What to Remember as You Prepare for a Hurricane

Hurricanes are devastating storms that have left thousands homeless, missing, and worse. I have lived along the Florida coast for five years, and in that time have been required to bunker down in and leave my home countless times, because of hurricane alerts; each time I have been lucky enough to return to see my house still standing, I know many less fortunate. You may not always need to flee your home, but by being prepared, and staying away from the "It's only a storm" ideal will see you and your family through the worse Mother Nature has to offer. This article will look at many ways you can prepare for a hurricane.

Preparing for a Hurricane:

1. Stock up on water and food. Make sure the food is non-perishable, while a steak sounds nice, if the power goes out, it is useless. Make sure the food can be eaten with little cooking, such as canned, cereal, and bagged foods. Have plastic containers to put open food in and keep a large supply of bottled water. You should maintain enough supplies to last your family a few weeks. The food and water should be re-supplied annually, even if it went unused last season, so it stays fresh.

2. Stock up on other supplies as well. You should have flashlights, batteries, plastic bags, first aid kits, rope, blankets, bad weather clothing, plates, utensils, paper towels and any other items you think you may need during a disaster. Also, keep a half tank of gas in your car at times during the hurricane season. Gas stations are always packed when a hurricane is near, as everyone attempts to evacuate.

3. Make sure to pick a safe spot in your house to stay during a hurricane. Try to find a room with no windows, as close to or below the ground as possible, and waterproof. If you do not have any such rooms in your house, find 2 or 3 close emergency shelters. Contact the shelters and find out what it might help you to bring and if there are any prior arrangements which need to be made. Have plans for your pets; shelters will not accept them. Have cages to put your pets in and bring them inside. If need be, it may be helpful to evacuate your pet early to a friends house in a safer area.

4. Make sure you have a communication plan with your family. You may not all be home when it is announced a storm is approaching.

5. Prepare your house to weather the storm. Make sure to begin preparing your house when the news tells you a hurricane is approaching and not when it is already starting to downpour. I recommend investing in some sturdy hurricane shutters for each of your windows, these can be life savers. If you can't afford hurricane shutters have some inexpensive plywood, cut to your window sizes, on hand. Store anything that isn't stuck in the yard in your shed, garage, or house. Make sure that your insurance covers you incase you have to rebuild part or your entire house due to a windstorm. Standard insurance does not cover flooding, be sure to buy that from the federal government as well.

6. Some times, no matter how much you feel you have turned your house into Fort Knox, it is best to evacuate. Watch the news and listen to the radio for alerts and, using your discretion, evacuate when necessary. Remember to remain calm and take the safest route you can to get out of the path of the hurricane. It is a good idea to have your vehicle packed with some clothes and supplies at all times; also, have prior plans, on where you are going, with a friend or relative.

Using these steps, with a little luck, whether you bunker down in your home during the storm or if you have to flee your family and house will remain safe.