Hurricane Preparedness
Created | Updated Nov 2, 2005
This entry is in crude note form and is not yet ready for review. I wanted to get it started right now as hurricane Ivan is a whopper and is likely to make landfall somewhere in the US within the next few days. I've had some practical experience with hurricanes which could be of use to the people in Ivan's projected path. If anyone comes across it and has further information to offer I'm very happy indeed to make this a collaborative effort.
Thanks for your patience!
MoG
____________________________________________________________
The most important advice I can offer is don't wait to see if you're going to be hit before running out in a frenzy with millions of other people who *also* wanted to wait and see before buying appropriate supplies. If you live in a hurricane-prone area it's a good idea to have your basic necessities at hand throughout hurricane season so you can just top off in the event of a storm, rather than having to invest a great deal of time and money all at once when the storm is imminent, supplies are short and tempers are high. Virtually everything you'll need is something that you can use anyway.
***Supplies***
My rule of thumb is to be prepared for at least a week without power, running water and stores. If you're taking medication (prescription or over-the-counter), have special needs or have infants, small children or pets to care for plan for a month. You'll use it anyway, and running out of diapers, formula or kitty litter with nowhere to stock up is a nightmare.
Ice.
Make big ice blocks in tupperware, disposable tupperware, disposable aluminum roasting pans or gallon-sized freezer bags. Do not fill to the brim as ice expands as it hardens. Big ice will last for days in a cooler or freezer that's not opened too often while ice cubes melt rapidly. Start making ice three days in advance of estimated strike date and try to make enough to fill the bottom of your freezer and the bottoms of each of your coolers. I also make ice tubes to place between food items. The big,plastic, disposable cups which super-size drinks come in are perfect for this.
Keeping Things Cool.
Once the power has gone out it's important to keep the fridge and freezer as cold as possible. I set aside one cooler for drinks and things which'll be opened on a regular basis. It can be replenished as needed. Try to get as much cold as possible before the storm strikes, rather than wasting ice on cooling room temperature items. Put a folded towel over the top of items in coolers to keep the cold where you need it and so you don't have to chill warm air every time you open the cooler. Your ice trays as well as food slowly thawing will keep the freezer cool for several days if you don't open it too often. As the fridge starts to warm up, move items which'll spoil easily into the freezer and set them on top of the ice blocks.
Food.
This is not the time to stock up on frozen goods, except for those which you can expect to eat within the next couple of days. Remember that you're likely to be without power, so the microwave and electric ovens will not work. Ice cream melted all over the freezer is a terrible mess. Get plenty of canned foods, some fresh fruits and vegetables, boxes rather than gallons of milk, cereals and other easy-to-prepare meals.
Light Source.
Battery operated lanterns and flashlights are far safer than candles. Go through the camping supplies section and get a couple of lanterns. The little, round, push lamps are also awesome and don't eat as many batteries as more powerful lanterns do. Make SURE you have plenty of the right size batteries for your lamps. To maximize the light source you're using place it in front of a mirror to reflect light into the room. I use mirror tiles behind and under my light source. If you do use candles be VERY careful. Never leave them unattended, even for a few minutes. Make sure your smoke detectors are working correctly. Rather than using stick candles use candles in jars or votives so you don't have to contend with run-away wax. If you have lanterns which require propane, lamp oil, or coleman fuel make sure you have plenty of it on hand as well as a funnel to refill through and plenty of mantles in case they break. I don't recommend buying those types of lanterns, as there's always more danger involved with flame-based light. It's a good idea to have a flashlight for every person (especially children) so they can move freely. The little head lamps sold in camping stores are the best because they leave the hands free and point wherever you are looking.
Get a camp stove of some sort as well as fuel to run it. Even a single burner is enough to heat food or make a cup of coffee. If you're addicted to coffee or tea make sure you have something other than an electric coffee pot to brew it in.
Communications.
Radio.
Get a small, battery operated radio so you can hear updates on the progress of the storm and reports on how to proceed after the storm has passed. A huge boom box or battery operated tv is fine too, but they eat batteries much more quickly than a simple radio will. It's very important to know what to do after the storm has passed, in case the water is contaminated. Also you'll be able to find out when and where emergency services have been set up. Again, make sure you have plenty of the correct batteries.
Phones.
Make sure your cell phone is well charged prior to the storm, and use it judiciously once you've lost power. If you don't already have a recharger in your car, get one. Make sure your cell phone payments are up to date as some companies shut them off as soon as payment becomes late.
If you don't already have a home phone which doesn't require electricity to operate, get one. They're cheap and the phone lines are often intact when the power is down.
Generators.
Do NOT use a generator inside the house (which means do not use it during the storm). Seems as if *every* hurricane has someone die or need treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning because they run the generator in the house and the fumes accumulate and put the whole family to sleep. If you have a generator READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! Most generators require a breaking-in period during which they can't be used at full capacity. Do not run your generator through household power unless your home is specifically wired for it. The electricity can feed back into the power lines and kill people working to restore the power to your home.
General Supplies.
tarps and bungee cords (great for temporary sealing of roofs, broken windows, knocked-down walls, etc.)
visqueen (sp?) and duct tape to protect electronic devices and furniture in case the rain gets in the house.
lawnsize garbage bags: keep some clothes, shoes, towels and bedding sealed in these just in case everything is saturated. They're also useful afterwards to clean up the rubble.
ziplock freezer bags. The big ones come in handy for storing all sorts of things safely.
baby wipes. Totally useful if the water is off or contaminated. I got sick several times after hurricane Andrew just from showering in contaminated water.
disposable plates, glasses and tableware. Necessary if you have no water to clean with, and invaluable if you have a large family to feed.
water. Figure a gallon of drinking water per person per day for at least a week. Even if the storm doesn't totally devastate your area lack of power and flooding can contaminate the water supply and it takes a while to get it back to normal. If you have no power or AC you'll be drinking more than you usually do. Hurricanes make you sweat. A lot. Fill the bathtub. You can use that water to flush the toilet with. If you've several people staying with you get a couple of big garbage cans and fill them with water, too.
things to do. Remember, if the power is out you'll not be watching tv or using your computer. Have some reading materials handy. If you're with others get some games or cards. Be prepared for the kids to drive you nuts if they have nothing to do and no tv to watch. This is actually a great time to re-connect with friends and family in a traditional sense, through personal interaction.
***Before the Storm***
Take photos of your property. This is incredibly helpful in making insurance (or FEMA) claims. Include interior and exterior of your home, vehicles, everything. Use a digital camera and burn the pics on a CD, then put it in a safe place with important papers. If you have time mail a copy of the CD to someone you trust who's not in the hurricane zone.
Double check that bills are paid, insurance is up-to-date, etc. If you don't have the available cash to pay pending bills right now, call the companies and get an extension just in case mail service is interrupted and electronic payments can't be processed. Most companies will be helpful and sympathetic, especially if you call them in advance.
Do all the laundry before the storm hits. Once the power is out it's too late. I also clean the house so I don't have to worry about it for a while.
Secure *everything* that's outside. Anything left free is liable to blow through a window. Make sure you take down hanging plants, windchimes, etc. Patio furniture should be brought inside/chained/thrown into the pool. In a high category hurricane everything becomes a dangerous projectile.
Pools: try to empty some of the water so you don't have flooding from the overflow of rain.
If you have time to dispose of garbage do so well in advance of the hurricane. It's not a good idea to prune trees if there'll be no garbage pick-up before the storm. The cut limbs will just blow around and cause damage.
Make sure all vehicles are fueled up well before the storm. Lines at the gas stations can become outrageous if you wait til the last minute, and, as we saw here in south Florida before Frances, many gas stations ran out of fuel entirely.
Windows:
If you're planning to install hurricane shutters or board the windows get supplies early rather than waiting to see where the storm is going to go. Otherwise you'll end up waiting in lines for hours and buying high-grade plywood because all the inexpensive materials will be gone. Or else you'll wait in line and it'll all be sold out by the time it's your turn.
Putting tape on windows doesn't seem to offer much protection other than helping prevent glass shards going everywhere if the window is thoroughly taped. It's very, very difficult getting the adhesive off the windows afterwards, especially if they sit in the sun for a couple of days. I don't bother with taping my windows.
If you have burglar bars on windows that prevents anchoring wood to the wall you can use lots and lots of bungee cords to strap boards to the bars. I did this for Andrew in '92, and though every window in my house blew out, the boards did offer some protection to keep really big things from entering the house. Also, mine were the only boards on my street that stayed where I put them. Everyone else's were torn off by the force of the wind, but the bungee cords had enough give to survive. I used almost 150 bungee cords on a small, two bedroom house and wouldn't recommend doing this without *plenty* of hefty bungees from every angle.
Important papers. Make sure you have all important papers (car titles, birth certificates, passports, soc. sec. card, insurance paperwork, etc.) in one place in a water-tight container. If you evacuate take this with you! Also check that your driver license or legal ID card has your current address on it. If not, make sure you carry photo ID and something with your current address on it (utility bills are a good choice) at all times. Once people begin to evacuate an area the police will likely set up checkpoints and not allow anyone in who doesn't have proof he belongs there. This is to protect residents from looters, so be prepared and keep your temper.
Hurricane fashion. No, it's not about wearing waterproof mascara. Dress for protection. Wear solid, comfortable shoes, preferably something like hiking boots if you have them. Even minor hurricanes create a lot of debris and during a storm you can't *get* medical attention if you slice your foot on broken glass, step on a nail, or break an ankle. Cover your arms and legs because, if the house is breached things are likely to be in unexpected places and are easy to walk into when you're disoriented.
Vehicles. If you have access to indoor parking use it. If not park your car in the most protected place you can find and avoid places that flood in a solid downpour. I try to park next to big, solid, ugly buildings without trees, awnings or details that'll fall on my car. Definitely don't park under a tree or powerlines! Also avoid parking and walking under trees for a while after the hurricane has passed. Often limbs can be partially broken during the storm and then fall off in a breeze two weeks later.
Precious items. If you have paintings, photos, great-grandma's quilt, anything that you'd be heartbroken if it were destroyed, wrap it securely in plastic and store it in a high, protected place. Closet shelves are good for this. Many people who've lost *everything* are most upset about the irreplacable family photo album or wedding pics. To be really safe, scan these items *today* and send a copy of the CD to someone elsewhere. It's protection in case of fire, too.
***During the Storm***
STAY INSIDE! I cannot stress this enough! Most of the people who get hurt during hurricanes are the idiots who are running around outside for whatever reason. The *only* good reason to leave your home after you've made the decision to stay there is if the whole damn thing blows down on you, if it catches fire, or if it floods.
There are some people who are just dumb enough and bold enough to go outside in the midst of a hurricane to see what it's like. Or they heard something go riiiiiiiip or *crash* and they think it's a good time for damage control. It's not. It's already too late to do much of anything about it, and by going out they're not only endangering themselves, they're adding an unnecessary load of dangerous duty to whichever emergency service will eventually have to help them once they can get there to save their stupid butt.
And while I'm on this rant, surfing comes to mind. Yes, the waves are totally awesome, dude. So is the undertow. It's the once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch the perfect wave. So people do it for the rush. And then somebody has to go out there and risk his life to rescue them because they got carried away or whapped upside the head by their surfboard. Go to Hawii, ok? The lifeguards there are used to that kinda action.
<blush>
Back to our scheduled programming.
*ahem*
So, you're inside, right? And you've done everything possible to be prepared that was in your power, right? Leave the stuff outside alone. It'll be there (or not) to worry about when the storm is over.
Most people have a designated 'safe spot' in the home to go to. Preferably it has no external windows or doors and is in the middle of the house somewhere. People tend to like bathrooms and closets. Have enough supplies in there to last the duration of the storm, and be organized. When windows start blowing in it's hard for most people to keep their wits about them, so you want to not have to worry any more than necessary about the next several hours. Gather the kids and pets and settle in for the duration.
small cooler for drinks
snacks
medication
blankets and pillows
lantern and flashlights. PLEASE don't use candles in a confined space, ok?
radio and extra batteries
first aid kit
something to occupy the mind (especially if little kids are involved)
important papers
cell phones
toilet paper and a bucket, just in case
If you don't have a perfect 'safe spot' in your home do your best. During Andrew I followed my dogs to the bedroom which didn't collapse. Animals are pretty smart about those things. Though the windows blew out and things came through the roof I was safe sitting at the end of my bed with the mattress pulled over like a cushioned tent top. If I had to do that over again I'd have added a second mattress and given myself a higher 'roof'.
A word of advice: keep your wits about you. A hurricane is no time to get drunk/eat a handful of tranquilizers/drink coffee til you have to be plucked from the ceiling. If you're not the type who can handle alcohol, don't drink. If caffeine makes you nervous and agitated, don't inflict that on others. Don't take any more medication of any sort than you normally would. Almost certainly you'll be just fine where you are, but *just in case* something goes awry you need to be able to function at your best. Keep that in mind.
Listen to the radio. It's amazing what a difference it makes to hear progress reports and have some kinda idea when you can expect the storm to abate. Stay in your safe spot til you're sure the storm has passed. Sometimes it gets quiet for a few minutes only to suddenly whip up to full force in a heartbeat. If the eye passes over you there'll be a period of calm followed by a whap of storm. That's not a good time to go outside, ok? Depending on the radio announcements you might (or might not) have time to check the rest of the interior and stretch your legs. Be careful.
_______________________
Post Wilma, 2005
toilets: When the water cuts off there's still the bucket-brigade option. Pools are an excellent source for toilet (and basic bathing) water. Puddles and other standing water will work in toilets too, just make sure you strain it to keep solid bits out of the works. Be careful when using pool water to bathe with, keep it away from your face. Most Americans' immune system is so debilitated with cleanliness they can't tolerate the bacteria that proliferates very quickly in absence of chlorine.
Gas: have gas cans available,filled, and safely stored *before* the storm. I was laughed at in both St. Augustine and Tampa when trying to buy gas cans to take to a hurricane which demolished Fort Lauderdale. That's an entire (big) state with no gas cans, ok? The area I covered is bigger than many European countries. After the storm don't drive around to look at things. Yes, it's mind-blowing to look at. The roads are dangerous. Let the emergency crews have access to do their thing. They move in quickly when they can. Don't waste your fuel. Until power returns (and it might be quite a while) you're unlikely to be able to buy any fuel at all without waiting in mile-long lines. Save your fuel for really necessary driving.
If at all possible, get the hell out of town.
This is something new for me. I've always been a die-hard, stay-at-home-to-protect-my-stuff person. I'm good at it, waaaaay better than most. But it's depressing and stressful to live in the rubble. If you possibly can, do every bit of damage control in your power, button up the home and get the hell out. Share your supplies (coolers, lanterns, stove, radio, etc) with neighbors who can't leave, and drive. Take an impromptu vacation and try your best to enjoy it. Usually hurricanes don't demolish huge areas (this year was a bit extraordinary) and there *is* life outside the wreckage. Even a few days outside the mess makes a world of difference, once there's nothing more you can do but wait for power and resumption of some semblance of normalcy. By the time you come home your mind will be a bit fresher and you'll be able to better deal with the frustration of rebuilding your life.
Thanks for your patience!
MoG
____________________________________________________________
The most important advice I can offer is don't wait to see if you're going to be hit before running out in a frenzy with millions of other people who *also* wanted to wait and see before buying appropriate supplies. If you live in a hurricane-prone area it's a good idea to have your basic necessities at hand throughout hurricane season so you can just top off in the event of a storm, rather than having to invest a great deal of time and money all at once when the storm is imminent, supplies are short and tempers are high. Virtually everything you'll need is something that you can use anyway.
***Supplies***
My rule of thumb is to be prepared for at least a week without power, running water and stores. If you're taking medication (prescription or over-the-counter), have special needs or have infants, small children or pets to care for plan for a month. You'll use it anyway, and running out of diapers, formula or kitty litter with nowhere to stock up is a nightmare.
Ice.
Make big ice blocks in tupperware, disposable tupperware, disposable aluminum roasting pans or gallon-sized freezer bags. Do not fill to the brim as ice expands as it hardens. Big ice will last for days in a cooler or freezer that's not opened too often while ice cubes melt rapidly. Start making ice three days in advance of estimated strike date and try to make enough to fill the bottom of your freezer and the bottoms of each of your coolers. I also make ice tubes to place between food items. The big,plastic, disposable cups which super-size drinks come in are perfect for this.
Keeping Things Cool.
Once the power has gone out it's important to keep the fridge and freezer as cold as possible. I set aside one cooler for drinks and things which'll be opened on a regular basis. It can be replenished as needed. Try to get as much cold as possible before the storm strikes, rather than wasting ice on cooling room temperature items. Put a folded towel over the top of items in coolers to keep the cold where you need it and so you don't have to chill warm air every time you open the cooler. Your ice trays as well as food slowly thawing will keep the freezer cool for several days if you don't open it too often. As the fridge starts to warm up, move items which'll spoil easily into the freezer and set them on top of the ice blocks.
Food.
This is not the time to stock up on frozen goods, except for those which you can expect to eat within the next couple of days. Remember that you're likely to be without power, so the microwave and electric ovens will not work. Ice cream melted all over the freezer is a terrible mess. Get plenty of canned foods, some fresh fruits and vegetables, boxes rather than gallons of milk, cereals and other easy-to-prepare meals.
Light Source.
Battery operated lanterns and flashlights are far safer than candles. Go through the camping supplies section and get a couple of lanterns. The little, round, push lamps are also awesome and don't eat as many batteries as more powerful lanterns do. Make SURE you have plenty of the right size batteries for your lamps. To maximize the light source you're using place it in front of a mirror to reflect light into the room. I use mirror tiles behind and under my light source. If you do use candles be VERY careful. Never leave them unattended, even for a few minutes. Make sure your smoke detectors are working correctly. Rather than using stick candles use candles in jars or votives so you don't have to contend with run-away wax. If you have lanterns which require propane, lamp oil, or coleman fuel make sure you have plenty of it on hand as well as a funnel to refill through and plenty of mantles in case they break. I don't recommend buying those types of lanterns, as there's always more danger involved with flame-based light. It's a good idea to have a flashlight for every person (especially children) so they can move freely. The little head lamps sold in camping stores are the best because they leave the hands free and point wherever you are looking.
Get a camp stove of some sort as well as fuel to run it. Even a single burner is enough to heat food or make a cup of coffee. If you're addicted to coffee or tea make sure you have something other than an electric coffee pot to brew it in.
Communications.
Radio.
Get a small, battery operated radio so you can hear updates on the progress of the storm and reports on how to proceed after the storm has passed. A huge boom box or battery operated tv is fine too, but they eat batteries much more quickly than a simple radio will. It's very important to know what to do after the storm has passed, in case the water is contaminated. Also you'll be able to find out when and where emergency services have been set up. Again, make sure you have plenty of the correct batteries.
Phones.
Make sure your cell phone is well charged prior to the storm, and use it judiciously once you've lost power. If you don't already have a recharger in your car, get one. Make sure your cell phone payments are up to date as some companies shut them off as soon as payment becomes late.
If you don't already have a home phone which doesn't require electricity to operate, get one. They're cheap and the phone lines are often intact when the power is down.
Generators.
Do NOT use a generator inside the house (which means do not use it during the storm). Seems as if *every* hurricane has someone die or need treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning because they run the generator in the house and the fumes accumulate and put the whole family to sleep. If you have a generator READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! Most generators require a breaking-in period during which they can't be used at full capacity. Do not run your generator through household power unless your home is specifically wired for it. The electricity can feed back into the power lines and kill people working to restore the power to your home.
General Supplies.
tarps and bungee cords (great for temporary sealing of roofs, broken windows, knocked-down walls, etc.)
visqueen (sp?) and duct tape to protect electronic devices and furniture in case the rain gets in the house.
lawnsize garbage bags: keep some clothes, shoes, towels and bedding sealed in these just in case everything is saturated. They're also useful afterwards to clean up the rubble.
ziplock freezer bags. The big ones come in handy for storing all sorts of things safely.
baby wipes. Totally useful if the water is off or contaminated. I got sick several times after hurricane Andrew just from showering in contaminated water.
disposable plates, glasses and tableware. Necessary if you have no water to clean with, and invaluable if you have a large family to feed.
water. Figure a gallon of drinking water per person per day for at least a week. Even if the storm doesn't totally devastate your area lack of power and flooding can contaminate the water supply and it takes a while to get it back to normal. If you have no power or AC you'll be drinking more than you usually do. Hurricanes make you sweat. A lot. Fill the bathtub. You can use that water to flush the toilet with. If you've several people staying with you get a couple of big garbage cans and fill them with water, too.
things to do. Remember, if the power is out you'll not be watching tv or using your computer. Have some reading materials handy. If you're with others get some games or cards. Be prepared for the kids to drive you nuts if they have nothing to do and no tv to watch. This is actually a great time to re-connect with friends and family in a traditional sense, through personal interaction.
***Before the Storm***
Take photos of your property. This is incredibly helpful in making insurance (or FEMA) claims. Include interior and exterior of your home, vehicles, everything. Use a digital camera and burn the pics on a CD, then put it in a safe place with important papers. If you have time mail a copy of the CD to someone you trust who's not in the hurricane zone.
Double check that bills are paid, insurance is up-to-date, etc. If you don't have the available cash to pay pending bills right now, call the companies and get an extension just in case mail service is interrupted and electronic payments can't be processed. Most companies will be helpful and sympathetic, especially if you call them in advance.
Do all the laundry before the storm hits. Once the power is out it's too late. I also clean the house so I don't have to worry about it for a while.
Secure *everything* that's outside. Anything left free is liable to blow through a window. Make sure you take down hanging plants, windchimes, etc. Patio furniture should be brought inside/chained/thrown into the pool. In a high category hurricane everything becomes a dangerous projectile.
Pools: try to empty some of the water so you don't have flooding from the overflow of rain.
If you have time to dispose of garbage do so well in advance of the hurricane. It's not a good idea to prune trees if there'll be no garbage pick-up before the storm. The cut limbs will just blow around and cause damage.
Make sure all vehicles are fueled up well before the storm. Lines at the gas stations can become outrageous if you wait til the last minute, and, as we saw here in south Florida before Frances, many gas stations ran out of fuel entirely.
Windows:
If you're planning to install hurricane shutters or board the windows get supplies early rather than waiting to see where the storm is going to go. Otherwise you'll end up waiting in lines for hours and buying high-grade plywood because all the inexpensive materials will be gone. Or else you'll wait in line and it'll all be sold out by the time it's your turn.
Putting tape on windows doesn't seem to offer much protection other than helping prevent glass shards going everywhere if the window is thoroughly taped. It's very, very difficult getting the adhesive off the windows afterwards, especially if they sit in the sun for a couple of days. I don't bother with taping my windows.
If you have burglar bars on windows that prevents anchoring wood to the wall you can use lots and lots of bungee cords to strap boards to the bars. I did this for Andrew in '92, and though every window in my house blew out, the boards did offer some protection to keep really big things from entering the house. Also, mine were the only boards on my street that stayed where I put them. Everyone else's were torn off by the force of the wind, but the bungee cords had enough give to survive. I used almost 150 bungee cords on a small, two bedroom house and wouldn't recommend doing this without *plenty* of hefty bungees from every angle.
Important papers. Make sure you have all important papers (car titles, birth certificates, passports, soc. sec. card, insurance paperwork, etc.) in one place in a water-tight container. If you evacuate take this with you! Also check that your driver license or legal ID card has your current address on it. If not, make sure you carry photo ID and something with your current address on it (utility bills are a good choice) at all times. Once people begin to evacuate an area the police will likely set up checkpoints and not allow anyone in who doesn't have proof he belongs there. This is to protect residents from looters, so be prepared and keep your temper.
Hurricane fashion. No, it's not about wearing waterproof mascara. Dress for protection. Wear solid, comfortable shoes, preferably something like hiking boots if you have them. Even minor hurricanes create a lot of debris and during a storm you can't *get* medical attention if you slice your foot on broken glass, step on a nail, or break an ankle. Cover your arms and legs because, if the house is breached things are likely to be in unexpected places and are easy to walk into when you're disoriented.
Vehicles. If you have access to indoor parking use it. If not park your car in the most protected place you can find and avoid places that flood in a solid downpour. I try to park next to big, solid, ugly buildings without trees, awnings or details that'll fall on my car. Definitely don't park under a tree or powerlines! Also avoid parking and walking under trees for a while after the hurricane has passed. Often limbs can be partially broken during the storm and then fall off in a breeze two weeks later.
Precious items. If you have paintings, photos, great-grandma's quilt, anything that you'd be heartbroken if it were destroyed, wrap it securely in plastic and store it in a high, protected place. Closet shelves are good for this. Many people who've lost *everything* are most upset about the irreplacable family photo album or wedding pics. To be really safe, scan these items *today* and send a copy of the CD to someone elsewhere. It's protection in case of fire, too.
***During the Storm***
STAY INSIDE! I cannot stress this enough! Most of the people who get hurt during hurricanes are the idiots who are running around outside for whatever reason. The *only* good reason to leave your home after you've made the decision to stay there is if the whole damn thing blows down on you, if it catches fire, or if it floods.
There are some people who are just dumb enough and bold enough to go outside in the midst of a hurricane to see what it's like. Or they heard something go riiiiiiiip or *crash* and they think it's a good time for damage control. It's not. It's already too late to do much of anything about it, and by going out they're not only endangering themselves, they're adding an unnecessary load of dangerous duty to whichever emergency service will eventually have to help them once they can get there to save their stupid butt.
And while I'm on this rant, surfing comes to mind. Yes, the waves are totally awesome, dude. So is the undertow. It's the once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch the perfect wave. So people do it for the rush. And then somebody has to go out there and risk his life to rescue them because they got carried away or whapped upside the head by their surfboard. Go to Hawii, ok? The lifeguards there are used to that kinda action.
<blush>
Back to our scheduled programming.
*ahem*
So, you're inside, right? And you've done everything possible to be prepared that was in your power, right? Leave the stuff outside alone. It'll be there (or not) to worry about when the storm is over.
Most people have a designated 'safe spot' in the home to go to. Preferably it has no external windows or doors and is in the middle of the house somewhere. People tend to like bathrooms and closets. Have enough supplies in there to last the duration of the storm, and be organized. When windows start blowing in it's hard for most people to keep their wits about them, so you want to not have to worry any more than necessary about the next several hours. Gather the kids and pets and settle in for the duration.
small cooler for drinks
snacks
medication
blankets and pillows
lantern and flashlights. PLEASE don't use candles in a confined space, ok?
radio and extra batteries
first aid kit
something to occupy the mind (especially if little kids are involved)
important papers
cell phones
toilet paper and a bucket, just in case
If you don't have a perfect 'safe spot' in your home do your best. During Andrew I followed my dogs to the bedroom which didn't collapse. Animals are pretty smart about those things. Though the windows blew out and things came through the roof I was safe sitting at the end of my bed with the mattress pulled over like a cushioned tent top. If I had to do that over again I'd have added a second mattress and given myself a higher 'roof'.
A word of advice: keep your wits about you. A hurricane is no time to get drunk/eat a handful of tranquilizers/drink coffee til you have to be plucked from the ceiling. If you're not the type who can handle alcohol, don't drink. If caffeine makes you nervous and agitated, don't inflict that on others. Don't take any more medication of any sort than you normally would. Almost certainly you'll be just fine where you are, but *just in case* something goes awry you need to be able to function at your best. Keep that in mind.
Listen to the radio. It's amazing what a difference it makes to hear progress reports and have some kinda idea when you can expect the storm to abate. Stay in your safe spot til you're sure the storm has passed. Sometimes it gets quiet for a few minutes only to suddenly whip up to full force in a heartbeat. If the eye passes over you there'll be a period of calm followed by a whap of storm. That's not a good time to go outside, ok? Depending on the radio announcements you might (or might not) have time to check the rest of the interior and stretch your legs. Be careful.
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Post Wilma, 2005
toilets: When the water cuts off there's still the bucket-brigade option. Pools are an excellent source for toilet (and basic bathing) water. Puddles and other standing water will work in toilets too, just make sure you strain it to keep solid bits out of the works. Be careful when using pool water to bathe with, keep it away from your face. Most Americans' immune system is so debilitated with cleanliness they can't tolerate the bacteria that proliferates very quickly in absence of chlorine.
Gas: have gas cans available,filled, and safely stored *before* the storm. I was laughed at in both St. Augustine and Tampa when trying to buy gas cans to take to a hurricane which demolished Fort Lauderdale. That's an entire (big) state with no gas cans, ok? The area I covered is bigger than many European countries. After the storm don't drive around to look at things. Yes, it's mind-blowing to look at. The roads are dangerous. Let the emergency crews have access to do their thing. They move in quickly when they can. Don't waste your fuel. Until power returns (and it might be quite a while) you're unlikely to be able to buy any fuel at all without waiting in mile-long lines. Save your fuel for really necessary driving.
If at all possible, get the hell out of town.
This is something new for me. I've always been a die-hard, stay-at-home-to-protect-my-stuff person. I'm good at it, waaaaay better than most. But it's depressing and stressful to live in the rubble. If you possibly can, do every bit of damage control in your power, button up the home and get the hell out. Share your supplies (coolers, lanterns, stove, radio, etc) with neighbors who can't leave, and drive. Take an impromptu vacation and try your best to enjoy it. Usually hurricanes don't demolish huge areas (this year was a bit extraordinary) and there *is* life outside the wreckage. Even a few days outside the mess makes a world of difference, once there's nothing more you can do but wait for power and resumption of some semblance of normalcy. By the time you come home your mind will be a bit fresher and you'll be able to better deal with the frustration of rebuilding your life.
