Hurricane Season 2008: Getting you Ready!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Be Prepared

medical, hurricane The American Red Cross urges you to take steps to be prepared in case of a hurricane.

Step 1: Get a kit

You don't have to make your kit in one day... consider it a project that continues all season. When you do your weekly grocery shopping, start to stock up on high priority items, i.e. shelf stable foods that are high in protein and low in fat and sodium (tuna, peanut butter, etc.), 1 gallon of water, canned juice. Each week buy a few more items for your kit, including flashlights and batteries, more food and water, paper products.

A good rule of thumb with water is "one gallon/person/day".

Always have extra medication on hand

With each week, you'll also want to take more steps to prepare and educate yourself by planning where you would evacuate to, getting important paper work together, etc.

Keep all of your supplies in a container with a tight-fitting lid that can keep water out and is light enough to take with you in case of evacuation.

The Red Cross offers a week-by-week calendar that extends throughout hurricane season.

Step 2: Make a plan

1. Know your evacuation level.

2. Put together a support community and a list of possible locations where you can go if you have to evacuate.

3. Have a plan for how you will bring your pets with you.

4. Create a safe room and make sure all family members know where that is.

Step 3: Be informed

Discover the resources that can help you in case of emergency. Bay News 9 will be on-air to make sure you know when a storm is coming.

You've heard it before. It's not a matter of "if", but "when". Don't let the past few light storm seasons allow you to disregard the seriousness of a possible storm.

Protect the Building Envelope

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) encourages you to protect your "building envelope". In other words, any opening in the home should be protected. This includes:

Doors
Windows
Garage doors
Gable vents
Roof
Attic

You don't have to spend a fortune to put in new windows and doors, but make sure you're taking the right steps to protect what you have.

Plywood should be 5/8" thick
Connectors should be correctly spaced around the plywood shutter
If you home was built before 2002, your garage door probably does not meet the current building code
Even enclosures need to be protected from flying debris
Tape will NOT protect your windows
Keep win.dows closed. Opening them will not help with pressure.
Know where your sewer cap is. In case of flooding and a sewer backup, you'll want to remove the cap. That will keep the sewage in your yard instead of your home.
If you're installing shutters, make sure the hardware kit is approved for the type of surface it is going into, i.e. masonry vs. wood.
Pick up or move small objects around the home that can turn into missiles. This includes bird baths, grills, children's toys, potted plants, etc.

FLASH offers a DIY Home Wind Inspection test to determine if your "building envelope" needs reinforcing.