Hurricane Season: Preparation Tips
The 2021 hurricane season is here. Early preparation is the smartest way to keep your home and family safe during the storm. Below, find useful safety tips from the CDC on how to prepare for a hurricane and how to deal with the aftermath once the storm has passed.
Prepping for a Hurricane:
Get your home ready.
Clear your yard. Make sure there’s nothing that could blow around during the storm and damage your home. Move bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, and building material inside or under shelter.
Cover up windows and doors. Use storm shutters or nail pieces of plywood to the outside window frames to protect your windows. This can help keep you safe from pieces of shattered glass.
Be ready to turn off your power. If you see flooding, downed power lines, or you have to leave your home, switch your power off.
Fill clean water containers with drinking water. You’ll want to do this in case you lose your water supply during the storm. You can also fill up your sinks and bathtubs with water for washing.
Check your carbon monoxide (CO) detector’s battery to prevent CO poisoning.
Get your family and pets ready.
· Go over your emergency plan with your family.
· Keep checking for updates about the storm. Watch TV, listen to the radio, or check online.
· Call the hospital, public health department, or the police about special needs. If you or a loved one is older or disabled and won’t be able to leave quickly, get advice on what to do.
· Put pets and farm animals in a safe place. Read more about pet safety during an emergency.
Get your car ready.
Make sure your car is ready before the storm hits.
Fill your car’s gas tank.
Move cars and trucks into your garage or under cover.
Always keep an emergency kit in your car.
Visit ready.gov for information on how to prepare your car and what to include in your kit.
If you don’t own a car, consider making plans with friends or family or call authorities to get a ride if you need to evacuate.
Be ready to evacuate or stay at home.
If you need to evacuate:
Grab your emergency supply kit and only take what you really need with you (cell phone, chargers, medicines, identification like a passport or license, and cash).
Unplug your appliances. If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water.
Follow the roads that emergency workers recommend even if there’s traffic. Other routes might be blocked or flooded. Never drive through flooded areas—cars and other vehicles can be swept away or may stall in just 6 inches of moving water.
Contact your local emergency management office and ask if they offer accommodations for owners and their pets. Learn more about evacuating with your pet.
If you need to stay home:
Keep your emergency supply kit in a place you can easily access.
Listen to the radio or TV for updates on the hurricane.
Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message that the hurricane is over. Sometimes, weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but then quickly gets bad again.
Stay away from windows—you could get hurt by pieces of broken glass or flying debris during a storm. Stay in a room with no windows, or go inside a closet.
Be ready to leave. If emergency authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go to a shelter or a neighbor’s house.
Staying Safe After a Hurricane
In addition to preparing for a hurricane, it’s important to take steps to stay safe after a hurricane is over, for example:
Avoid flooded areas: Take precautions before, during, and after a flood. Never drive through floodwater.
Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm: Ensure your CO detector has working batteries. Place generators outside at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
Continue to follow preventive actions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, like washing your hands and wearing a mask during cleanup or when returning home.
Dealing with disasters can cause stress and strong emotions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is natural to feel anxiety, grief, and worry. Coping with these feelings and getting help when you need it will help you, your family, and your community recover.
Visit Stay Safe After a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm on the CDC’s website for more tips on staying safe after a hurricane.
