Let’s Celebrate Hurricane Preparedness Week, 2019!
Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 5-11, 2019
Believe it or not, the 2019 Hurricane season is right around the corner!
The 2019 hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30, 2019.
How prepared were you last year and how prepared are you for an active Hurricane Season?
This week is Hurricane Preparedness Week 2019!
How to Prepare For the 2019 Hurricane Season
Here are the steps we suggest you take to prepare for the 2019 Hurricane Season
We suggest you
- Inform yourself
- Prepare your home, business and family
- Create a plan-of-action
- Be ready to stay, or
- Implement your family evacuation plan
How do you do that?
We’ve got you covered.
Download our FREE Hurricane Guide for Homeowners today!
Download this FREE 2019 South Carolina Hurricane Guide for Homeowners now, to be prepared when the first hurricane of the 2019 season heads toward the coast of South Carolina.
With over 1400 new residents moving to the Grand Strand each month, there will be many questions from new residents about how to prepare.
Please feel free to share this resource with your new neighbors, friends, and colleagues.
Are You At Risk for Hurricane Damage?
The threats from hurricanes to you and your family can vary widely depending on where you live in South Carolina. It’s not just those along the coast of our state that can experience significant, life-threatening impacts. Evaluate what you need to do to protect your home and family today, before the first storm of the season even forms in the Atlantic Ocean.
Will You Need To Evacuate When a Hurricane Hits South Carolina?
Make sure you have a hurricane evacuation plan for your family. The first thing you need to do is find out if you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if you’re in a home that would be unsafe during a hurricane. If you are, figure out where you’d go and how you’d get there if told to evacuate. You do not need to travel hundreds of miles. Identify someone, perhaps a friend or relative who doesn’t live in an evacuation zone or unsafe home, and coordinate with them to use their home as your evacuation destination. Be sure to account for your pets, as most local shelters do not permit them. There are some pet-friendly hotels who will allow you to bring your pets. Know which ones they are so you can book a stay in those! Put the plan in writing for you and those you care about.
Gather Hurricane Supplies Now Before They Are Sold Out!
Just having enough supplies to make it through a hurricane isn’t enough. You need plenty to make it through what could be a LONG recovery period too. Water and electricity could be out for a week or more. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family for a minimum of one week. Also make sure you have extra cash, a battery-powered radio, flashlights, and a portable crank or solar powered USB charger to charge your cell phone. Having lived through several hurricanes already, we at Strand Security know the importance of preparedness and how quickly supplies dwindle.
Don’t delay. Get your supplies, including a generator now.
Check Your Insurance Coverage and Purchase Flood Insurance Now
We encourage you to call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance checkup to make sure you have enough homeowners insurance to repair or even replace your home. …and remember, standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, you’ll need a separate policy for flooding. Act now as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period. Don’t forget to give us at Strand Security a call as well! You will want to know how to access your system remotely in case of an evacuation, and you’ll need a back-up battery.
Prepare Your Home Now!
If you plan to ride out a hurricane in your home, make sure it is in good repair and up to local hurricane building code specifications. Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up the windows and doors. Remember, the garage door is the most vulnerable part of the home, so it must be able to withstand high winds.
Help The Elderly, Help the Less Fortunate, Help Your Neighbors!
Many Americans rely on their neighbors after a disaster, but there are also many ways you can help your neighbors before a hurricane approaches. Ask your neighbors about their evacuation plans so that you can stay in contact during the storm. In case of a fire, downed trees, flooding or loss of power, it’s essential you can reach your direct neighbors.
Get Ready Now and Plan for an Emergency!
The time to prepare for a hurricane is today before the season begins on June 1. Once you’re under pressure, having an actionable plan will take the guesswork out of what you need to do to protect you, your business, your pets and your family.
Know where you will ride out the storm and get your supplies now. You don’t want to be standing in long lines when a Hurricane Watch is issued. Those supplies that you need will probably be sold out by the time you reach the front of the line.
Being prepared now will mean the difference between your being a hurricane victim and a hurricane survivor.
CLICK THE IMAGE to DOWNLOAD OUR FREE GUIDE!
Hurricane Prep Starts in June, Don’t Get Caught Without Supplies
It’s Nearly the End of June; Are You Prepared For A Hurricane?
We are three weeks into the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Are you prepared?
Have you prepared yourself, your family, your home, your business for a hurricane, should one head our way?
More often than not, those who live in coastal areas along the Grand Strand will wait until a hurricane has been named and is headed towards South Carolina before starting their hurricane prep and unfortunately, it can be too late to get certain prep done that late in the game!
Instead, get started on your hurricane kit before the end of this month and stay ahead, alert and prepared!
What Do You Need To Purchase Before a Hurricane Heads Your Way?
There are two major purchases to consider if you are new to the south and to hurricane preparedness.
The first purchase is a generator.
If you are wondering who should purchase a generator for hurricane season, here is our take on this!
- Anyone who lives in a known hurricane zone
- Someone who prefers to ‘ride out’ a storm vs voluntary evacuation
- Those who have pets
- People who are elderly
- Families with babies and small children
- Farmers, and those who live in a remote area
If you fall into any of these categories, you should consider purchasing a generator this season. Keep an eye out for sales and specials; often this type of equipment can be found on sale either during a 4t of July sale or Labor Day sales event.
The second important purchase is insurance.
This could include homeowners insurance, renters insurance, flood insurance and/or wind and hail insurance, depending on where you live and whether you own your home or rent it.
Of course, if you are traveling to a coastal area during hurricane season, you also might want to look into travel insurance!
Is Hurricane Prep in June Really Necessary?
If you were to talk to 100 local residents about hurricane prep, you will get 100 opinions!
Do you need to prep for hurricanes as early as June?
No, you don’t have to, but we suggest you better not get caught unprepared later in the season. Peace of mind counts for a lot.
If you have dependents; a spouse, small children, elderly parents or pets, it is even more important to prepare for a hurricane season well in advance of any named storm headed to the Grand Strand.
Predictions For The 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season!
According to the National Weather Service
CSU calls for another busy season with a total of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes
This is slightly above average and makes us at Strand Security even more glad we’ve published an amazing resource for our local residents.
Ready? Set? Prepare Your Home For The next Hurricane Starting Today!
Grab your FREE COPY of the 2018 South Carolina Hurricane Prep Guide for Homeowners today.
The 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season Starts This Week!
Are You New To The Grand Strand or The Carolinas?
Welcome to the South! If you are new to South Carolina or North Carolina and this is your first summer in the south, you might be new to the Atlantic Hurricane season as well.
The Myrtle Beach area, where Strand Security is located, is a fast-growing area. New housing developments are popping out of the ground like mushrooms and new roads, intersections and schools are constructed so fast it’s hard to keep up with!
Many of the new residents to the Grand Strand are moving here from ‘up North’ as we locals say. That means that many new residents are unfamiliar with hurricane season, hurricane prep and hurricane readiness.
No worries, Strand Security is here to help you navigate hurricane prep!
The Atlantic Hurricane Season Starts on June 1, 2018
This coming week is the start of hurricane season in case you didn’t know.
The 2018 hurricane season runs from June 1, 2018, to November 30, 2018.
Hurricane activity has already been spotted and this 2018 hurricane season is expected to more active than usual!
What does that mean? It means that there is a higher chance of a hurricane affecting the Carolinas and thus affecting you, our fellow Grand Strand residents. Fortunately, those who have lived here their whole lives, and those who’ve experienced and lived through hurricanes, are always happy to share their knowledge with those who are new to the area.
Why ‘reinvent the wheel’ when you can learn from past mistakes and triumphs?!
Preparing in June Is Important Especially For New South Carolina Residents
As the hurricane season is usually not too active in June, this is a great time to do your research on what it will take to be ready and prepared for when a hurricane does head towards the Carolinas.
You will need to get a handle on what supplies are needed and when to start collecting a hurricane kit.
Here are 4 things you can start on in June, even if there is no hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean!
- Research the need for a generator. Purchase your generator this month if possible if you decide to buy one.
- Check and/or update your homeowner’s insurance policy and the need for flood and/or wind and hail insurance.
- Find out if you’ll need hurricane shutters or plywood boards and order them now! (ask your neighbors!)
- Talk to your security company and get a backup battery for your system ordered ASAP
Protecting People, Places, and Pets During The Next Hurricane
Next, start on your plans for evacuations and or staying.
Think about creating hurricane plans for
- people
- your home and business
- pets
We have created an amazing resource for you this year!
Check out this FREE DOWNLOADABLE 2018 South Carolina Hurricane Guide for Homeowners!
Standing By For the next Hurricane, Prepared, Gives You Peace of Mind!
Why should you think about hurricane prep when there is no hurricane in sight?
Here is why!
As soon as there is a named hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, people panic.
Weather channels will regurgitate information, locals will run to the stores to purchase hurricane supplies and you’ll be overwhelmed with helpful and not-s-helpful hurricane preparedness advice.
Take it from us – do your homework now.
[Not to mention that any insurance policy you’d take out won’t be in effect that close to a natural disaster!]Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!
Should I Evacuate With The Next Hurricane?
Should You Evacuate When the Next Hurricane Heads Your Way?
The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1, 2018, till November 30, 2018. A lot can happen in those months and we are sure to see storm activity in the ocean soon enough.
If you are new to South Carolina, or the South Carolina coast, you might not have experienced a hurricane season before now.
You might ask yourself ‘Should I evacuate with the next hurricane?’
The answer might surprise you!
How To Decide Whether To Evacuate For A Hurricane
There are several factors involved in whether you should evacuate for a hurricane.
Here are the most important factors you need to decide whether to stay and ride out the next storm, or whether you should evacuate.
- What your local authorities are mandating or recommending you do. Each storm will be different.
- Category of the named storm.
- The path of the storm.
- What type of home you live in.
- How close you are to the ocean – if you are in a flood zone, you’ll be asked to evacuate sooner than someone who lives inland.
- How many dependents you have, if any, and how young, or old, they are.
- Whether you are able-bodied or if you rely on medical devices run on electricity to keep you healthy.
- Your personal experience riding out a storm at home.
- Transportation to evacuate.
- Money for evacuation to a hotel, or supplies to head to a shelter.
It’s a personal decision whether to evacuate or stay during any storm and therefore you will be personally responsible for your actions, either way!
Sheltering at Home or at a Hurricane Shelter During a Hurricane
If you’ve ever ridden out a storm at home, you know how scary that can be! You don’t know what can and will happen!
You have to be prepared for the worst …
…and hope for the best!
If you do head to a shelter, make sure to bring the appropriate supplies.
You should bring at least a 3 day supply of the following:
- Food & Water – Bring snacks, bottled water and non-perishable canned or packaged food.
- Medications – Bring prescriptions, glasses and contacts and durable medical equipment.
- Clothing- Bring a complete change of clothes and footwear.
- Bedding – This include blankets and sleeping bags.
- Hygiene Items – Bring sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste and sanitary items.
- Important Papers – This includes ID, proof of residency and insurance papers.
- Cash – This is just in case your debit or credit card is not working.
- Entertainment Items -This includes puzzles, toys for children and reading material.
- Miscellaneous – Battery-powered radio, First-Aid Kit, flashlight, Cash
How To Prepare Your Home for the Next Storm!
The very best way to prepare for the next storm is to start now before there is a named storm in the Atlantic Ocean headed to South Carolina!
Introducing
The 2018 South Carolina Hurricane Guide for Homeowners
Do You Really Need a Generator During a Hurricane?
Hurricane Season is Coming, Do You Have A Generator?
If you live on the east coast, you know all about hurricanes. Myrtle Beach and South Carolina residents certainly have experience dealing with hurricanes!
You might have lived through one recently.
Are you prepared? Do you feel ready to tackle yet another Atlantic Hurricane Season? Last time a hurricane came to your state and town, did your home lose power? Did you have a generator or did you muddle through?
Today, we look at why you really need a generator if you want to stay safe during the next hurricane!
What Does a Generator Do When The Power Goes Out?
In case of a power outage, your generator can take over important tasks in your home, especially now that many of us live in Smart homes and almost everything we do runs on electricity!
Here are some of the important devices in and around your home that run on, or use, electricity!
Think about your
- fridge
- freezer
- stove
- microwave
- toaster
- lights
- locks
- electronic devices
- garage door
- pool system
For those of you with small kids
- baby monitors
- TV
- food blender
- bottle warmer
For those of you who are elderly or live with the elderly
- sleep apnea machine
- oxygen tank
- wheelchair
- medical devices
There is one other system that runs on electricity and that is your home security system!
Who Should Purchase a Generator for Hurricane Season?
This question seems to come up year after year; who should purchase a generator for hurricane season?
Here is our take on this!
- Anyone who lives in a known hurricane zone
- Someone who prefers to ‘ride out’ a storm vs voluntary evacuation
- Those who have pets
- People who are elderly
- Families with babies and small children
- Farmers, and those who live in a remote area
We highly recommend you do your due diligence and check out your options to purchase a generator. We highly recommend you purchase a generator BEFORE hurricane season begins in full-force as the supply will dwindle quickly as soon as there’s a named storm in the Atlantic Ocean.
Click HERE to check out our Visual Hurricane Prep Guide
How Does a Generator Keep You Safe?
Having a generator allows you to keep your security system activated!
Here is what Chuck Bryant of Strand Security has to say:
You can prepare for extended power outages (especially in coastal areas) by doing the following;
- Connect the power circuit that powers your alarm panel to a generator.
- Make sure you have a spare battery on hand. Power outages can certainly exceed the life of an existing battery.
- Call your security company today to get your ‘back up’ alarm panel battery. Do not delay. As soon as a storm is named, these batteries, like all generators and all other hurricane supplies, will be in high demand.
- If you have to evacuate, relay this information to your security company.
- Monitor your assets from your smartphone and/or tablet while away.
Safety and security go hand-in-hand during a storm! Don’t delay, prepare your home today for hurricane season!
When Should You Purchase Your Generator?
You should purchase a generator when you start preparing for the next hurricane season.
We recently published a beautiful hurricane guide for homeowners to help you get ready.
Download your FREE COPY today!
The Most Useful Hurricane Prep Tips – Lessons Learned from Hurricane Irma
Hurricane Prep Starts BEFORE the Threat of a New Hurricane
Yes, you read that right! Planning and prepping for the next hurricane starts now.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you start your hurricane preparations before the next hurricane threat arrives. These are tips from the experts at FEMA and NOAA and other government agencies tasked with keeping you safe!
- Know your hurricane evacuation zone
- Decide when to evacuate your family (Cat. 1, Cat. 2, Cat. 3 or when a mandatory evacuation is called for )
- Write a written plan for when your stay, including a supply list
- Write a written plan for when you evacuate, including a supply list
- Plan to include your pets
- Have more than one evacuation destination plans – you need to evacuate away from the pending storm.
- Talk to your neighbors about past storm experiences.
- Buy hurricane supplies now, before they become a valued commodity – think generator, drinking water, ply-board, canned goods, extra gasoline cans, extra propane tank for your gas grill and more.
- Take an inventory video of each room in your home.
- Scan all your insurance documents and important papers to store in the cloud.
If you’d like a more VISUAL HURRICANE PREP LIST, check out one of our earlier posts with a super cool hurricane prep infographic.
Now that you know how to start preparing for the next hurricane, let us check on some hurricane myths floating around the internet…!
What NOT to Do: Debunking Hurricane Prep Myths
From the Tampa Bay Times come these myths that have been floating around on Facebook and other social media sites this past week as Floridians prepared for Hurricane Irma to make landfall. People just keep sharing these over and over and over!
Have you heard these myths? Have you SHARED these myths on social media? Please stop!
- Crack your windows during a hurricane
- Taping up windows prevents them from shattering
- Hotels are required to house pets and service animals
- The dishwasher is a safe place to keep valuables you don’t want to get wet
- You only need to board up windows and doors that are facing the water
Do not take your advice from Facebook. Do not take your hurricane advice from ‘friends, families and neighbors’ reposting ‘copy & paste’ tips from who-knows-where. Instead follow the guidelines from FEMA and your local government agencies experienced in hurricane preparedness.
Hurricane Prep Tips To Seek Your Teeth In!
You can connect with FEMA on ready.gov to get started.
Another great agency for up-to-date hurricane information is NOAA.
We understand that sometimes reading these official government sites can be intimidating, so take care to always check your sources if you do read non government information on non government sites.
Hurricane Preparation and Family Emergency Planning Go Hand in Hand
If you have never made a family emergency plan, start today.
That includes making a plan for a tornado, hurricane, flood, fire or other natural disaster.
We hope you never, ever have to implement such a plan, but in case of emergency, you will be so happy to have a plan to refer back to to help you move forward.
As always, if we can be of assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to us!
Should You Stay or Should You Go?
A Visual Hurricane Prep Guide
With Hurricane Irma barreling down on the Caribbean and headed for Florida, people in the Carolinas are faced with this question:
Should I stay or should I go?
Instead of asking that question, take action and prepare now, regardless whether you stay or go evacuate!
Prepping for a hurricane should not be taken lightly. There are many things to consider.
Helpful Hurricane Facebook Post From Those with Hurricane Experience
In the last few days, we’ve seen this post do the rounds on Facebook – especially among our Myrtle Beach, Grand Strand and Florida friends.
The advice on how to prepare for a hurricane is solid. Check out these tips.
Here are some Hurricane Prep Tips:
1. Start running your ice makers now and bagging the ice in freezer bags. Fill as much space in between your freezer items as you can.
2. Freeze regular tap water for pets, cleaning or drinking in tupperware-type containers. REMEMBER to leave a small bit of space between the top of the water & the lids so the ice expands but doesn’t crack the container.
3. Start using up your perishables to make more room for ice in the freezer.
4. Fill up all vehicles & check tires & oil.
5. Cash from ATM, at least enough to get you through tolls and gas out of town. Call your bank if you plan on leaving the state so they don’t freeze your card for out-of-area “suspicious” transactions.
6. All important docs screenshot & send to your email. Take originals in sealed bags or plastic bins.
7. Pet & livestock food & supplies. Vet records in case you need to shelter then at a storm-safe facility.
8. Evacuation plans and share with family members so they know where you’re headed.
9. Consider putting heirlooms & photos in plastic bins in a high place, second floor, or safe room if you don’t plan on taking them with you.
10. SECURE ALL FIREARMS & AMMUNITION PROPERLY.
11. Old rags & beach towels on your windowsills. Even with the best windows & shutters, water seeping from the wind pressure happens. A few damp towels is better than soaked drywall or floors!
12. Shutter windows and doors and bring everything outside into your garage or house NOW. Do not wait until the day before. Better to get done early and relax than wait until its too late, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE MANDATORY PERSONNEL (hospital employee or first responder).
13. If you don’t already have your hurricane supplies, you might want to get them now! Before the shelves get empty!
We think this is great advice and it certainly is a great place to start prepping.
However, the question remains – “should we stay or should we go?” and only YOU can answer that! While you watch the weather station, the news stations and make your own plan, you might need a bit more guidance on how to properly prepare than that Facebook post alone.
We’ve collected several more hurricane prep tips and created this handy, shareable infographic.
Above all…
Be safe and secure whether you evacuate or stay for the storm.
