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.
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