What to do during a Hurricane

How you react during a hurricane has a tremendous impact on how you and your house make it through the lashing winds and torrential rains. While we all hope that hurricanes cause all their havoc at sea, the fact is that hurricanes are bound to make landfall. What you do to prepare before, during, and after a hurricane can be the difference between life and death. The following safety tips are recommended because it increases the chances of the results being extremely positive.

Hurricane Safety Tips

1. Stay Inside and Away from windows If there is a mandatory evacuation order for your area, it is highly suggested that you evacuate as soon as possible. The best place to be during a hurricane is far away from its course of potential destruction. Orders to evacuate are almost always issued for good reasons and getting far away from the hurricane is the easiest way to stay safe during it. What to do during a hurricane heavily relies on the scenario of whether you are ordered to evacuate or not. If you decide to not participate in the evacuation the next best place would be an interior room, such as a closet or bathroom. Furthermore, if you decide to stay indoors you must stay away from windows and doors. Hurricanes can easily throw a two-by-four through a window or door. Even if you have impact-resistant windows and doors, it’s still a good idea to remain a safe distance away while the hurricane is passing through. Additionally, even if the storm seems to have calmed down and dissipated outside, stay inside because it may be the calm eye of the storm
2. Stay connected with the Local and National Alerts If you decide to avoid the evacuation and continue to stay indoors, there is a high probability that you will lose all power supply to your home. This knocks out pretty much everything that runs on electricity from Wi-Fi to microwaves and other electronic accessories. During this time a battery-powered portable radio will be crucial. Having a portable radio that runs on battery ensures you always have an internal connection with the outside world, so you can stay up to date about the storm system, path, and when the hurricane has safely passed. It is also important to stock up on extra batteries before the storm so that you can stay tuned in after the storm.
3. Turn off Main Energy Sources If a hurricane knocks out the power to your home, it is important to turn off the main power source to your home. If you leave the power source and the power comes back on, there is a chance it could send an unnecessary amount of electricity to your appliances. This could also cause a house fire, so it is important to be very careful. Although the water won’t work if the power goes out, the main water supply still needs to be turned off to prevent overflowing and potential flooding from the sinks, toilets, and showers. Additionally, turning off your home’s main gas supply is extremely crucial in the event of a hurricane cuts off power to your home. While it is rare, this could overflow the gas supply to your home and cause your home to catch fire or blow up. It is better to turn off the main gas supply rather than taking a risk of blowing up the house.
4. Use Hurricane equipment carefully If a hurricane causes the power to go out, you may consider using a generator to temporarily utilize everyday appliances until the power is restored. If you are operating a generator, it is imperative to do so the right way. Always you should begin by reading the instructor’s manual on the generator. Also, you must set it up away from doors and windows because generators release toxic carbon monoxide fumes that can become fatal if they make their way into your home. If you’ve decided to use candles instead of a generator, be sure to do it carefully. This is obvious but make sure to keep anything remotely flammable away from candles.
5. Beware of water Turn off your home’s main power if any water is coming into your home from outside. The water could surge the power and turn into an electrical fire. After turning off your home’s main source, try to round up some towels and any other items that could help prevent the water from continuing to pour into your home. This will reduce the damage and will further prevent damage from being taken.

Sources:

universalproperty.com, 5 Hurricane Safety Tips to Stay Safe During the Storm

cdc.gov, Stay Safe After a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm

redcross.org, Hurricane Safety