6 Things Hurricane Survivors Want You to Know
People who experience hurricanes have one thing in common. If they could go back in time, they would have been more prepared. Most of us subconsciously assume that our lives won’t ever really be disrupted by the weather. This makes it easier to put hurricane preparedness at the bottom of our to-do list.
Most of you reading this probably won’t have your life disrupted by a hurricane. But wouldn’t it be worth it to go ahead and prepare anyway just in case? Get ready now and your future self, your family, and your home will thank you.
Here are 6 items hurricane survivors recommend you take care of right away.
- Evacuation Plan: Know the recommended evacuation route, and keep your gas tank full.
- Supplies: Keep bottled water and other supplies on hand.
- Hurricane Kit: Include a first-aid kit, medications, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, batteries, whistle, and local maps.
- Copy Important Documents: Back up your computer, and keep copies of important documents in a safety deposit box.
- Prepare Your Home: Secure or store outdoor items, and make sure your roof and shingles are in good shape to withstand strong winds.
- Back Up Your Power: Determine what type of generator you need in case of a power outage.
Hurricanes mean power outages. If conditions are unsafe, you and your family may need to remain at home. You depend on your refrigerator, electric stove, lights, and A/C. What if they can’t be used? Communication is vital during a hurricane power outage, and if you can’t charge your phone, use your computer, or tune in to the local news, you’ll be cut off from communication.
If you lose the ability to cool your home during the summer months, the heat can make your home unbearable, and continual high temperatures and humidity can damage your home’s interior. Losing power to your refrigerator means your food will go bad and replacing it can be incredibly expensive.
Hurricane power outage readiness should include the purchase of a generator. Owning a reliable generator ensures peace of mind during a power outage caused by a hurricane.
There are two main types of generators for hurricanes: portable and home standby.
A portable generator is a convenient solution if you only want to back up a few essentials. Portable generators come in different sizes, they run on either gasoline or propane, and they don’t need to be installed. If you haven’t looked at generators in a while, you’ll find lots of new technology and features designed to make your life easier. One example is Carburetor Free® electronic fuel injection technology, which helps conserve fuel and simplify long-term storage. Portable generators also include a variety of convenient features like wireless remote start so you can start and stop your generator from up to 80 feet.
If you’d like to power more than just the essentials, or even your whole home, you may want to have a standby generator installed. Standbys never need refueling since they are connected to your propane or natural gas system. Your home standby generator starts automatically when the power goes out and returns to standby when power is restored, ensuring security and convenience for your family during a hurricane power outage.
Hurricane season is upon us, so post your to-do list in a prominent place, and don’t forget to invest in a safe source of backup power. Following recommendations from hurricane survivors and making preparations ahead of time will give you and your family peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy your summer.