After a couple of quiet years, it is easy to become complacent about preparing for the arrival of hurricanes. But, the fact remains that it only takes one hurricane to turn your world upside down. In recent memory, I think first of Sandy and even Katrina, there was also Irene in there somewhere—this one shut out our power for a week. It truly only takes one hurricane to do damage to your home, property, or even endanger your life. So here are some tips that you can take right now to prepare long before any storm forms over the horizon.
1. Get a plan: It sounds simple, but having a plan is the best way to begin to prepare for a storm. Ask questions like; what is my risk, where are we going to get information, and where do we go if we need to evacuate? Take the time to prepare a plan in case of a hurricane. You never know when you may need it.
2. Know your evacuation zone: If you are in an area where you may need to evacuate, you need to know where to go and how to get there. In many places, it is also important to know which road you are required to travel. Required routes sounds a little limiting and unfriendly—but the most friendly thing you can do in an evacuation is to follow directions. During these downtimes between storms Emergency Managers have rehearsed the best ways to flow traffic out of the evacuation zones, so following directions aids the entire population evacuate from the danger.
3. Look at the products on the National Hurricane Center’s Preparedness website (HERE): There are plenty of different resources available at the NHC’s Preparedness Website that can be a great resource if you know where to find it. A quick review of the site can help you remember to visit the site if the time comes that you need to reference it.
These are three brief ideas to get you started on preparing for a hurricane. Hurricanes are dangerous storms so prepare now, so you don’t have to play catch up when the time comes.
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This post is a part of my proud participation in the Weather Ready Nation Ambassador Program.