Hurricane Prep 101

Hurricane season is underway. Like it or not, those of us that live on the Atlantic coast and on the Gulf coast have to be prepared. I never dealt with a hurricane until moving to coastal North Carolina five years ago. The first couple of years we lived here we never got hit hard which gave me a false sense of safety. All of that came to an end in 2018 when Hurricane Florence destroyed our home along with so many others in North Carolina.

Last year was a bit scary with Hurricane Dorian taking a similar track as Florence but we made it through with no damage. So far this year we have made it through Isaias unscathed but the season is only just getting to the worst (September). And now with Hurricane Laura quickly approaching Louisiana, my prayers are with everyone in the storm’s path.

Having been through some scary hurricanes, we are now better prepared and know what to do. But it wasn’t long ago that we had no idea and didn’t take it seriously. People are always moving and some may even be on vacation and unaware of what to do in the midst of a hurricane. I’m sharing with you my top tips on what to do beforehand to be prepared for an incoming hurricane.

Things to Stock

Gas

Fill up your car and extra cans. The reason is simple. Gas stations will run out of gas quickly if it’s bad and you want to make sure you have a full gas tank in case you have to evacuate. You could be stuck in traffic and don’t want to run out. You will also want gas cans filled for generator use in the event of a power outage.

Generator

If you are in an area that gets hit often with hurricanes you will want to invest in a generator. We’ve been able to make it without one where we live in NC, but every hurricane season we talk about getting one, just in case. In the last two years, we have had hurricanes that took out power for up to 12 hours but it was overnight when we slept so we’ve been able to make do without a generator. We do plan to get one if we stay where hurricanes come every year.

Food & Water

Think picnic and finger foods that don’t require electricity to cook. I always make sure to have bread and peanut butter to make sandwiches. I used to hear it recommended to have enough food and water for three days but now they recommend 1 weeks worth of food and water. We always like to grab 1 case of bottled water too, just in case.

Baby & Pet Supplies

Do you have babies or pets? For babies make sure you have enough diapers, wipes, formula, and any baby Tylenol, etc that you may need to last for a week. For pets make sure you have enough dog food and any medications they may need to last for at least one week.

Medicine & Prescriptions

Make sure you have any medicines you may need so that you don’t run out. If you have any prescription make sure you have enough to last. If your town has been damaged it could be a while before a pharmacy opens again and you don’t want to be stressing about how to get a prescription refilled.

First Aid Kit

Make sure you have a first aid kit on hand in case of injuries. Bandages, medicines, alcohol cleaners, etc. are the most common first aid items. Make sure any medicines are up to date.

Battery-Powered Fans

If you’re in a place that’s hot and humid you may want to invest in some battery-powered fans. This way if the power goes out and you have no AC you can still try to stay cool.

Solar Charger

I have a solar charging bank that has multiple types of outputs for all types of chargers. It is amazing because I can use it to charge all of my electronics and you can charge multiple ones at once. You can charge the solar charger itself through an outlet or solar with the sun.

Flashlights & Batteries

Make sure you have flashlights handy and extra batteries for them. If you have anything electronic that runs on batteries you’ll want extra ones on hand. We also have plugin motion sensor lights that when our power goes out they turn bright so you can see. They’ve been a huge help for us!

How to Prepare

Clean Up Yard

With hurricanes come lots of damaging wind and rain. Secure any loose items outside like pots, buckets, patio furniture, etc. I always go around securing items and cleaning up the yard before a hurricane comes through.

Board Up Windows

If you are in an area where you are going to get hit hard boarding up your windows is a good idea. We’ve never had to board up ours but I know closer to the beach and friends in Florida always do. A lot of homes have hurricane-proof shutters that they secure over their windows. Protecting your windows can keep them from getting hit and broken during the storm.

Fill Up Extra Water Containers

Take extra jars you have and fill them with water. I have giant glass mason jar jugs I fill and also any extra big plastic bottles from old orange juice or apple juice jugs. You want to make sure to have enough water for drinking. You can also fill up a bathtub to use buckets from it to flush your toilet.

Prep for Possible Flooding

If you’re in a low-lying area or if it looks like flooding could be a possibility do what you can to move things around to prevent damage. When Hurricane Florence was closing in on us we carried some stuff to our 2nd floor and put other things on high areas like counters and tables. You can always prop things up on boards, etc too. The more you do ahead of time the less you have to worry about at the moment as water is rising.

Place Sandbags Around House

Place sandbags around the outside of doors, low windows, and your garage to help keep water out in the event of excessive rain and flooding.

Do Some Cleaning

I always try to get caught up on my laundry before a hurricane. I do this to make sure that we have everything we need and don’t have to worry about not being able to do it if the power goes out. Doing some cleaning ahead of time can help keep you more relaxed when you are stuck inside. I always try to shower beforehand too just so I don’t have to worry about not being able to shower for a while after.

Charge Electronics

Make sure all your electronics are fully charged ahead of the storm. Phones, tablets, laptops, etc. You want to be able to follow the weather alerts, call for help if needed, and have some entertainment options in the event of a power outage. I always make sure to charge my solar charger before the storm hits too so that I can use that to charge my phone if needed during a power outage.

Collect Important Documents

Make sure you collect all of your important documents and paperwork and put it in one place all together. Things like passports, birth certificates, social security cards, etc. Having them all in one place together makes it easier to grab and go if you have to evacuate. Also, make sure to keep these items in a safe dry place. If you have a waterproof safe take advantage of it. Even if you have things on a second floor they could still get damaged if you have rough damage and water comes in from above.

Know How to Shut off Water & Power

In the event of damage, you’ll need to know how to shut off the power and water to your home. This is something we learned after Hurricane Florence. The city shut off power to our area after we had flooding damage as a safety precaution so that no electrical damage and fires accrued but we still had to shut it off manually because our house wasn’t an easy fix after the storm.

Have a Plan

Have a plan in case you need to make a last-minute evacuation or change. Know where you would go and what to take with you. The more you have planned ahead of time the smoother it will be if you need to hurry and leave with short notice.

Pick Your Hurricane Room

You may think you’d want to stay on the 2nd floor during a hurricane because of the flooding factor, but it is actually typically safer on the 1st floor during the storm. As we learned from Hurricane Florence trees can crash through your roof. Another big danger factor during a Hurricane is Tornados. The safest place to be during tornados is the lowest to ground and away from windows. This is why we’ve ridden out Hurricane Dorian and Isaias out in our living room. For both hurricanes, they hit us during the night. Due to the tornado and tree threats, we camped out in the living room overnight. I wanted to be safe and not have to hurriedly run downstairs after waking everyone in the middle of the night. Or worse sleep through it and risk fatality.

Listen to Local Leaders

Know your flood zone and any relevant city/county info for your specific location. Pay attention to your local leader’s directions and guidance. If an evacuation is ordered for your area, follow it.

Hurricane Hacks

• Buy a generator before the threat of a hurricane hits. Once a hurricane is coming your way the store shelves will be empty of generators and the prices could also be higher due to demand.
• Use a dishwasher to store your important documents. Since dishwashers are designed to keep water in when running, they can also keep outside water out.
• Use your washing machine as a cooler. Fill it with ice and put drinks inside. Your washing machine is designed to drain water so as the ice melts it will drain itself.
• Turn your fridge and freezer to the coldest settings and only open when absolutely necessary. This will help keep the items cold and frozen during a power outage.
• Fill up bathtubs of water. You can use this water for cleaning, misc things, and flushing toilets if needed.

When it comes to hurricanes it is better safe than sorry in my book. I’d rather stock up and not use any of my extra supplies than not have enough and run out. I’d rather play it safe and have a family campout in the living room than risk injury or death staying upstairs. I’d rather evacuate if ordered and stay safe then risk not being safe at home. Whether you get hit hard or not, hurricane’s mean business. Stay smart and stay safe!