3 Steps of Hurricane Prep - Step 2: Before the Storm
Once you have picked out your space, there are a few things we can do to prepare before the storms arrive. The more our family experiences these storms, the more we understand the value of not waiting until the last minute to stock up on our everyday items and other helpful items for emergencies.
STEF’S 3 TIPS FOR PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR STORM SEASON
1) Create A Family Emergency Plan
Liam was three when we moved into our new house. It was also a fun transition to his new “big-boy bed” in his own “big-boy room”. He loved the all the new adventures of living in a new place. On one of our first outings we went to Lowe’s, because …new house… and we got to meet our local first responders and fire heroes. He had a lovely time exploring the truck and collecting his badgers at all the fun stations they had set up for junior firefighters. He talked about it all day! But at night the fear set in and he realized that a conversation was needed about the What-ifs of it all, so the next morning we spent some family time talking about what to do in case of emergency. These are helpful questions to have answered any time, but especially for hurricane season.
Where do we meet if we get separated in a house fire?
What do we do when the power goes out?
Where are our emergency / hurricane supplies?
Where are we going or what are our options if we have to evacuate. These guidelines can help. FEMA Evacuation Guideline
What supplies do we need? (REMEMBER: Emergency Cash Stashed)
Do we have a plan to move any family members - possibly elderly or with special needs - to a safe location in case of an extended power outage?
Do we have access to information we may need in case of a power outage?
Insurance Agent or Claims Reporting Information
Copies of Property Insurance Policies Policy Numbers
Doctor Phone Numbers
Medication List and List of Allergies for every family member including pets
Identification records
PRO-TIP: Make up a song for phone numbers to help small children memorize them.
2) Stay Connected to Your Local Weather and Support Teams
With the popularity of so many streaming services and the expense of cable and television, cord-cutters may find that they need other sources of information about weather updates. Even if you have cable, internet and cell phones, having a list of local resources is never a bad thing and having it printed out may seem a bit extra, but it may also come in very handy.
Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for safety tips ahead of the storm, and response activities as communities recover.
Connect with your electric provider on the best way to stay connected with them for how to prepare for the storm, how to notify them of a power outage and how to stay updated in the case of power outages. Make sure to follow their social media pages, too.
Purchase a portable radio* to monitor weather forecasts and get important updates from state and local officials.
3) Gather Supplies In Advance
While this may seem like an obvious tip, it still can’t be said too much. The best time to think through a crisis is before it happens. Obviously, there are some things that are just out of the “big blue world” but in the case of hurricanes, we have some time to research and think through a list that accommodates everyone in your family.
Ready.gov offers a guide for putting together a disaster supplies kit. Here are a few things I like to consider when making my supply list.
PRO-TIP: There are actually 2 checklists: 1) the supplies you can buy in advance and 2) the supplies that have to be acquired within 2 weeks of a storm arrival. The best time to make them is before you need them.
Is there a way to cook some things if the power goes out for an extended time?
A Gas or Charcoal grill - is there extra propane or charcoal that will be safe during and after the storm?
Generator powers an appliance?
Is there extra water for every human and animal in your house? This includes water for drinking, hygiene and possibly cooking if the power is on, but there is a boil order or other issue. Even with a water softener and reverse osmosis in the house, I try to keep a minimum of 4 cases of water and 8 gallons on hand through hurricane season. I realize this may seem extreme, but as a cordcutter and an avid avoider of the news, this still saves me from having to worry about the shortages. lol
Keep in mind that after the storm moves through weather may return to extreme dry heat.
If power is out, AC and fans may not be available, so you are likely to drink more than normal.
Drink supplements for electrolytes may be sold out around the storms, so having some on hand ahead of time may be helpful.
Fruit can help hydration as well so add whole fruit to your storm shopping list.
Water supplies in general can be subject to rations or supply chain issues. If you have specific water requirements or preferences, shop early, shop often; this includes baby water.
In the age of digital checking, credit cards, apple pay, venmo, cash can still go a long way. Absolutely have an emergency cash stash. I recommend stashing it with the identification you would need to take with you in the case of evacuation.
If you are new to Central Florida or to hurricane prep in general, I’d love to know what you found helpful about this article. Check back next week for 3 STEPS OF HURRICANE PREP - STEP 3: FIND THE CALM IN THE STORM.
