Hurricane Preparedness

            September 10th marks peak season for hurricane development in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Many people living along or near the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States should really consider creating a disaster plan for their families and themselves if you already don’t have one!

            The first step for hurricane preparations would be to plan different routes if you and your family had to be evacuated for an approaching hurricane or tropical storm. Deciding to evacuate can be a difficult decision and typically has to be made within a short time span. Traffic pile-ups often sway an individual’s decision on whether to evacuate or not, which is why planning a route is beneficial to avoid horrible traffic jams. Also, planning a safe destination, whether in a hotel or other family member’s home, is vital for a successful evacuation. This ensures you and your family’s safety when you finally arrive at the preplanned location. 

Figure 1 www.nytimes.com (Damage Hurricane Ike)

            Creating a survival kit is another must if you are in a disaster (hurricane or not!) prone area. During severe weather events, many homes and businesses lose their power, which means one has to plan their food choices and water supply accordingly. The American Red Cross’s website offers lists of various supplies that are necessary to include in you survival kit. The first list includes the most basic supplies that are highly recommended, and also include secondary lists that would be beneficial to you and your family’s needs. It is highly suggested that you check out the American Red Cross’ website and create a survival kit just in case of an event of a disaster (or hurricane). 

Website for the American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family

            Taking inventory of your household items is another suggestion you might want to consider while preparing for a hurricane/tropical storm for insurance reasons. By doing this, you are providing pictures of your home and personal belongings before the disaster has occurred. After the storm has passed, you can take pictures of your items and home after the storm, and present them to your insurance company. This helps you while you inventory the aftermath, and shows the insurance companies the actual damages from the storm.

            One of the last tasks one should remember is covering all your windows or opening to your home. Hurricane shutters are ideal in this situation, but not many homes or businesses have access to them. Boarding up windows with wood is an alternative that could help protect your home as well. Placing sandbags around your home is another way to provide damage prevention to help block possible flooding and storm surge.

Figure 2: Ramanathan | Aug 29, 2012 (Isaac) http://www.ibtimes.com

              Finally if you are a pet owner, please do not forget your pet(s)! They too need to be included in your disaster plan because not all hotels are “pet friendly”, and pets also need necessary supplies, such as water and food.

            Hurricanes and tropical storms are only two disasters out of many that can occur. Every household, no matter your location, should make plans for disasters. Businesses also should consider having disaster plans to protect themselves and their faculty. A disaster can happen at any time, so it is better to be prepared for when it happens!