Just when you thought we were out of the woods for the 2021 hurricane season, along comes this report. It turns out we could be in for a few more before the year is up, and while the season is unlikely to beat the record-breaking seasons of 2005 and 2020, 2021 has already generated 20 named storms.
Even if it’s not your first rodeo, it always pays to refresh your knowledge. That means that you need to make sure that you and yours stay hurricane-ready. Here are the top 5 tips for surviving a hurricane.
*Never, ever go out into a hurricane or think you can outdrive or outrun it – this isn’t Hollywood, and if you’re in doubt about the state of your preparedness, reach out to your local community for guidance and advice. Always follow the advice of local authorities and keep a peeled eye on news services for the latest and most updated information related to your storm. This post is not intended as a replacement for official sources or guidance.
WHAT TO DO DURING A HURRICANE
1. If you’re at work or in a government building or a shopping mall, listen to instructions given to you by the officers in charge at that time. If you’re ordered to evacuate, then do so in a calm, quiet manner. Screaming and shouting, running, or getting panicked will make it even more difficult for you to hear the guidance that’s been given or the people around you.
2. If you’re at home, stay away from all windows and ensure that you have a portable radio with spare batteries so that you can listen to local news reports for updated information. Go to a “safe” area in your home, like an interior room, closet, or bathroom, and keep your children with you.
You should have secured as much of your property as possible, and if you have not done it yet, have a hurricane window installed in place of all your regular windows – you’ll thank us by the time the next one comes. We’re all for making your home as safe as possible and not just for hurricane season but life.
3. There’s a good chance you’re going to lose power, even temporarily, so make sure that you have good appliances to make your sojourn as comfortable as possible and that these devices and appliances have spare batteries, battery packs and are fully charged to begin.
If you do lose power, remember to keep your refrigerator door tightly closed so that you can trap as much cold air inside – you could be without power for some time.
4. Keep your first aid box well-stocked and double-check the expiration dates of its contents regularly.
5. Ensure that you have an emergency bag in the location where you and your family intend to ride out the storm in your home, with books, first aid kits, water, food, snacks, batteries, and a fire extinguisher – just in case.
This is old news for many of us that might be used to the hurricane season, but if you’ve never experienced one before, it can be pretty frightening. The key, as always, is preparation.
Stay safe, and happy holidays!
