For all you new Floridians.
Good things to know: 1. Listen to the National Hurricane Center @ NOAA. Local news tends to give the worse case scenario. 2. Pay attention to the Category (1=lowest; 5= worst), direction (or path) and speed of movement. 3. Be prepared to go up to 2 weeks without power. Know if you are on a municipal water source or a well. Homes with wells won’t have water until power is restored. Municipal water tends to get on faster. 4. Understand that power is restored based on a county/city plan. Hospitals, fire stations are restored first. 5. Know if you’re in a flood zone. Check here: http://ift.tt/1MXnzDQ Flood zones may require sandbagging around your doors. If you’re not in a flood zone, don’t worry.
3-4 days out: 1. Be alert. Monitor the path but be aware that hurricanes can move unpredictably. 2. Check hurricane supplies. 3. Make sure all medications are refilled, diapers stocked, etc. 4. If hurricane is predicted to hit your area, go grocery shopping. Priority is foods that need neither refrigeration nor heating to be edible. 5. Check trees around your house. Pull/cut down any loose branches. 6. Clean milk jugs or soda bottles, fill with water & freeze. 7. Make sure all vehicles are filled with gas. 8. Propane tanks should be filled as well. If you use charcoal in your grill, pick up 2 bags.
1-2 days out: 1. Clean your yard. Make sure there is nothing loose that the wind can pick up. Patio furniture needs to be moved inside. 2. Grills too. If it’s loose, the storm can pick it up. NEVER used a grill inside the house – it can be deadly. 3. Shutters go up. 4. Get cash from bank. If power goes out, there will be no ATMs or credit card readers.
2-4 hours before landfall: 1. Turn ac down. You want your house cold in case power goes out. 2. Turn refrigerator & freezer down. A cold refrig can last a day if it’s not opened. A freezer can last about 2 days. 3. Move frozen jugs of water to refrig. Make more to keep in freezer. 4. Fill bathtub or pool. Do NOT drain the pool. Pool water and a bucket can be used to flush toilets in an emergency. 5. Fill extra container with drinking water – 1 gallon/day/person – you need 3 days worth (the frozen jugs can help supply this.)
HURRICAN SUPPLIES 1. Flashlight with good batteries (test them), My favorite stay plugged into the walls and come on when power goes out. Something like this: http://ift.tt/1PAACc6 Everybody needs their own flashlight. This will solve many problems. 2. Large ice chest 3. Small radio that plays off of batteries. 4. Spare batteries for all flashlights & radios. 5. Diapers 6. Formula 7. Food that needs no refrigeration or heating. Peanut butter & jelly is always good. • Tea • Soft drinks • Baby food • Pet food • Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables • Dried fruit • Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water) • High energy foods like crackers, granola bars, trail mix • Raw vegetables that do not need refrigeration • Bread • Paper plates, cups, napkins, bowls • Manual can opener • Clorox (for water purification if necessary) 8. Hardware supplies: • Small tool kit • Duct tape • Large tarp or plastic sheeting • Bungee cords • Scissors/knife • Rope • Lighter/matches 9. Other: • First aid supplies – make sure you have everything you might need • Toilet paper/Paper towels • Baby wipes - for everybody (there might be no baths for a few days) 10. Glowsticks – pin to a diaper to find baby in dark 11. Large plastic bins – take 1, put all your valuables in it including ss cards, birth certificates, etc.
TIPS: • If power goes out, tape refrig closed so nobody opens it • Put sleeping bags, etc in a safe room (fewest windows), everyone sleeps in there (you’ll feel better). Have a party! • Pets stay in (duh). Make sure they have collars with your id info. • Phone recharger for car • If power goes out, try to not use your phone except in an emergency. It may be a long time until power is restored and you do not want to be without a phone. • Be calm. Children get easily frightened. Hurricanes can be very loud, howling winds, etc. • If you have a laptop, charge it. You can watch dvds on it. You might not have Internet access. • Hurricanes may last from several hours up to a day. Do not go out. Lock pets in a bathroom with newspaper. The faster the hurricane moves, the faster it will pass. • Once shutters are up, house will be very dark – again, can frighten children. • Watch out for the eye – the still spot in the center. It might pass over you but it only means that the other half of the hurricane is coming.
TL:dr • Category 1 or 2 – shelter in place; little problems usually • Category 3 or 4 – probably ok • Category 5 – leave.
Submitted August 27, 2015 at 09:12PM by dorkofnight http://ift.tt/1PAACc8 orlando
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