Preparing For a Hurricane: 4 Essential Tips

“History teaches that a lack of hurricane preparedness and awareness are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster.”

These wise words come from the National Weather Service, which knows a thing or two about hurricane preparedness. 

If you live in or are moving to an area that is at risk of being struck by a hurricane, you need to know how to successfully prepare for storms of any magnitude. 

Here are some essential tips you need to be aware of when it comes to home hurricane prep: 

• • Create an emergency preparedness kit — The most important aspect of hurricane prep is having an emergency preparedness kit. You need to have at least one gallon of water per day for two weeks, enough food for three to seven days, a solar generator, matches, a can opener, essential medications, sanitation supplies, extra clothes, pillows and blankets, and an evacuation and communication plan.

• • Reinforce your home — Whether you’re in the process of having your home built or are moving into a new one, you need to work with your home builders or a home renovation team to hurricane safe your home. Since hurricanes can come with wind speeds of over 160 miles per hour, your housing structure needs to be equipped with hurricane-proof windows and doors, and your home’s walls and roof need to be reinforced.

• • Set up weather alerts — In order to successfully prepare for an upcoming storm, you should set up weather alerts on your phone and your laptop. If a hurricane is six to 18 hours away, it’s recommended to check your city or county website at least once every 30 minutes for weather updates as well.
  • Keep your car in good working condition — You never know when a storm will be so bad that you’ll be directed to evacuate your area or even city. Don’t ignore these evacuation orders because your life will be in danger if you do. Make sure that your vehicle is always working properly and keep your gas tank full if a storm system is approaching.

If you want to learn more about prepping for a hurricane and contact an experienced Florida home renovation team, give WB Capps Design and Build a call right away. Good luck and stay safe out there!