How to prepare a hurricane plan
Every year hurricane season starts on June 1 and ends on November 30. It is always a good idea to prepare before the hurricane season starts, so it’s essential that you stock up on your survival items like stockpiling non-perishable foods that require no cooking; canned foods like sardines, canned beans or canned fruits can sustain you and making sure you have a two week supply will greatly benefit you until services in your area is restored to normal.
Bottled water is necessary so make sure you have plenty to last you for two weeks. It is possible it might not be two weeks to wait before things is back to normal. However, it is important for you to be prepared in case it is a much longer wait. Purchasing a flashlight, batteries and a portable radio or portable television is handy to have so that you can keep up on the latest news and weather reports on the hurricane. And listen to your local authorities if they tell you to evacuate, you must heed their warnings.
You will need to get any prescription medication refilled and check on elderly and handicap relatives or friends to make sure that they are well prepared also. You will need to secure and put away any items like lawn furniture, tools or toys laying around in your front or backyard because flying debris or objects can fly into windows causing you are your neighbors; and anyone walking outside to be injured or killed. You will need sandbags to place in front of your doors to keep flood waters from getting into your home, clean out gutters and storm drains. If you are planning to evacuate place plywood over your windows before you leave and offer to help your neighbors place plywood up if they need assistance.
Store important papers and documents in safe waterproof container or fire proof box and don’t forget to have cash on hand in case you need it. Making hotel reservations or planning to go and stay with a friend or relative out of town is a good idea if you have to evacuate.
Puttling gas in your vehicle, packing it up an evacuating before the storm is a sure way to survive a hurricane. Procrastinating can cost you your life so take every hurricane or tropical storm warning serious. In August of 2005 during hurricane Katrina, many people stayed behind and didn’t evacuate, because of financial reasons or lack of transportation and many lost their lives because of it. If you are fortunate enough to get in your vehicle and get somewhere safe away from the hurricane, it is a wise thing to do, and from personal experience, I’d advise it.
