The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1. This year meteorologists are watching weather patterns, especially the El Niño cycle, which has the potential to reduce hurricane activity. But even if the season brings fewer named storms, you should still reduce your risk by preparing well in advance for weather events.
Here is a six-step plan to help you prepare for hurricane season.
Determine Your Risk
Find out what types of wind and water hazards exist where you live. Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem; their impact can be felt hundreds of miles inland. Hurricanes such as Ike, Sandy and Isaac also remind us that significant damage can occur without an “official” major hurricane.
Make a Plan
If you live in an evacuation zone or a home that could be unsafe during a hurricane, figure out where you’d go during an evacuation and how you’d get there. Identify friends or relatives who don’t live in a danger zone or an unsafe home, and work out with them the use of their home as your evacuation destination. Remember to account for your pets, too.
Secure the place where you will ride out the storm and start stocking up on emergency supplies immediately.
Finally, be sure to put the plan in writing for yourself and those you care about.
Assemble Supplies
You’ll need supplies not just to get through the storm but to survive the potentially lengthy and unpleasant aftermath. Have enough nonperishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family for at least one week.
You’ll need extra cash, blankets, a battery-powered radio and flashlights. A cellphone can be useful—but you’ll need a fully charged power bank to keep it going.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides an extensive checklist of recommended supplies to include in an emergency kit at fema.gov.
Strengthen Your Home
If you plan to ride out the storm in your own home, make sure it’s in good repair and up to local hurricane building code specifications. Many retrofits do not cost as much or take as long to enact as you might think.
Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up windows and doors. Make sure your insurance covers floods, as most standard plans don’t.
Find Reliable Sources
The National Hurricane Center is an official source for forecasts and the issuance of watches and warnings. Your county’s emergency management agency makes decisions regarding evacuations.
Preparedness and aid organizations, including the American Red Cross, make safety recommendations, and local and regional media outlets broadcast these bulletins. These organizations work together to serve as trusted information sources, especially for those less able to take care of themselves.
Finalize Your Plan
Take the time now to write down and share the details of your hurricane plan.
The time to prepare for a hurricane is before the season begins, when you have the time and are not under pressure. Being prepared well beforehand can make you more resilient in the face of a hurricane—and make the difference between being a hurricane victim and a hurricane survivor.
