Hurricane Survival Tips and How to Prepare 4 Disaster

A high wind in itself is not the principal danger. It is rather the fact that a hurricane blows around debris, shreds buildings and turns objects into missiles. These storm systems are usually accompanied by heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms. Before this occurs, have a plan for survival...

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 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:

This is an abbreviated version of the Hurricane Preparedness Tips. To download the entire document and other valuable documents about hurricane preparedness, survival tips and safety watch the 2-minute tour above.