- Flooded waters are not safe to be in without proper protection
- Keep tools and wood easily accessible
- Stock up more water than you think you need
- Have a backup communication plan
- Keep cash on hand
- Flashlights instead of candles
- Backup all important documents
- During evacuations have matching outfits
- Keep escape items handy
- Have a bag packed and ready to go
To expand more on these items, read on!
1. Flooded waters are not safe to be in without protection
Flooded water carry anything in its path, including sewage. During a hurricane, water treatment plants usually become compromised. Sewage in water is not only gross, it’s dangerous – Sewage brings bacterial, viral, parasitic, and mold-related diseases with it. Keep waterproof waders available for all family members which will keep you safe if you must go into flooded waters.
2. Keep tools and wood easily accessible
Having tools and wood stocked and easily accessible is important for boarding up windows during a storm to help prevent windows from shattering and to also keep the broken glass and shards from destroying your home further should it occur. However, this should be done early – if it is not, you need to keep your tools and wood easily accessible.
3. Stock up on more water than you think you need
It is suggested by FEMA and the Red Cross to keep a 2 week supply of water on hand. Before hurricane season begins, gauge how much water is needed per person in your family during a day’s time to better calculate how much you would need in the event of an emergency. Start with at least a gallon per person, per day. If more is needed, a trial run will make it very clear as to what quantity is truly needed.
4. Have a backup communication plan
Cell phone communications can be difficult as the communications lines become overloaded and oftentimes, non-working. Set up and plan for what to do and how to get messages out when phones aren’t working.
5. Keep cash on hand
ATM’s and card payment terminals are likely inoperative during a hurricane. Plan to keep cash on hand as a “just in case”. By the time a hurricane hits, you have hopefully stocked up enough cash and do not need to buy anything but, you will be thankful when you need something and you are able to make purchases because you have cash on hand.
6. Flashlights instead of candles
Candles are thought of as a good off-the-grid option, however with strong winds and lots of flammable supplies/debris nearby, candles are not your best option. Keep waterproof flashlights and plenty of batteries ready to go.
7. Backup all important documents
Backup all important documents to cloud based storage platforms. Why a cloud based storage instead of a flash drive? A flash drive is great however as soon as it lands in flooded water it is worthless. Another option is to acquire a waterproof safe.
8. During evacuations, have matching outfits
During an evacuation people will be everywhere. Keep you family in the same colored shirts or hats that will be easy to spot. This will help to find everyone in a crowd, rather than adding more stress and panic to the situation.
9. Keep escape items handy
When you stay in your home instead of evacuating and flood waters climb up the house, you will need an escape plan. Keep an axe or saw handy as well as a life raft in the top floor of the house or on the roof. This will allow you to easily get out of the house without having to dive into dirty flooded waters.
10. Have a bag packed and ready to go
This is the big one! A storm can be predicted to hit land in 72 hours, then instantly gain speed – All of a sudden it is set to hit land in 48 hours! In these instances, having a bag/car packed and ready to go will assist in making your evacuation go smoother. Always, always remember the earlier you leave, the better!
Source – Primal Survivor