In Houston, you need to know how to prepare for hurricane season because it lasts from June 1st to November 30th! That’s a LONG time, right?
In this blog, I’ll attempt to do two things. One, what you should have in preparation for a hurricane. Two (and I’m going to assume this is what most people are actually worried about), how do prepare for hurricane flooding. Hurricanes like Harvey did their heaviest damage because of the amount of rain that fell rather than the wind conditions.
How To Prepare For Hurricane Season – Before The Storm
The best time to prepare for a hurricane is before hurricane season begins on June 1st.
Put Together an Emergency Kit: Put together a basic emergency kit. The American Red Cross has a nice checklist of things. Do you have non-perishable food? Do you have a method to cook it? What about bottled water? Medicine? Keep in mind, stores might be closed well after the hurricane, so you should have at least two weeks of medication.
Check Emergency Equipment: flashlights, generators. Have a way to charge your cell phone. Do you have window coverings?
Write or Review Your Family Emergency Plan: Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in contact with each other. What if you lose cell phone coverage? Where would you meet then?
Review Your Insurance Policies: Review your insurance policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your home and personal property. If your insurance sees a hurricane is expected within days, they aren’t changing your coverage!
How To Prepare For Hurricane Season – During The Storm
Stay Informed with media that does actual weather coverage: All the local TV stations have weather departments. The news/talk radio stations have legitimate news sources. The country radio DJ is only repeating what those guys are reporting.
Leave If Told: If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone and local officials tell you to evacuate, do so immediately.
There Is Nothing Special About Your Car: Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
How To Prepare For Hurricane Season – After The Storm
Get the All Clear from People In The Know: Pay attention to local officials for information and special instructions.
Be Careful during Clean Up. Wear protective clothing, use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris. Do not let your kids help with cleanup work!
Leave Dangerous Clean Up To Professionals: Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box to prevent electric shock. Do not wade in flood water, which can contain dangerous pathogens that cause illnesses. This water also can contain debris, chemicals, waste and wildlife. Underground or downed power lines also can electrically charge the water.
Can You Hear Me Now? Good: Save phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems often are down or busy after a disaster. Use text messages or social media to communicate with family and friends.
Insurance Companies Want Pictures: Document any property damage with photographs. Contact your insurance company for assistance.
For more on how to prepare for hurricane season, check out these links to the CDC and the Federal Government’s site. For preparation during the winter months, I’ve done a list here.