How to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane

The U.S. coastline gets struck by an average of five hurricanes every three years. Hurricanes bring winds as high as 100 miles per hour and water surges reaching heights of 20 feet. These tropical cyclones can be dangerous, so it is smart to be prepared for hurricane season, which runs from June to November.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cellular Phones
• Canned Foods
• Flashlights
• Battery Radios
• Blankets
• Bottled Water
• Cellular Phone Minutes
• Cellular Phone Services
• Cellular Phone Batteries

1. Understand that each hurricane is different, and be prepared for the worst.

2. Make a list of outdoor items, such as lawn furniture or yard tools, to bring inside during a hurricane watch.

3. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed.

4. Make sure your gutters and drains are clear to prevent flooding during the long bouts of heavy rain that often accompany hurricanes.

5. Use permanent hurricane shutters on windows and doors. This is much safer and more effective than taping the glass, which does not prevent breakage. Protect the outside of windows with shutters or plywood.

6. Develop an evacuation plan. Contact your local emergency management office or local chapter of the American Red Cross for information about the safest evacuation routes and locations of nearby shelters.

7. Have blankets or sleeping bags available in case you need to go to a shelter.

8. Determine in advance what you will do with any pets.

9. Stock up on disaster supplies such as flashlights and extra batteries, a battery-operated radio, a first aid kit, emergency food and water and a handheld can opener.

10. Invest in flood insurance for your home because home owner's policies do not cover the damage caused by hurricane-related floods.

Tips & Warnings

• During a hurricane watch, turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings. If the power goes out, the air inside will stay cool longer.
• Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles and cooking utensils.
• If you plan to leave your home, move furniture to a higher floor to prevent flood damage, if time permits.
• If you live in a place where hurricanes occur, consider elevating your home, or ask an engineer to advise you on how to make your home more resistant to hurricane damage.
• Have a plan in place for all family members to check in with a relative or friend who lives out of the state and can serve as messenger.

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on 3/14/2008 anomous on 8/8/ 2006, board games are good for everyone. and do not store fuel as a fire risk.

on 8/8/2006 I have been through three hurricanes myself. I live in Boca Raton, but during hurricane Wilma, I lived in Deerfield beach. We were out of power for almost 5 weeks and almost everybody was unprepared. I recommend that you buy some fuel tanks, because you don't want to wait in that line. Buy a few flashlights, prepare ice with much anticipation, buy canned foods and snacks, buy lots of water. If you have children, buy board games.

on 11/22/2005 For more information on Hurricane Related News and Hurricane Supplies go to: www.hurricanesupplies.org
for more information..

on 11/22/2005 To prevent the windows of your home from being damaged, you should go to your local hardware store (like Home Depot or Lowe's) and buy plywood boards to cover your windows. You will also need strong screws or nails that will be long enough to go through the wood and into a secure place around the window frame. Putting tape on your windows will not stop debris from breaking windows, it only reduces the chances of glass shattering and flying into your home!

on 11/22/2005 When we were in the shelter our water supply was turned off. So make sure to have a hand sanitizer and wet wipes in your supply kit. Please make sure to tell your children not to put toilet paper in the toilets when the water is off. With the AC off and the water off, I thought we had returned to the days of the out house!