Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricane Prep Checklist
Hurricanes and tropical storms are much in the news lately, and a changing climate may mean people all over the globe can expect more incidents of severe weather. While there’s no way to prevent a hurricane, there are plenty of ways to prepare for them, and good preparation can protect your loved ones and your property. In Hawaii, the hurricane season starts May 1, so make sure you have your hurricane toolkit in place each spring.
Communication
You want to make sure your family is safe during the storm if they are not with you. Create a communication plan well in advance. For this, you’ll use the old-fashioned medium of paper, since power outages may keep you from using a computer and mobile phones may not prove reliable during a hurricane. Write down every family member’s phone number and email address, and include the contact information of your doctor, employer and others you may need to get in touch with during an emergency. Also include the name of a contact person who is out of the area and thus out of harm’s way. This individual may help errant family members get in touch with each other more easily than someone local, since in emergencies local phones lines are jammed, but long-distance calls may go through.
Make sure everyone in your household has a copy of the communication information and always carries it with them. If mobile phones are functioning, text rather than make a call. Even if the text can’t go through when you send it, it is saved and will go through when there is bandwidth capacity.
Emergency Supplies
Keep a hurricane emergency kit on hand. At minimum, your kit should include the following:
- First aid kit
- Bottled water – figure on at least a 3 day supply for a hurricane, and plan on one gallon per person daily.
- Nonperishable foods – enough for three days, at the least.
- Personal hygiene items
- Flashlights
- Battery-powered radio – make sure you have plenty of extra batteries for all purposes.
- If you have pets or babies, keep food and supplies for them on hand.
- Fill your vehicle’s gas tank in case you must evacuate.
- Keep important documents, including insurance policies, in a plastic bag and in a high place so they are protected in case of flooding.
Home Protection
If your home doesn’t have hurricane shutters, keep plywood on hand and nail sheets over doors and windows. Bring in or secure outdoor furniture.
Evacuation
Everyone dreads the idea of evacuation, but it can prove life-saving. Find out your community’s evacuation plan long before disaster strikes. Put a plan in place way in advance as to where you will go if you must evacuate and how you will get there. Since you don’t know the nature of the disaster, have several options available. If you are bringing pets, make sure your prospective accommodations will accept them. Keep area maps in your vehicle and learn alternate routes – don’t depend on GPS in an emergency.
Contact Us
If you’re looking to buy or sell a home or find a rental property, you need a knowledgeable, experienced realtor. We make sure buyers, sellers and renters understand the process every step of the way. Contact Island Realty Group LLC at 808-689-7407 or IslandRealtyGroup@irghi.com.
