Twelve Hurricane Preparation Tips

Better to Be Prepared!

Are you prepared for this coming hurricane season? Have you taken all the precautionary steps to ensure the safety of your family?

One time my mother had come for a visit and had to ride out a hurricane with my husband and me in Houston. It was hot and humid and we were without electricity. Fortunately we had enough food and supplies on hand to ride out the storm and aftermath. While it definitely was not fun, it was good that we were prepared in advance of the storm.

These are some of the things that you might wish to prepare ahead of time. Often when hurricanes (also called typhoons or tropical cyclones) occur the stores are crowded with people buying last minute supplies. Some of these things you could have on hand ahead of time and be prepared for other types of emergencies as well.

Good Water Supply

1. Have drinkable water on hand...at least 1 gallon per person daily for anywhere from 3 to 7 days. When a hurricane is approaching, fill empty buckets, bathtubs and other containers with water. This water can be used to wash hands, flush toilets and the like.

We always fill any empty containers as well as our bathtubs when hurricanes threaten. It is much better to have more water on hand than needed than to wish you had more and not have it available.

Prescriptions

2. Make sure that all of your prescriptions are up to date and that you have a surplus to tide you over until they can once again be filled. That is just good common sense.

Radio

3. Buy a NOAA weather radio that can be battery or hand operated so that when the electricity goes out you can still hear the latest news and weather reports.

My hubby and I purchased one that can be run on electricity but also run on batteries. It can also be powered by hand cranking it.

There is nothing worse than not being able to track what a hurricane is doing and to wait it out without any notice.

A radio can be a lifesaver!

It can also fill one in on other information when there is a blackout of electricity or perhaps even play some soothing music if one locates a channel playing it.

Flashlights, Batteries, Fire Extinguisher

4. Keep plenty of flashlights and batteries on hand and keep your cell phone charged. Candles are also good but only when closely monitored. Personally I like these new battery operated candles. One does not have to fear a fire if the flames from a real candle get out of hand.

The last thing you need in the midst of a raging hurricane is a fire!

By the way, you should already have a fire extinguisher in your home. Hopefully you will never have to use it but should you need it, it can be lifesaving!

Full Tank of Gasoline

5. Keep your vehicle tanks full of gasoline in case you have to exit quickly.

When electricity is out, gasoline pumps will no longer function.

It would be nice to know that you could evacuate if needed at a moments notice should that become a necessity.

Important Documents Handy and Cash

6. It is a good idea to keep important documents in a waterproof bag and able to be taken with you in a moment's notice in case you have to evacuate.

7. Keep some cash on hand. You never know what you might have to purchase and banks may be closed.

Emergency First Aid Kit

8. A first aid kit could come in handy.

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!

Non Perishable Food on Hand

9. Food. Keep non perishable foods on hand...those that do not need refrigeration, and also a non-electric can opener. Paper plates might come in handy when washing dishes becomes a problem.

Prior to the hurricane hitting Houston, some friends of ours who owned a popcorn store in Dallas had sent us a huge can containing three different types of popcorn.

My mother, hubby and I certainly made use of that while our electricity was out. Of course we also had plenty of other types of non perishable foods on hand, but we will forever remember eating popcorn during that particular hurricane.

Nice to be Able to Grill

10. Grilling of foods can still be done if one has a gas grill or ones operated with charcoal.

Not only will you enjoy some hot prepared food but food already purchased and held in your refrigerator or freezer will not have to go to waste if the electricity is out for an extended time.

Pet Care During Emergencies

11. Don't forget your pets! They also need water, food, medications and their immunization records kept up to date. If you have to leave you will want to have leashes and perhaps carriers or cages for them.

Consider Special Needs

12. There will be other important items to consider if you have babies or others with special needs.

The main thing is not to be caught off guard or have to scramble and assemble some or all of these things when a hurricane is predicted. It would be smart to keep many of these things on a year round basis just updating things as necessary to keep them current.

You wouldn't want to run out of diapers for your baby as an example. Would you?

Are you Prepared?

Are you prepared for the upcoming hurricane season?

Do you have other tips regarding being prepared?

Many of these same precautions can come in handy for other weather related events as well such as tropical storms.

If you have other suggestions please leave them in the comment section below. Thanks!