliances will prevent any potential damage from a power surge once power is restored.
9. Gather Insurance Documents
Your home insurance documents and other important papers should be part of your storm kit and readily available in the event of a disaster because you will need that proof for claims and assistance. Know what your policy will cover!
10. Determine What to do with Pets
Not all emergency shelters will accept pets through their doors so it’s important to have a plan for your pets. Before storm season arrives, locate shelters that allow pets and contact them. Keep a picture of your pet if it gets lost or have them microchipped, if you haven’t already.
11. Elevate Furniture - if There's Time
If there is time before the storm hits your area, it’s good idea to move furniture to higher ground, but only if you have time. There are certainly far more pressing tasks in a time of crisis.
12. Keep Flashlights and Extra Batteries in Dry Areas
Store them in containers to make sure they will work if need be. Better yet, make a flashlight glow in the dark so it’s easy to locate. Glow-in-the-dark tape makes a flashlight easy to find when the power goes out. Adhesive-backed tape holds its radiance for hours after exposure to light. Find it at home centers or online.
Keep your family comfortable and protected!
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