Whipping winds, tormenting tides, devastating downpours. It’s that time of the year again. Hurricane season is knocking on your door and it’s bringing a host of dramatic and dangerous weather with it. According to NASA, hurricanes are the most violent storms, which is why it is necessary to make sure you and your home are fully prepared.
HOW TO PREPARE
FOOD
* Gather at least three days of non-perishable food
per person that does not require cooking. Preferably items that have a long
shelf life such as: MRE’s, granola bars, trail mix, canned tuna, peanut butter,
crackers and jerky are great options that have long shelf life.
*
For pet owners, don’t forget Fido and Mr. Whiskers. Make sure you
have enough food stored for you pets.
WATER
*
Generally speaking, healthy adults can survive (although miserably)
without food for a period of time. The same cannot be said for water. You
do not want to go more than three days without clean drinking water.
Dehydration can quickly turn into a serious medical concern. Ideally, you
should have one gallon of water per person per day.
* A great addition to extra water bottles
can be water purifiers like pump microfilters, iodine tablets, UV
purifiers and emergency filter straws.
CLOTHING
* Pack a bag with some extra clothing just
in case you need to evacuate your home in an emergency. Jackets,
ponchos, pants, T-shirts, extra socks and undergarments are a few
essentials to pack.
BABY SUPPLIES
* If you have little ones, you will need to
stock up on diapers, baby wipes, formula, clothing, and food for baby.
FIRST AID KITS
* Having a first aid kit is vital in an
emergency. You can purchase pre-assembled first aid kits or build your own
with essential items including, gloves, antibacterial wipes, fever-reducing
medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen, gauze, Band-Aids,
tourniquets, tweezers and eyewash. Make sure you store your first aid kit
in a weather-proof container.
MEDICATION
* You may not have access to pharmacies
during a hurricane. Most stores will close during a hurricane and may
remain closed afterwards due to power outages or storm damage.
Additionally, roads can be blocked by storm debris preventing travel. It’s
important to have extra medication or prescriptions stored in a safe place
before a storm hits.
DOCUMENTS AND MONEY
*
Collect copies of vital documents, such as insurance policies,
medical cards, passports, birth certificates and ID cards in case of
property destruction or a medical emergency. Be sure to secure everything
in water-tight containers. A print-out of important phone numbers should
also be stored in a waterproof bag or container in case you lose access to
your mobile contact information.
* It’s also a good idea to have extra cash
on hand because credit cards may not be accepted, and you know what they
say “money talks.
FUEL & POWER
* Top off your automobiles with gas and have
extra gasoline stored in approved containers. Propane tanks for grilling can
also be very useful post-storm.
* Fully charge your mobile devices as well as
back-up batteries and gather the necessary cables needed to connect them.
* Don’t forget flashlights, batteries, a generator
and inexpensive solar lights (for after the storm).
SAFEGUARD YOUR PROPERTY
One of the most important ways to
protect your family and home, is to install quality, impact hurricane storm shutters. Windows are the Achilles heel of
your home. Putting up plywood is not a safe or practical option. During a
hurricane, debris such as tree branches, flower pots, roof tiles, and lawn
furniture (yours or your neighbor’s) can be hurled at your home and windows by
wind speeds exceeding 100 mph. HurricaneShuttersFlorida.com can provide you
with a quality selection of impact resistant storm shutters that are engineered
to meet the strictest codes of the Miami-Dade County product control division,
Florida Building Code, and the International Building Codes.
In
addition to personal injuries, a broken window can create extensive damage to
your walls, furniture, sentimental items and especially your roof. Wind that
enters your home through smashed windows, can cause pressure-buildup which can
lift your roof from the inside. HurricaneShuttersFlorida.com will provide you
with the most cost-effective solution to help you secure your windows and other
openings and prevent a severe storm from entering your home.
For more information on hurricane
protection and storm shutters for your home or business, call us at
954-474-3557 or 1-888-474-3555 to speak to one of our highly trained
representatives. Let us walk you through the best solution to protect your property
during a hurricane. You can also visit
our shutter website and order your hurricane storm shutters online at HurricaneShuttersFlorida.com. We even have a convenient
online pricing tool that will give you a FREE QUOTE on the shutters you’ll need
to stay safe this hurricane season.