In seven days, it will be the Atlantic hurricane season. Now, Mother Nature doesn’t really read the calendar, and this past weekend Tropical Storm Alberto came to visit. He didn’t stay long, though, and quickly dwindled into a tropical depression. Alberto was a good warning to get ready, though! What should you be doing now to get prepared for hurricane season?
Get your emergency kits ready. A good emergency kit will have canned food and water for at least three weeks. While canned food can last for several years, it’s best to change it every year so that you can rotate it into your pantry. This saves money on emergency preparedness. Keep a flashlight, batteries, a battery-operated radio, camping equipment, and extra clothes handy as well. If the power goes out, you’ll want to stay warm, dry, and have a source of light. It’s helpful to have a small emergency kit in the car as well, just in case you need to leave very quickly. Be sure to keep a container of grab and go medications if your family needs them, and keep a diaper bag or bag of children’s activities close by as well.
Get shutters or plywood ready to go, cut to the size of your windows. Don’t forget to plan how you’ll attach it to the windows! As soon as the first large storm approaches, stores will sell out of these materials, so early planning is best.
Plan for evacuation. If the worst does happen and you need to leave your home, where will you go? If you have relatives who are usually spared the storms but do not live very far away, they’re a good choice. Make plans for your pets during an evacuation. Generally, they are not allowed in shelters. Keep pet food on hand so that you can leave it out in case you need to leave for a few days. If you plan to evacuate out of town, make sure that you keep at least 1/2 a tank of gas in your car.
When you’re planning your home renovations, look at your home with an eye on safety as well as beauty and efficiency. Some renovations are simple: putting bolts on the top and bottom of your doors will discourage them from swinging during a storm. Some renovations are less simple: changing and reinforcing your roof, for example.
Getting ready now will save you a lot of worry and hassle later on in the hurricane season. With any luck, this year will be a mild one and you won’t have to use your supplies, but it’s better to be safe and prepared.
Image Credit: sebadenon