We have to begin by saying that there’s no such thing as “unimportant” hurricane prep. Everything you do in order to protect yourself and your family when a hurricane hits is tremendously important and should not be skipped. In this post, we’re listing some of the most important must-do hurricane prep steps based on the impact they’ll have on your overall safety and comfort. With that said, there’s no reason why all of these things shouldn’t be done in the face of a hurricane.
5. Sealing important documents in an airtight container
Again, this is a fantastic precaution to take; you never know exactly what a hurricane will bring, and it is not only better but life-saving to be safe than sorry. With that said, the likelihood that your Florida home will flood enough to ruin important paperwork is fairly low – especially if there are no evacuation orders in place for your area. The caveat to this is that, if your local news stations release flood warnings, you should absolutely get sandbags and airtight containers, making it a priority to follow all of the proper safety procedures for a flood.
4. Filling up all your cars’ gas tanks
If your city or county does not receive an evacuation order, filling up the tanks of all your cars is an excellent precaution to take. It allows you to be mobile in the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, should relocation become necessary, and it prevents you from having to wait in long lines (or being stuck due to gas stations being out of commission). That said, topping off your tank shouldn’t take precedence over some of the other more immediate, life-saving precautions if leaving town for the hurricane isn’t in your plans.
3. Boarding up your windows
The importance of this one depends on the intensity of the hurricane that’s coming your way. Hurricanes in Category 3 or above make boarding up your windows a virtually non-negotiable thing. Even for Categories 1 and 2, it is highly advisable that you board up your windows, place cinderblocks or sandbags behind your cars’ wheels, and do everything you can to prevent dangerous destruction to your property.
2. Stocking up on essential supplies
No matter what category of hurricane is coming your way, it is absolutely crucial that you have all of the necessary supplies to hunker down and make it through without power. This includes:
Flashlights and spare batteries
Portable chargers (fully charged before the storm)
Filtered water
Nonperishable foods
First aid kits
Basic aspirin, antibacterial cream, and allergy medication
Small bags packed with clothing and essentials for each person in your family in case of an emergency evacuation
Getting ahold of these life-saving supplies in the leadup to a hurricane is absolutely essential; they will keep you as comfortable as possible in the face of an inevitable blackout.
1. Preventing a blackout in the first place
The best way to keep your family comfortable and safe inside your home is to prevent a blackout from happening at all. That means investing in a sturdy, top-tier generator that you can trust to get the job done. We’re not just saying this: getting a generator means having the power you need to use the Internet, call your relatives, keep perishable foods from going bad, cook, shower, work from home, and so much more. It means preserving your quality of life even in the face of a storm, and the best thing about this preparation step is that you can do it far ahead of hurricane season (in fact, we recommend it). Take a look at your options and choose a reliable generator that you know will get the job done when you need it most.
All of these must-do hurricane prep steps are exactly that: mandatory. By reading up on this now, you’ll give yourself plenty of time to take care of them all ahead of hurricane season so that you and your family are fully ready when the storm hits. If you’d like to learn more about which generator is right for your home and get a free quote on your installation, all you need to do is click here.