The warm weather of hurricane season may seem like a distant memory, however, it’s never too early to get a head start on your hurricane home preparation plan. In fact, winter is the perfect time do so. What better way to stave off cabin fever than to get busy preparing your home for a hurricane?
The first step to prepare for a hurricane is to create a family hurricane preparedness guide or plan which outlines your family’s hurricane protocols in the event you choose to stay and weather the storm, or are forced to evacuate.
For example, you may want to include important information such as designated meeting places in worst case scenario the family is separated as well as the contact information and location of family, friends, and shelters in your area. You may also want to implement a buddy system to ensure no one is left behind.
It’s important to frequently and thoroughly review this guide with your family, especially younger children, until it is committed to memory and becomes instinct. This will help to reduce panic in the event a hurricane lands in your area.
Due to holiday feasts, grocery stores typically offer a variety of sales and deals on canned goods and other non-perishable food items, which is another reason why winter is an excellent time to prepare for a hurricane. Remember, you can never have too much non-perishable food, however, having an ample water supply for both drinking and cleaning is essential.
The human body can go weeks without food, however, will only survive mere days without water. At the very least, consider purchasing at least three gallons of water per person and pet in your home, if not more.
Winter is also an excellent time to stock up on other essentials such as batteries, lighters, matches, candles, flashlights, blankets, generators, first aid kits and more. Remember, preparation for hurricanes is all about planning and organization, and you can never be too prepared. Get more on this here.
