How to Get Ready for a Hurricane

Hurricane preparedness can be quite the daunting subject. The local news says one thing, your neighbors another. You might wonder what the bleach is for and why the bathtub needs to be filled up. You might watch your neighbor put masking tape on his windows and wonder if you really need $100 worth of boards for your windows. Folklore, media frenzy and simply being new to a coastal area can make anyone preparing for their first hurricane a little nuts. Take a deep breath and follow these simple steps. When its all over, you'll be an expert too.

Things You'll Need

• Non-perishable food
• Water
• Boards or shutters
• Batteries
• Flashlight or candles
• Activities
• Bleach
• Gas
• Cash

Instructions

1. Decide on a plan. Will you stay or evacuate? Under certain circumstances, mandatory evacuations may be issued. Heed any instructions given for your area. If you plan to leave, get out of town as early as possible as traffic will be heavy and gas pump lines will be long. Keep in mind that hotels may be completely booked for miles. Get in touch with a friend or relative that lives outside the path of the storm and ask if he has an extra room for you, should you need it. If you would rather not travel, find out where the shelters are located. Local television and radio stations always have lists of shelters, so tune in or give them a call. Don't forget about pets when you make your evacuation plans. Some shelters will accept pets, some will not. Before you leave, gather all important documents and family heirlooms to take with you. Routes may be closed or impassible after the hurricane so don't expect to return home immediately. Just in case, be prepared with enough clothing, supplies and medications to last you for three weeks.

2. Get to the grocery store early to avoid long lines and empty shelves. Even if you plan to evacuate to a shelter, you will need to bring your own food and supplies. Prepare yourself to deal with power outages and contaminated water for three weeks. Get a manual can opener and food that does not need to be heated or cooled. Tuna fish, canned sausages, trail mix, canned fruit, chips, peanut butter and jelly are all popular choices. Purchase water at a rate of two gallons per person per day. Pets need a gallon each per day. This may seem like a lot of water, but with no air conditioning, you can easily become hot and dehydrated. Pick up some baby wipes and baby powder. These help to cool and freshen skin and hair when showers are not possible. Get a battery powered radio or rabbit ear television set to keep abreast of storm updates. Unless you don't mind total darkness, get a battery powered flashlight or plenty of candles. Finally, get some bleach. It will come in handy for washing dishes if the water supply is contaminated and for after storm clean up.

3. Fill up the gas tanks on all of your vehicles. You may want to fill some containers as well. Gas stations often run out of fuel following a storm so be prepared for this. If you plan on using a generator, don't forget the get enough gasoline to keep it running as well. Get to the bank to withdraw as much cash as you would need for three weeks time. Banks may be destroyed or closed and if there are power outages, ATMs will not function.

4. Secure the house, even if you plan to leave. Use hurricane shutters or board windows with 1/4 inch plywood and carpentry nails. People may have told you to put masking tape on the windows in an x shape to keep them from shattering in strong winds. People may also have told you to open the windows a crack to help alleviate pressure. Strong winds and pressure differences do not break windows, flying debris does. This is why boarding or shuttering is a most important step in home safety. Porch furniture, chimes, flags and potted plants all need to be removed from yard and porch areas. Store in the garage or toss into the pool. Be sure you leave enough room in your garage to park vehicles.

5. Turn the refrigerator and the freezer up as high as the dials will go. This will help keep food cold for as long as possible after the power goes out. Fill the bathtub with water. If the water main breaks, you will not have water flow to the toilet. Use a pot or bucket to put water from the tub into the toilet tank. You will then be able to flush it. If you are forced to employ this method, try to keep to this maxim: If its brown, flush it down, if its yellow, let it mellow. If everyone in town forces their toilets to flush multiple times, the city has a major sewage problem.

6. Plan for activities to keep everyone busy if the power goes out. This is especially important if you have small children. They may be scared and anxious. With normal distractions such as television and video games out of the question, prepare to keep them busy in other ways. Stock up on coloring books, Mad Libs and supplies for art projects. Dust off the board games and playing cards. Pay a visit to the bookstore and get a few things that you have been wanting to read.

7. Play it smart during the storm. Stay inside even during the time when the eye passes over. Keep away from doors and windows that aren't boarded securely. If there are trees in the yard that could fall on the house, stay out of the rooms that are at risk. If things get a little scary, go into your safe room. This can be a bathroom, a closet or any other part of the house that is windowless and safe from falling trees. If you absolutely must go outside, stay away from standing water and downed power lines.

8. stay away from standing water, power lines, follow curfews, restricted areas, looters, people act crazy, accidents after storm, chansaws, generators inside, make fema claim

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to invest in more sophisticated supplies, get a power generator, a gas burner for cooking and a grill.

• Most accidents happen after the storm passes. Follow all curfews, be careful with power tools and never ever run a generator indoors.