A hurricane is any tropical or sub-tropical storm that comes with winds of a speed of more than 119km/hr.(74mph). Since these storms have the tendency of developing all of a sudden from small thunderstorm clusters during the hurricane season (typically towards the end of summer to the beginning of fall), it is wise to be prepared at all times. For you to survive, you must know how to prepare in advance, how you are supposed to survive the storm and the safety measures that you should take to stay safe.
Emergency Disaster Supply Kit and a Family Disaster Plan
If you live in states that are frequently affected by hurricanes such as Carolina, Georgia and Florida, an Emergency Disaster Supply Kit and a Family Disaster Plan should be part of your preparations. These two essentials should be in places that are easy to locate. A disaster kit consists of items or necessities that need to be ready at a moment’s notice and these items have to be basic needs that you require for survival on your own for a minimum of 72 hours. For example, a first aid kit, water, food and lights. A disaster plan on the other hand lays out the procedure to be followed in case of such(hurricane) an emergency. For instance, emergency routes of evacuation, turning off or electricity mains and gas and assembly points.
Emergency Sources of Power
Think about acquiring a generator since it will be an efficient source of electricity in the course of the storm until the power comes back up. It should be stored somewhere where it can’t be affected by either rain or rising water. Learn how to use it well:
- Ensure that it is always grounded and in a dry place
- Never hook it directly to the wiring of your home or plug it into the regular outlets, it may back-feed onto the power lines
- Run it in the open away from windows and doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
Self-Powered Tools and Equipment
It is almost certainly a guarantee that in the case of a hurricane, you are going to experience a power blackout, meaning no access to light or communications. You should therefore have tools like reliable flashlights and equipment such as kinetic-energy or battery powered radios. Remember to keep it safe even when you are looking for alternatives. Instead of using candles, use glow sticks because there is a high possibility of gas leaks during storms and hurricanes.
Safe Rooms
If you can manage, add a safe room to your place of residence since the have a tough structure that is specifically designed to withstand extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes and tornados. If you can’t afford one, there are grants offered by funding programs such as the federal government.
Secure Your Property Beforehand
This is another important step that you must not forget. Most of the damage brought by hurricanes comes from high winds which have the potential to rip apart or blow away anything that isn’t secured well enough. Thus, you should take action by pre-emptively getting rid of tree limbs that are already damage if they are close to your property. You can as well talk to your contractor about proofing your house with reinforced doors and impact-resistant windows for instance.