As a reminder, hurricane season begins on June 1st and lasts until November 30th
Here We Go: A Hurricane is on it’s Way
I want to preface this with a brief word about hurricane season safety.
I am writing this taking into consideration a category 3 or less is on it’s way. Totally different plan and safety procedure for 4 and above. Though a level 3 and above is an unforgettable and unimaginable experience. I am not qualified to recommend any safe place, I will leave this up to the experts.
Channels to Keep Handy
Chances are you will lose power at some point, even temporarily. Internet service can and for the most part will be available through your mobile device, such as an i-phone or I-pad. Battery up your radio or communication device in your kit, usually a storm radio already has easy access to the channels you need. If not, it is easy enough to find. Visit each of these channels to stay up to date on weather, traffic, water safety, evacuation orders, and sewage conditions. Bookmark them for easy access.
- American Red Cross http://www.redcross.com
- Federal Emergency Management Agency: http://www.FEMA.gov
- FEMA for kids: http://www.FEMA.gov/kids/
- National Oceanic And Management Administration: http://hurricanes.noaa.gove
- Community Emergency Response Team: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/CERT
A hurricane is now approaching your area. Where it is safe?
Your home? A shelter? Leave the Area? This is a question everyone in hurricane prone areas need to prepare for long before hurricane season. Please take a moment and review the other blogs in this series to refresh your memory, or read any updates that are added.
Where am I Safe?
Keep Up With the Latest
Follow Mandatory Evacuation Orders
Stay or Go?
In most cases, a mandatory hurricane evacuation order won’t be issued unless there is a threat of a category 3 hurricane or worse approaching unless you are high risk for loss of life. For this reason, many people will opt to stay at home instead of choosing a shelter for minimal to moderate hurricanes. That being said, as long as precautions are taken to batten down the hatches and secure your home, you can create a safe haven in which you and your family can gather to wait out the storm.
Staying Home?
Warning: Most homes in hurricane prone areas don’t have basements, but a basement is not the safest place to seek refuge, especially if there is any possibility of flooding or rapidly rising water. If you live in an area where you may be subject to a direct or indirect hit from a hurricane, part of your hurricane readiness involves finding a safe and secure place at home if you don’t have to evacuate.
What to look for when considering a safe place in your home
Avoid staying in any room where there are windows or other things that become projectiles when the windows break because of the intensity of the wind. Avoid staying on an upper floor because you could be seriously hurt if the roof of your home collapses. A collapsed roof isn’t an uncommon occurrence during the hurricane season. Your roof can be in perfect condition, and the pressure changes of a storm are strong enough to push or even pull a roof right from the top of a home. Even, a tree, large branch or other projectile can penetrate a roof with strong winds.
WHERE TO GO AT HOME
A windowless interior bathroom
A windowless bathroom that is away from exterior walls can be a good place because there will be plumbing pipes that can provide additional protection besides the heavy walls. Moreover, this is the place that weather authorities often recommend that people go to during tornado warnings – especially when there is no basement. This is great advice, for the short term, during the worst parts of the storm, and/or a tornado warning/watch even an active tornado. In reality, most families will not have enough room for themselves and supplies to ride the storm out.
An interior closet
A closet can also be a good place to go for protection when you need to wait out a hurricane. If you have a large walk-in closet, gather blankets and pillows, plenty of non-perishable food, hand sanitizer, napkins, paper plates and plastic utensils, plenty of water and flashlights, batteries, a battery powered radio and your cell phone. A weather radio can be very handy at a time like this as well. This is one of my go-to places in my particular home, and where I keep my hurricane supplies and “go-bags”. There is plenty of room and is secured enough for safety and is an addition on my bathroom.
A windowless hallway
If you don’t have a bathroom, bedroom or other closet that is not on an outside wall or doesn’t have windows, look for a hallway on the interior of your home. You want to be in a place where there are no windows and where you can’t be hurt if a roof or outside wall collapses. This is my personal second safety zone in my home. A bit less room, but comfortable enough, close to a bathroom, and far from the hazards of breaking glass, or water entry.
Under a stairwell
If you have a two story home, you may find that the safest place, other than an interior room may be a stairwell, provided it isn’t too close to windows or a door. A closet or alcove under a staircase can be a great place to go for safety during a hurricane. Bring in plenty of pillows, blankets and a mattress if one will fit, because you can always use a mattress to cover yourself and your family as a means of protection from flying objects.
Creating an in-home storm shelter
Some people will choose to have a place in their home reinforced so that it is more secure and offers greater safety from both hurricanes and tornadoes. The special design of this structure will withstand strong winds and flying debris, allowing a safer more secure haven within or close to your home. A certified professional is recommended if this is what you wish. I personally do not know of anyone that has a in-home-shelter, and certainly in Florida, not underground. However, Florida is not the only State at risk for hurricanes, so I mention this as an option if applicable where you live.
Final Words
A hurricane at any category is scary. If at any time you feel unsure of you and/or your family is in danger, go to the safest place you can find. Staying home is not always an option. No matter what memories and sentiment you have in your home, it will never cost more than your life. Be safe everyone.
Stay tuned for some more hurricane readiness tips.
Up next
What to do after the storm