What to Do Before, During, and After a Hurricane

As Floridians, we’ve become accustomed to being under the threat of hurricanes each year. We all know the drill – once June rolls around, we become more aware of the weather channel, awaiting news of a potential new storm heading our way. However, just because we are used to this routine does not mean you should be any less prepared.

An unknown amount of storms have the potential to come and go between June 1st and November 30th, with a handful turning into powerful and destructive storms. Due to the level of unpredictability that is weather, it can sometimes be difficult for meteorologists to know when a hurricane will make landfall.

Nevertheless, it’s better to be as prepared as humanly possible for any potentially devastating storms, rather than take a gamble on if it will avoid the area you’re in. Knowing exactly what to do before, during, and after a hurricane can be the difference between you and your family staying safe and putting you all in serious danger.

Before A Hurricane

There are numerous steps every family should follow before hurricane season even begins. On the “off-months”, between December and May, we recommend that families create an inventory of nonperishable foods, water, batteries, flashlights, and emergency kits.

We also recommend every homeowner consider investing in a standby generator and storm shutters. Standby generators are exceptional at keeping your house running efficiently, even when your neighbor’s power is out and power lines are down, and storm shutters will protect your windows from any debris flying around from the winds of the storm.

From clean, quiet home standby power systems to multi-megawatt generation plants for large data centers, GenerX sells and installs Generac generators that power up Florida consumers and businesses alike.

For example, the 22 kW* Guardian® Series home standby generator is the largest air-cooled home standby generator on the market. Not only does it deliver all the features and functionality customers have come to expect from the market-leading brand of home standby generators, but with an MSRP that is the lowest cost per kilowatt of any air-cooled home standby generator. This model provides whole-house coverage for most homes, but check out a previous blog: How Big of a Generator Do I Need to Run My Florida Home? to learn more.  

Our last two recommendations to prepare for a hurricane are: secure all outside objects, such as backyard furniture, swing sets, decorations, and above-ground pools. As a family, you should all create and be aware of your hurricane plan; where to gather if there is a tornado, evacuation routes, and where to meet should anyone get separated.

During A Hurricane

When a hurricane is set to arrive, it’s important to listen to the evacuation instructions and precautions given by meteorologists and government officials in your area.

If evacuation is not necessary and you are staying in your home, all family members inside should stay within the most secure rooms of the home. Even though your windows have been boarded up with wood or storm shutters, do not seek shelter near there. Remain indoors throughout the entirety of the storm, keeping in mind that each storm has an “eye”, it is the center of the storm and is calm despite the chaos raging around it.

It may seem as though the storm is over and it’s safe to go outside, however, the storm will undoubtedly continue once the eyewall has passed over. The only way to confirm that the all-clear has been given and it is safe to go outside is to pay close attention to updates, monitoring the weather through your TV, computer, radio, or phone.

Suddenly losing power will be no problem if you have an automatic standby generator from GenerX installed. The system will automatically turn on when it recognizes that power has been lost and will turn off when power has been restored.

A generator will provide peace of mind as you will be able to keep your devices powered and the refrigerator running. With or without an automatic standby generator, we also recommend having multiple flashlights on-hand.  Do not use candles in case emergency services are unavailable should you accidentally start a fire.

After The Storm

Once it appears that the sky is clear and the storm has passed, it’s still important to wait until you’re given the all-clear before stepping outside. Once you’ve been given the go-ahead and it’s safe to step outside, take a walk around your property to assess any damage caused to your home, yard, pool, etc.

Immediately report any downed power lines that you see and avoid them at all costs. Power lines are highly dangerous and can prove fatal if handled incorrectly, so be patient and allow professionals to handle cleanup. It may feel overwhelming at the moment, but soon enough, everything will work out and your life will go back to normal.

No matter how many hurricanes we’ve been through as Floridians, the looming danger can make anyone nervous. Being prepared will make a huge difference! 

To learn more about how GenerX can help you prepare for the upcoming hurricane season with an automatic standby generator installation, call us today or visit our website to learn more.

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