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Step 1
As a Christian, I had to remember that, above everything, take my concern to my Heavenly Father in continuous prayer. I had to pray throughout the night of the hurricane. I remember it starting at night and ended by the time the sun was to come up the following day.
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Step 2
As soon as the weather reports emerge, make a sound but quick decision on whether you and your family will evacuate. Take heed to the advice of officials on whether they advise evacuation or not. Officials in Houston discouraged evacuation for Houstonians in the wake of Ike. I think it may have had a lot to do with the Rita evacuation that occurred in 2005 - right after Katrina had hit New Orleans. But even during any reports on whether evacuation is advised, you must prioritize the needs of your family and base your decision primarily on that - while, of course, taking into consideration the advice of officials. Of course, we must abide by mandates, which exceed mere advice.
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Step 3
Board up the windows to your house in the areas where there would be much exposure if windows were to break open. If I were to board my windows, I would not board all of them. Seek advice from the American Red Cross. My family and I didn't do that. I am certainly thankful to my God that nothing happened to our windows. But the winds beating against them certainly raised my concerns throughout the night.
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Step 4
Before the hurricane hits, designate points of refuge in your home. Do a drill with your family - just like a fire drill - especially if you have children and elderly with you.
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Step 5
Store up non-perishable foods, pet food for your pets, water, toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, rubbing alcohol, bandages, antiseptics, toothpaste, tooth brushes, liquid soap, fruit juice, prunes, multi-vitamins (under the advice of physician), tea bags, charcoal for grilling, extra cell phone batteries (charged up), extra lap top batteries (charged up), extra clean clothes, batteries, battery-operated fans, flash lights, extra clean underwear, extra clean towels, paper plates, paper bowls, plastic ware, reading material (because the electricity for tv may not work for days, weeks, or even months). Write a list of what you may need prior to the weather event.
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Step 6
Keep important phone numbers handy - light company, family members who need to know you're okay, your supervisor's personal cell number, some co-workers' personal cell numbers, media, a 24-hour nurse line that you may have access to such as with your health insurance company, and the American Red Cross.
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Step 7
If you own one or more vehicles, keep all of their gas tanks full up to the expected arrival of the hurricane. Keep the vehicles in your garage or in another garage accessible to you if possible.
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Step 8
Establish rapport with the neighbors in your community. When my neighborhood experience power outage for about two and a half weeks, our families helped each other. We came together. This made life easier.
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Step 9
If you decide to evacuate, take with you on the road several of the items listed in the above step such as non-perishable food (nothing that would make you have to use the bathroom while on the road), toilet paper, paper towels, and bay wipes. Keep your tank full and try to fill up at ½ tank. If there is massive traffic as there was when my family evacuated for Rita, keep windows down, dress lightly, and keep the radio tuned in to traffic reports.
