High winds are not the principal danger in a hurricane. The principal danger lies in the flying debris, destruction to homes and buildings and other hazards created by the high winds rain. These storm systems are usually accompanied by heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms. Before this occurs, have a plan for survival.

Hurricane Survival Kit

The Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommend you self-equip with everything on their list.  Prepare 4 Disaster offers various pre-packaged kits that contain a large number of products on their lists.  Here is a list of suggested kits:

Below is an outline of what you would need if you planned on creating your own kit.  The kit, kept in a durable container, should include:

1. WATER - Plan on using one gallon of water per person per day. Store three gallons of water for each person and pet (72 hour supply). Also, pack purification tablets or chlorine bleach to purify drinking water from other sources. Emergency water may be obtained from water heaters, melted ice cubes, toilet tanks (the back part of toilets where the mechanism is located), and canned vegetables.

Avoid drinking water from swimming pools or especially spas - it may have too many chemicals in it to be safe.

2. FOOD - Store at least a three-day (72 hour supply) supply of non-perishable food. It's best to have enough canned and dried foods sufficient for a week for each member of your household. Note: both water and food stores should be replaced every so often to maintain freshness. Canned goods have a normal shelf-life of one year for maximum freshness.

3. FIRST AID KIT AND HANDBOOK - Have two copies of each, one for your home and one for your car.

4. MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS - Vital stuff you won't miss until you realize it's unobtainable. Your emergency tools should consist of:

5. CLOTHING & BEDDING – Hotels may not have vacancy during a disaster. You may be required to sleep in your vehicle. Pack protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags in your kit, as well as extra blankets and heavy clothing, including rubber-soled shoes and work gloves.

6. MEDICINE AND SPECIAL ITEMS - Keep adequate supplies for babies, the elderly or disabled and others with special needs.

7. COPIES of important papers should be kept in a fireproof container or a safe deposit box with a key you always carry.

8.  CASH – You should save some amount of cash to have in your emergency kits.  During a power outage ATM machines may not be available.

Making Preparations and Securing Your Home

The safest place to be during any high wind storm is a basement, away from windows, in the middle room or closet of the house and under a heavy piece of furniture. If you do not have a basement, go to the inner-most closet or bathroom without windows and hide under heavy furniture. Some companies manufacture prefabricated shelters that you drop into a hole in the ground; they are havens against heavy winds.

During a hurricane, listen to the news to determine which type of hurricane is coming your way so you will know if you should stay home and endure the storm or go to a safe shelter.  Invest in a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio to keep track of what is going on. These broadcasts are sent out via VHF radio waves, so any receiver that can pick up such broadcasts will do. With a hurricane, you have the luxury of time to prepare in comparison to a tornado. The conditions for a hurricane are usually spotted days before one actually develops. The sky looks similar to that of a tornado, with the greenish cast that is almost black. There is an eerie calm before the storm; then it hits a wide area for awhile.

If you know a hurricane is coming your way, examine the home you live in and listen to news reports so that you can understand the ferocity of the coming storm. That way, you will know if you should either stay or leave for a shelter.

If you stay at home, make sure you have sturdy shutters securely locked to keep your windows (as well as everyone in the house) safe. If you do not have shutters, use heavy plywood and nail it to the window frame. Have your emergency kit handy and alternative lighting ready.

It might also be a good idea to invest in a small generator, a small gas-powered motor that can produce small amounts of electricity, providing you with essentials for a few hours at a stretch if power lines are down after the storm. Get one before the storm hits: if you wait till the storm has come and gone, you'll be looking for a generator with everyone else. In that case, expect very long lines and seeing empty shelves where generators used to sit in your local hardware store.

Listen to the battery operated radio or NOAA radio so you can hear what is really going on outside and when it is safe to leave the house. If you are in a car and spot evidence of oncoming bad winds, leave your car and take shelter in the nearest building or in a ditch. Do not hide in an overpass. A strong tornado could have the heavy steel and concrete on you in an instant.

If you live in a trailer and there is a threat of a hurricane or tornado, leave the area immediately. You have no protection against such winds. The metal can literally rip to pieces around you; the shrapnel becomes a deadly weapon. If you are in a trailer park, see if there is any way to get to a storm shelter for such occasions, or at least a ditch.

Understand that the power could go out for hours or days. Have an emergency kit handy for anything that could happen. After the winds have settled, be mindful of dangerous situations such as downed power lines, broken gas pipes or neighbors in need of assistance.

Hurricane Essentials top 10

1.     Hurricanes are rated by wind speeds in categories:

·          Category 1 = 74-95mph

·          Category 2 = 96-110mph

·          Category 3 = 111-130mph

·          Category 4 = 131-155mph

·          Category 5 = 156+ mph

2.     Determine the level of risk for hurricane impact where you live. Make plans to evacuate if and when the order is given, and know where to go.

3.     Make a family disaster plan for hurricane preparedness and practice your plan as a family.

4.     Prepare 72 hour Emergency Kits for each family member including pets. Check batteries and replace water and packaged food every six months. We supply 5-Year Shelf Life Water and Food Products. Make sure these are with you when you take shelter at home or at a public shelter.

5.     If a hurricane watch is posted for your area, it only means there is a probability a hurricane will reach your area, and you should prepare as if it were coming at you. A hurricane warning however means it is coming upon you and you need shelter immediately.  Hurricane watches give 36 hours to prepare and hurricane warnings give 24 hours to prepare.

6.     Know and post the TV and radio stations that broadcast official emergency and weather information.

7.     Review your sheltering options. Special needs should check with their home health care agencies and register with the Emergency Management Office in their county.

8.     Know the locations of public shelters and evacuation centers. Find out their rules, and decide on the items to take with you. Alcoholic beverages, drugs, weapons and smoking is not permitted in public shelters/evacuation centers. You should find out about rules for pets in the shelters.

9.     Wait for the official "all clear" to be issued from the emergency management authorities before returning home.

10.  When re-entry is allowed into damaged areas, be sure to have verification of your home address. Non-residents should refrain from "sight-seeing," which slows down emergency personnel. Also beware of hazards such as downed lines, gas leaks, and sharp objects.

We urge you to plan now what you and your family will do if a hurricane should threaten to strike your area. If you consider the alternatives, you'll see it's best to review the checklist before disaster strikes.

Securing Your Home

You don't need to experience the fury of a killer storm to learn one of its most valuable lessons: Covering doors and windows with shutters and securing roof trusses should be a priority when preparing for a hurricane. The reason is simple: Houses are designed as closed systems and being shut tight is how they best withstand wind pressure. If flying debris breaks a window or fierce winds knock down a door, the winds rushing inside will push the roof, trying to lift it, while the winds on the outside will create suction.

Plan A: STAY HOME

If you plan to stay home, make sure it can withstand a hurricane. A house or apartment building that meets current building codes, if kept in good condition and not located in a flood area, could be safe during a hurricane, provided you make the necessary preparations. A mobile home, however, is not safe in hurricane conditions, no matter how securely it is affixed to the ground.

Plan B: STAY WITH LOCAL FRIENDS OR RELATIVES

If you expect to stay at someone else's home during the next hurricane, arrange it in advance. You will want to be sure their home will be adequately prepared and supplied. Have an alternate plan ready in case a hurricane comes when the other folks are out of town.

Plan C: RELOCATE OUTSIDE THE THREATENED AREA

If you intend to travel a few hundred miles to get out of the threatened area, use a current road map to plan the route, but stay clear of major bodies of water. If you have ill or disabled persons in your home get a doctor's advice on where they should stay if a hurricane hits. If you relocate do it early so you will avoid traffic jams and dangerous winds.

Plan D: GO TO A RED CROSS SHELTER

If you do not use plan A, B or C, Red Cross emergency shelters will be available in assigned locations. The opening of such shelters will be announced on radio and television. If you plan to go to a shelter, be sure to leave as soon as the shelter's opening is announced, and bring along your irreplaceable documents and bedding. Remember a shelter is a last resort, so comforts must be sacrificed.

Find These Hazards In Your Home Before A Disaster

·          Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.

·          Fasten shelves securely and brace overhead light fixtures.

·          Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves.

·          Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds.

·          Strap water heater to wall studs.

·          Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations.

·          Store weeds killers, pesticides and flammable products away from heat sources.

·          Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans.

·          Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors and gas vents.

During a Hurricane

·          Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.

·          Take your Hurricane Survival Kit.

·          Lock your house.

·          Use travel routes specified by local officials.

·          Shut off water, gas and electricity, if instructed to do so.

·          Let others know when you left and where you are going.

·          Make arrangements for pets. Animals may not be allowed in public shelters.

·          Listen to a battery powered radio for the location of emergency shelters. Follow instructions of local officials.

After a Hurricane

Check for injuries to yourself and those around you; give first aid where you can. If a person is bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound and use clean gauze, or cloth if available. If a person is not breathing administer CPR. Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in further danger of injury. Cover the wounded with blankets to keep them warm. Seek medical help for serious injuries.

Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals. Inspect the entire length of chimneys carefully for damage. Unnoticed cracks could lead to a fire. Also inspect your gas, power and sewer lines. If your utilities are damaged, fix them or get out until you can have someone else do so. Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for the latest emergency information.

Stay out of buildings known to be damaged. Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Only drive if there's an emergency. Keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles.  After the hurricane, brace overhead light fixtures.

Some Don'ts to Remember

1.     Don’t turn on the gas again if you've turned it off; the gas company should do it. They'll know if it's safe to do so.

2.     Don’t use matches, lighters, camp stoves, barbecues, electrical equipment or any appliances until you are sure there are no gas leaks. They may create a spark that could ignite leaking gas and cause an explosion.

3.     Don’t use your telephone, except for a medical or fire emergency. You could tie up the lines needed for emergency response. If an emergency occurs and the phone doesn't work, send someone for help.

4.     Don’t expect firefighters, police or paramedics to definitely be there for you. They may not be available.