Hurricane Etiquette: Keeping Your Cool During a Natural Disaster

When you live in a hurricane prone area, preparation is extremely important. However, when a storm is looming and you are finishing up with last minute preparations, tempers can sometimes flair. It is not unusual to see reports on the news of fights breaking out in lines at Home Depot over the last piece of plywood or the last gallon of water at Publix.

I have experienced the insanity of hurricane preparation and hurricane aftermath first hand, so I can understand the frustration that accompanies it. Although you may want to scream while you're waiting in line, here are some helpful tips for keeping your temper during hurricane frenzy.

1) Remember that everyone is in the same position. Getting impatient and losing your temper is not going to help the situation. If you are in line and it seems like things are taking forever, the best thing to do is to take a deep breath, smile, and try to make conversation with someone around you. The time will go by faster and you will take your mind off of your anger.

2) Do not drive like a maniac. There are countless stories of horrible accidents in the days before a hurricane because of crazy drivers. When there is a hurricane coming, you must expect traffic delays. There is nothing you can do about it because other people are trying to prepare too.

3) Waiting in a gas line is probably the worst experience before a hurricane and this is usually where the fights break out. Many people don't follow the directions when entering the gas station and they cut in front of everyone else. Usually, gas stations will have signs directing cars or the police will often direct traffic. Please follow the signs. There is really nothing more annoying than waiting in line for gas for a half an hour and having someone come in the wrong way and take your spot. If someone does this to you, do not start screaming or physically accost them. Explain to them what they did, and if they refuse to wait their turn, then I can understand saying a few choice words, but don't get into a physical confrontation.

4) After the storm, most people will not have power, which means no air conditioning. So everyone will be hot and cranky! If you do go out of the house after the roads have been cleared, expect long lines everywhere you go. If a restaurant regains power and is open, there will probably be a lengthy wait. This was another situation where I saw tempers rising. Again, be calm, you will eventually get in.

5) If you are one of the fortunate people who have a generator, be a nice person and help others out who need it. Let your neighbors use your fridge to store food that's going bad or medications that need to be refrigerated, or help them out with some ice. I'm not saying to invite the whole neighborhood over to sit in your air conditioned house and watch TV all day and night, but try to assist in little ways if you can.