Hurricane Safety Plan Tips
Emergency Kits, Supplies and a Severe Weather Safety Checklist
Aug 24, 2007
Learn how to create an emergency checklist, develop a hurricane safety plan and stock an emergency kit with supplies.
Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November 30. Traditionally, hurricanes hit at the end of August and September, as evidenced by Katrina in 2005 and Dean in 2007. Have a safety plan ready and be prepared for a hurricane.
Hurricane safety tips before the hurricane strikes:
- A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in the area.
- A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected in the area.
- Use a hurricane safety plan to determine where everyone will go if they need to leave the home. Plan ahead of time and coordinate with family and friends who live out of town. Motels and hotels outside of the area may not have availability during the storm, so staying with friends or family is often best, and the family will appreciate the extra support.
Prepare an emergency kit with supplies a family needs to ride out the hurricane:
- Prescription and over the counter medicine that a family needs to function should be included in the emergency supplies, along with a first aid kit.
- A battery-operated radio with plenty of extra batteries is a critical component of an emergency kit, so everyone can listen to the weather for more information about the hurricane.
- Include clean clothes, rain coats, basic toiletries and bedding in hurricane emergency supplies.
- A hurricane safety plan should include an extra set of car keys and maps of alternative routes to get to an emergency evacuation destination. Almost everyone has seen clips of traffic during a major hurricane on the news; in the past, Florida residents sat on outgoing highways for hours, waiting to get out of town during a hurricane. Fill up on gas, too.
- Keep several gallons of bottled water and non-perishable snacks and food with emergency supplies.
- Keep important papers (including Social Security cards, insurance policy and birth certificates) some place safe and near the emergency kit.
Follow the basic steps on a hurricane safety checklist for home and property:
- It may be necessary to board up windows in the home, or install hurricane shutters. Prepare ahead of time by drilling holes in the wood so it can be easily tacked up on the home.
- Bringing lawn furniture, garbage cans and any loose items in the yard inside the home is a smart hurricane safety tip that can help prevent unnecessary damage caused by high winds.
- Shore up trees on the property, removing any dead or broken branches. This will help them survive when strong winds come through town.
- If residents are advised to evacuate their homes by officials in your area, immediately leave.
- Avoid standing water caused by floods during a hurricane.
- Tornadoes can pop up during a hurricane, too. Follow emergency checklist guidelines for safety during a tornado.
The copyright of the article Hurricane Safety Plan Tips in Home/Property Insurance is owned by Lisa Nichols . Permission to republish Hurricane Safety Plan Tips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
