Prepping for a Hurricane
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We in the middle of hurricane season and, as my friends in the northeast recently found out, even a tropical storm can wreak havoc. August and September are the months where even the most seasoned Floridian holds their breath, as the worst storms of the season begin to form. Studies show that the 2020 hurricane season may be the worst yet, because of course it would be, and I wanted to give you some sound advice to consider as we’re prepping for a hurricane
Prepare Early and Stay Prepared
Make or restock a hurricane box. It’s just something that you need to have. When Irma came through in 2017, our St. Pete apartment was without power for over a week. Luckily, we were able to bunker down with my parents and they happen to have a generator. Because of that, I saw how mission critical it is to have a healthy stock of non-perishable food items. Peanut butter and crackers are the top of that list, for dire cases, but you should also think soup or canned fruit. No hurricane box is complete without backup batteries, water, and your favorite candy. If you have pets, don’t forget to include them in your count, especially for water.
Follow the Storm from an Accurate Source
I hate to say it, but sometimes national news channels seem to make things worse than they are and panic ensues. All storms, no matter the size, should be taken seriously, but listening to your local news station could give better insight. As far as websites, I always turn to the National Hurricane Center first for up-to-date information. As silly as the name sounds, I also look at Spaghetti Models because it gives you a complete look at the storm from several different sources.
Create an Evacuation Plan
This should be discussed at the beginning of every hurricane season, but better late than never! Depending on the path of the storm, do you have a place to bunker down? If not, think about where you’re going, when you’ll get there, and what path you’ll take. Last time, David and I opted to take both of our cars to my parents and then meant caravanning, taking the roads a little less traveled.
Know How to Protect Your Home
If you make the very difficult decision to leave your home, you want to ready it the best you can. It goes without saying to bring your most precious belongs with you, but not everything can fit in your car. Pick the safest place in your home, one with no or minimal windows, and barricade. Any potential projectiles in your yard need to be brought inside and windows should be boarded up. Try and get the boarding materials at the start of the season, or invest in reusable fixtures.
I’ll say it again, whether it’s a Tropical Storm or Cat 5, all storms needed monitored and taken seriously. Prepare early and you’ll be lightyears ahead of getting ready for hurricane season. On one more note, don’t forget to check in with and help your neighbors. It’s important to remember that we’re all in this together!
Love from Florida,
Katie
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