I remember when Hurricane Florence was barreling towards the east coast. I’m a couple of hours inland from Myrtle Beach and I was praying that the hurricane would turn and go back out to sea. However, you always need to be prepared. These 5 Simple Ways to Prepare for a Hurricane will help you and your pets stay safe.
Last year, I was visiting my dad when Hurricane Michael hit. It wasn’t supposed to come that far into south Georgia, but it did. I’ve never been through anything like that before and hope to never go through it again.
The hurricane came through around midnight. My dad lives in a pecan orchard and we could hear those big trees falling. It was a horrible experience. Below is a photo I took of my car the next morning, hemmed in by two massive trees.
My dad lost many pecan trees. We were without water and electricity for almost two weeks. Thankfully, we were prepared.
I’ve watched reporters interviewing people on our coast who have chosen to ride out a hurricane and stay put. I don’t understand anyone desiring to stay in a place that has been evacuated.
Unfortunately, sometimes predictions are wrong (like with Michael), so it pays to be prepared just in case.
Yes, oftentimes the weatherman gets it all wrong, but what if he’s right? Please evacuate if so ordered. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Let’s look at 5 simple ways to prepare for a hurricane.
1. Have an evacuation plan in place.
You should also have a plan for your pets. If you are evacuating with a pet, visit petswelcome.com for a list of animal-friendly places to stay in your area.
Don’t wait until the last minute to evacuate. Plan ahead!
2. Have the essentials on hand (before they sell out).
- Battery-powered radio and batteries
- Flashlight and batteries
- First Aid Kit
- Bottled Water
- Food – Visit Direct Energy to download a complete Hurricane grocery list.
- Cash
- Prescription medications
3. Check Home & Auto Insurance Coverage
4. Make Copies of Important Documents
Place copies of important documents and store in a waterproof container.
5. Prepare Your Home
- Cover windows with plywood and add extra security to doors.
- Secure all outdoor furniture. Bring children’s toys, bicycles, etc. inside.
- Turn freezer and refrigerator to lowest settings in order to preserve food longer in case of a power outage.
- Unplug all small appliances.
- Make sure your laptop and phones are fully charged.
Stay informed and heed the directions of the Red Cross and government officials. Do not walk, drive or swim through floodwaters.
For more safety and preparedness tips, please visit AccuWeather.com/Ready.
Another handy resource is this Hurricane Seasonal Preparedness Digital Toolkit.
What additional ideas do you have to prepare for a hurricane?
