Though most of this year’s seasons have looked and felt a bit different than others’ due to the spread of COVID-19, there’s one thing that we Floridians can count on regardless of what else is going on: hurricane season. If there’s something we’ve learned in all our years of business, it’s that it’s never too late – or too early – to prepare for hurricane season. Today, we’re sharing some of our most useful (and underrated) tips to help you and your family stay safe during hurricane season. Be proactive about taking care of these measures and you’ll be in great shape. Let’s get started.
Make a Kit
Hurricane preparedness goes beyond boarding up windows and sticking sandbags behind doors. In fact, one of the most important things you can do in preparation is making sure you not only have all of the supplies you need, but that they’re well-organized and easy to find in an emergency. This is where your hurricane prep kit comes in: it’s a space to store all of your hurricane essentials without having to risk stumbling around looking for necessary supplies. Your kit should include:
✔ Flashlights and extra batteries
✔ One portable charger for every phone in your household
✔ First aid supplies (bandages, gauze, hydrogen peroxide, ibuprofen, and any specific medications your family members must take)
✔ Battery-powered radio
✔ Easy on-hand snacks, like protein bars, jerky, or trail mix
✔ Water bottles
✔ Maps of your local area
✔ Hand sanitizer and wipes
Having all of the essentials in one place is a major time-saver in case of an emergency.
Don’t Forget Property Maintenance
Don’t put off getting your property maintenance services until a hurricane has been announced. Property care companies become absolutely swamped when this happens, and it’s extremely difficult to get much-needed yard work taken care of. The last thing you need is a decaying tree or weakened branches on your property during hurricane-level winds. If you need a tree removed or weak branches pruned, be proactive about getting those services set up now. If and when a hurricane comes around, you’ll be extremely glad you did.
Prepare for an Outage
If you end up having a power outage, there are a few things you should be prepared to do in order to avoid dangerous power surges. If an outage occurs, unplug all major appliances if you can: this will help to avoid power surges when the lights do come back on, which can be a big fire hazard. If possible, unplug unnecessary electronics, like your TV and desktop computer, before the power goes out; it’ll minimize the amount of cords you’ll have to deal with in the dark. Before an outage, make sure all of your necessities (your hurricane kit, nonperishables, extra water, etc.) are easily accessible.
Avoid an Outage in the First Place
Of course, the best preparation you can take for a power outage is to avoid one in the first place – and that starts with getting a powerful generator for your home. Investing in a residential generator is about investing in your family’s safety and peace of mind during the already worrisome time that is hurricane season. Avoid power outages and hazardous surges by keeping your power on when it matters most.
Finding the best residential generator means working with a dealer you can trust. If you’d like to learn about your options, don’t hesitate to contact us for information and a free quote on installation.