Comments on: How to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane

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!

on 11/22/2005 Consider purchasing a small work light (designed for automotive use) that either plugs into a car's cigarette lighter or clamps onto the battery (better if your lighter is switched by the ignition key). The cord (the longer the better) can be fed out a window to the car. Every few hours remember to idle the car (away from the house to prevent CO exposure) to keep the battery charged. If all else fails, remember that you have a radio in your car.

on 11/22/2005 If space permits, place 2.5 gallon spring water containers (the type with spigots on them) on the highest racks a few days before a major storm is expected. Each container represents about 20 pounds of block ice (with a handle). If you don't have the space, use smaller water jugs to do the same. Remember two things: each gallon of water equals about 8 pounds of ice and you can drink the water when it melts.
If the outage is expected to last some time, transfer the ice blocks to a cooler with the perishable food items. The cooler is much better insulated.

on 11/22/2005 When the hurricane season begins, consider buying only enough frozen goods that can be eaten within the week and use the remaining space in your freezer to make ice in used water bottles or plastic containers. The ice you make will help preserve the frozen goods longer during a power outage.

on 11/22/2005 In the event of a power failure, have a phone that doesn't require an electrical connection (it sounds simple, but many folks here use a cordless as their only phone). Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne put out our power service, but we never lost home phone "landline" service.

on 11/22/2005 Keep medicines, insurance policies, and important papers together in case of evacuation. Carry some food. Don't expect to be waited on hand and foot. Seal paperwork in plastic bags or laminate them. Don't harass the utility workers because you may be arrested. Rainwater can safely be used for pet water as well as bath water. A garden pump sprayer full of rainwater warms in the sunshine and makes a refreshing shower bath. Have pots that can be safely used to cook or boil water on the gas grill or camp stove. Watch out for snakes, who are also hunting for high dry ground. Even hot bedding feels a little more comfortable with a spritz of water from a mister bottle. A few drops of unscented chlorine bleach in a gallon of water will "sterilize" it after 30 minutes. Add fuel stabilizer to empty gas cans. When refilled, it's mixed and ready for generators, and helps prevent problems if a little rain gets in while refilling. Remember to be patient...We're all in this together.