How to Prepare for a Hurricane in Hampton Roads

This year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is calling for 7-9 hurricanes. For anybody living on the coast, it's important to be prepared in case one hits. Virginia Beach is in a pretty lucky area as most hurricanes are turned out to sea when hitting the North Carolina coast. However, do not rely on this fact to get you through the season. Here is a list of things to get prepared in advance to be ready if Hampton Roads does get a hurricane this season.

Make sure you stock up before there is a hurricane watch or warning. If you wait until the last minute you won't be able to find the items you need. The shelves will be bare and you'll be out of luck. Get gas for your car too. Make sure your tank is full and don't wait until the last minute or you will be waiting in lines with the rest of the city and gas may even run out.

Make sure to stock up enough items to last a week. Food will be the first thing to prepare for. Buy things that do not need to be refrigerated or cooked. Buy items like ready to eat canned soup, granola bars, cereal, dried fruit, nuts, juice, etc. Make sure to plan enough food for all the members of the family, it would be prudent to have too much food than to run out and leave your family hungry.

The next thing you will need enough of is water. Store water in plastic containers to keep it from going bad. Store a gallon of water per person per day. You'll need water for drinking purposes as well as for toileting and bathing needs. You never know if you will be without the use of water.

Prepare for a power outage. All it takes is a heavy wind to knock out power and if large areas are affected it can take up to two weeks to be restored. If you have items in your freezer set up a place in advance to take your items if you find your home without power for days on end. We always have a few friends around town to take our things to, to keep our meats and other frozen items from going bad. Make sure to stock up on flashlights, camping lanterns and batteries. For safety purposes, candles should not be used unless it is your absolute last resort.

A couple of things people do not think about preparing are insurance and their important documents. Make sure the insurance on your home and other personal property are insured against a flood or hurricane. Make sure you have all of your valuable documents packed to take with you. This includes birth certificates, social security cards, passports, vehicle titles, and many others. Store all of these in plastic bags or other water resistant containers.

Pack a set of clothing for every person in your family. This includes a pair of shoes. Also make sure to have a sleeping bag or other bedding items for every person in your family too. You will also need basic hygiene items including a toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, antibacterial hand soap, aspirin and plenty of diapers if you have a little one. Pack a first aid kit too just in case there are an emergencies.

If you have pets make sure to pack the items they will need too. Make sure to have a leash and carrier on hand for them. Pack water and food for them too and make sure to stock up to a week's worth. If your pets are on any medications or may need them be sure to have those on hand too.

Have a plan in place in case your area is called to evacuate. This may include having a pre-arranged family member or friend to stay with in case of having to leave town. Or you might need to set money aside to get a hotel for a few days. You can never play it too safe. If they call for an evacuation, listen to it! Just consider it a vacation to visit family or friends or even an area of the country you have never been to before.

Above all, play it safe. Be prepared in the case of a hurricane and leave if you need to. You and your family's safety are more important than a house or other replaceable item.