It’s time for hurricane season! Are you ready if one comes our way? Do you have a plan and supplies should power be lost? There are many things to consider when deciding if you should evacuate or remain in place. Regardless of which you choose, you may want to maintain cash on hand for required purchases. Board your windows as well and consider placing sandbags around your property, entrances to your home at the very least. Ensure you have enough of your prescriptions. Insurance companies allow early fills during emergencies.
- Are you in a home that is rated to withstand hurricane-force winds?
- Most manufactured housing is not rated for such storms. It is not advisable to shelter in place with an approaching storm.
- Was your home rated high enough a few years ago (most homes in Brevard County are rated for a Category 3) but you aren’t sure it still is? Consider having your home inspected and making necessary repairs to bring it up to code.
- If evacuation is the plan, do you know where to go? Will you have enough fuel to get there if the filling stations run out?
- Know the evacuation code for your location. These are used to issue mandatory evacuations.
- Know where hurricane shelters are located, plan to stay with a friend, or plan to go to a place out of the path of the storm.
- Store enough fuel to get you there. If using gas, use a fuel stabilization product to enable long-term storage as gas doesn’t last long.
- If sheltering in place, have enough supplies to last 2 weeks. Include pets in your planning. Supplies to think about include but are not limited to:
- Food that will not spoil such as survival food (Freeze-dried). Many companies offer free samples. Store only food your family will eat. Includes pet/baby food, if applicable.
- One gallon of water per person per day. Count pets as a person for this equation. Fill bath tubs with water for hygiene.
- A solar-powered or hand-crank radio is best but battery powered works if you have enough batteries. Many also charge cell phones.
- Multiple sources of light. These can be hurricane lanterns/oil lamps, solar-powered, battery-powered, shaken, or hand-cranked. Remember extra wicks if using oil lamps. Some of these also charge cell phones.
- A generator with enough fuel to keep it going.
- There are many ways of cooking the food you store:
- Propane camping stoves are popular, be sure to store enough propane
- The Crisis Cooker uses all forms of fuel (wood, charcoal, or propane).
- A grill, ensure there is enough fuel.
- An electric hot-plate that can be plugged into your generator.
- A solar oven will handle your baking needs. Too expensive? Wrap a paper box and lid in aluminum foil. Poke venting holes in the bottom. Use either tea lights or smoldering charcoal for heat. Place some form of metal rack above the heat using stones for elevation. Place the backing dish/sheet on the rack and cover. Use at least 10 charcoal briquettes or at least 20 tea lights. Have enough on hand.
- Have enough blankets if heat becomes required.
- If you have a deep freezer, you can plug it into the generator. If you don’t have a generator, place several gallons of water in the freezer to keep it cold. Frozen jugs won’t last more than a few days so eat frozen items before eating survival food.
- You may want to purchase a solar shower. This is a bag that can be filled with water, placed in the sun to heat up then hung in your shower to maintain hygiene.
- You can wash clothes/diapers in a tub, a 5-gallon bucket with a plunger, or a hand-cranked WonderWash.
- Source of fire: matches, lighter, or flint and steel.
- Manual can opener.
- Fans can be plugged into a generator to beat the heat.
- Ensure important papers are protected against potential flooding.
- Remember heat safety. You don’t need to get heat stroke.