(ARA) - With hurricane season underway, those in the South and East are
encouraged to revisit their hurricane preparedness plans. While stocking
up on essential items - like food and water - and making necessary
fixes - like boarding windows - are automatic actions for most, here are
a few unique hurricane preparedness tips that homeowners might not
normally think of.
* Buy a local/state map: Whether you are
waiting out the storm or are forced to evacuate, a local and/or state
map is essential. When the power goes out, your GPS might not be fully
charged or fully functional, so a map will ease many headaches when
either finding the quickest way out of town or getting around
closed/blocked roads.
* Do your laundry and dishes ahead of time:
Having all of your clothes, towels and dishes clean and ready to go will
not only give you more resources during the storm, but you also won't
have to worry about finding a place to wash them since you will have
lots of clean ones on hand.
* Place towels along window sills and the
bottom of doors leading outside: The towels will act as an extra barrier
to keep water from seeping into your home. This is especially important
for any windows or doors on lower levels and in basements.
* Create a box of things to do: Boredom may
not be the first thing that comes to mind when a hurricane is imminent,
but whether you're riding the storm out or are staying out of town, you
and your family aren't able to stick to your usual routine, especially
when the power goes out. Fill a box with books, cards, magazines, crafts
and other activities to keep your mind from worrying and your family
busy. This is particularly helpful for families with young children.
* Have a backup generator installed: In
January and February, most aren't thinking about hurricanes and power
outages, but by having a backup generator installed when weather worries
are minimal, it can save a lot of headaches come hurricane season.
* Invest in hurricane-proof windows: While
boarding and taping windows is an important preparedness step, it
doesn't guarantee that glass won't break. For extra caution, have
hurricane-proof windows installed earlier in the year. The windows are
made with an invisible layer of plastic between two glass slabs, so even
if the glass breaks, the plastic layer stays intact keeping glass
shards from flying around your house.
* Purchase windload and impact-rated garage
doors: If hurricane winds bend your garage door it can lift your roof
and damage the structure of your home. Installing windload and
impact-resistant doors prior to hurricane season will help ensure the
structure of your home is protected.
By having a well-rounded hurricane
preparedness plan, you have a better chance of protecting your home and
family from hurricane damages. Sometimes those preparedness steps you
don't normally think of make all the difference, which makes it
especially important to plan ahead.
