Hurricanes are violent storms that require quick action on your part if there’s one headed your way. The best thing to do is prepare in advance with a “bug out” or “get-out-of-Dodge” kit, with all the supplies you need to survive during an evacuation. Here’s what you need:

1. An Evacuation Plan
Your family needs to know where to go when a hurricane strikes your location. Plan to meet somewhere far enough away from home, but easy to get to. Consider traffic jams from other evacuees and the ability to travel on foot if necessary. If you’re meeting at someone’s home, be sure to ask their permission so that they can make themselves available to you the moment they hear about a hurricane in the area. It may not be safe to go home. If not, where will you all meet? Come up with a plan.

2.  Water
The number one request during Hurricane Katrina was for water. The survivors of Katrina complained that there wasn’t enough water available. You can avoid this by making sure you have enough water in your bag. You could carry some water bottles, but this can make your bag heavy and unbearable if you have to evacuate on foot. The better option is to buy water pouches that are lightweight and compact. You should store enough pouches for three days, until you can get to a clean water source.

3.  Energy Food Bars
You’ll need to eat foods that will boost your calories quickly in an intense situation like a hurricane. Energy food bars are great to have in your bag. They’ll have the right amount of proteins and other nutrients to sustain you when you’re fleeing the situation. However, don’t pick food bars that have high sugar content, so that you don’t end up crashing and burning when you need your energy the most.

3. Tube Tent
You may not be able to make it to your evacuation destination right away. What will you do for shelter? There may be public and private facilities offering temporary shelter, and a tube tent might be perfect to give you privacy. You can easily store a tube tent in your “bug out” bag.

4.  Sleeping Bag
An emergency sleeping bag is also good to have handy, just in case you come across temporary shelter. There may not be any beds due to a full house, but the shelter might be able to offer you full space. You’ll be a lot more comfortable sleeping in a bag, than on a bare floor.

5.  Poncho
You’ll need to try to stay dry during a hurricane due to rain. You can buy a poncho for your kit. Some emergency ponchos can also double up as blanket to keep you warm. You can buy emergency ponchos that are light weight and they are usually included in a pre-made survival kit. These will come in handy if you have to travel on foot to a shelter.

The more prepared you are for a hurricane, the better off you’ll be. Don’t expect to rely on others for help. Instead, prepare yourself and your family members, and be the help that others will need.

Your first aid kit

The first aid kit is an essential part of your hurricane kit. This is mainly because hurricanes can cause a lot of injuries from flying glass and falling debris. During this time, you and your family are more vulnerable to puncture wounds caused by damaged properties, exposed nails and other metals. Bone fractures are also common during hurricane season. This being the case, part of your hurricane safety plan should include assembling a first aid kit that will contain all the essential medications that you will need. Medicines can either be prescription or over-the-counter, depending on your family’s needs. If someone in your family requires taking certain prescription medications, make sure to keep a stock of this ready in your kit and have the prescription photocopied as well.

Water

Hurricanes will probably cause the contamination of public water supply making it unsafe for drinking. Water treatment plants may not be able to operate during the storm. Make sure to keep yourself updated on the safety of the public water supply during a hurricane. For flooded areas, the facilities have to be disinfected after the storm and the floodwaters should recede before you can use them.

During the storm, as part of hurricane safety, you want to make sure that you keep a stash of bottled water or clean drinking water. Ideally, you have to prepare a gallon for each member of your family for every day that you have to go without assistance. In case bottled water or clean water is unavailable, you can also opt to boil water first to kill most of the disease-causing organisms that may reside in it. You can also use unscented household bleach. For every gallon of water, you want to add 1/8 teaspoon or eight drops of liquid bleach and let it stand for about thirty minutes before you drink it.

Get your kit together

To ensure hurricane safety you need to assemble a proper disaster kit. Here at 1800 PREPARE we offer an extensive inventory of emergency kits and supplies to help you cope with any disaster. We are also a one-stop resource for everything that you need to know to prepare yourself, your family and colleagues for any calamity that may strike your place.

You never really know when a disaster would strike. And if you live in an area that is frequently struck by hurricanes, you want to assemble a hurricane preparedness plan to ensure that you and your family can easily cope in case of such emergencies. Being prepared for a hurricane consists of efforts that are geared towards anticipating any eventuality when a tropical cyclone strikes to minimize the potential damage that the calamity might cause.

Preparing infrastructure

Buildings and infrastructure located in places that are frequently struck by hurricanes are usually built with disaster preparedness in mind. While these properties remain vulnerable to damage, taking hurricane preparedness into consideration will help minimize the impact of the tropical cyclone thereby saving a lot of lives as well.

To stay or go

One part of being prepared for a hurricane is deciding whether to stay in one’s home or evacuate to a safer area such as a public building. Many people choose to stay in their homes and as such, it’s important that houses are also built to prepare for the calamity. There are even those who hire hurricane mitigation professionals to check on their homes and commercial properties to ensure that these buildings are well prepared for the cyclone. The professional will assess the strength of the structure and create recommendations on areas that need to be improved.

Informing your family

Hurricane preparedness also entails getting your whole household together to discuss what each member has to do in case of disasters caused by the cyclone. It’s important that each member of your family understands what could possibly happen during the calamity so they can easily cope. For starters, you will want to designate tasks to older children who can take care of their younger siblings, someone to get the disaster kit ready, and so on. In case you need to evacuate, you will also want to instruct your children about what they need to do in case they get separated from you due to the confusion.

Assembling your kits

The disaster kit is one essential part of hurricane preparedness. You want to make sure that you and your family will have the essential supplies that you will need to survive the calamity. Your disaster kit should contain all the basic items needed for survival including food, water and medications.

Learn more about putting your disaster kit together here at 1800 PREPARE. We are your one-stop resource for everything that you need to cope with any disaster or emergency. Shop through our extensive inventory of emergency preparedness supplies on this website today.

For years we’ve heard “Have a kit, have a plan,” but what kind of kit?  Are kits really useful?  And what kind of plan?  What are the considerations?  What should I actually DO in a hurricane?

As a short answer to that last question, we put together a quick list of things you should do if a hurricane is headed your way.  Keep in mind though that this is an intro list.  You’ll find the link to the full article below.

For now we’ll assume that you’re not in a coastal area, you’re not under mandatory evacuation orders, and that you’ve decided to stay and shelter in place.  So, we’ll start by saying that under certain circumstances it is possible to ride out the storm safely, if you know how to R.E.A.C.T.:

Reinforcement – Have you prepared your home structurally in advance, even if it’s just shutters?

Equipment – Do you have all the supplies you’ll need on hand, or are you waiting for the last minute?

Awareness – Do you have a way to track the storm, and do you have a way for others to track you?

Cautions – Are you aware of the various risks involved in staying in place in a hurricane?

Timeline – You’ll need to do a few things as the storm approaches, and timing is a factor.

For our “30 Tips” intro article, we’ll cut directly to the “Timeline” portion of this piece so you can see a list of considerations for bracing against the storm:  (There’s a link to the full article at the end.)

Timeline

Some things you need to do well in advance of a major storm and some things have to wait until the last minute.  In any event, with something as large and dangerous as a hurricane, there are always details that need to be tended to and you have to consider your timing in the process.  These are presented in something of a chronological order and you’ll notice these also happen to be arranged in an “outside in” order, meaning that you want to do the things that are farthest away from home first and work your way in.

Important note:  Below when we say “out” referring to how close the storm is, we’re referring to the nearest edge of the storm that’s going to reach you first, and not the eye of the hurricane.  Keep this in mind since most weather stations will measure from the eye of the hurricane.  It’s up to you to know the difference.

Before Hurricane Season Starts

1. Make sure you performed all the structural enhancements you could for your home.
2. First aid and CPR classes are great classes for the family to take.
3. Checking the originals and copies, and updating all family documentation should be a quarterly task.

A Week Out

This is about as long a warning as we’d have that a hurricane was heading toward any particular region.

4. Look at the structural integrity of your home and make sure you have all the shutter material and hardware you’ll need already on hand.
5. If you have a gas-powered generator make sure it works.  If it needs repairs you’ll want to know now.

Three Days Out

This is about the last day you want to be out and about running errands or buying supplies.

6. Make sure your pantry is full as you’d like it to be.
7. Get longer shelf-life items like canned goods and have ways to cook such as charcoal, gas for your grill, etc.
8. Make sure you have a good supply of non-perishable “comfort foods” on hand.  Include treats for your pets.
9. Check your stock of all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.  Include your pets here too.
10. Gas up all your vehicles and fill a couple of 5-gallon gas cans to keep on hand.

Two Days Out

At this point the weather forecast is going to be pretty accurate as to whether or not your vicinity will feel the effects of a hurricane.

11. Fill some empty milk jugs or plastic soda bottles with water and put them in the freezer (as many as you can fit).  Let them freeze solid.  If the power goes out, these will help keep your fridge and freezer cold longer.
12. Secure your more important household items such as backup computer disks, paperwork, heirlooms, etc. by putting them in plastic tubs.

One Day Out

13. Start doing some safety landscaping by removing dangerous tree limbs, loose yard furniture, and so forth.
14. Put your storm shutters in place if you haven’t already.

Six to Eight Hours Out

At this point, you’ll probably know whether or not the storm is going to be a direct hit for your area.

15. Take last minute photos of property and family members.
16. Recharge all your electronics (cell phone, laptop, etc.) while you still have power.
17. Turn your fridge and freezer down to their lowest setting to keep food colder longer should you lose power.
18. If your home might flood move your cars to higher ground and move your more valuable furniture and possessions off the floor.
19. If flooding is not an issue, park your car in the garage or other protected area.
20. Brace your garage doors so they don’t cave in during high winds.
21. Make sure the kids are home.

Two or Three Hours Out

Again, please remember that when we say “so and so hours out” we’re referring to the leading edge of the storm that will hit you first, and not the eye of the storm.

22. Bring the kids in the house and have them help you with last minute stuff.
23. Bring in all outdoor pets.  If they can fit in the house they should be brought inside the house.
24. Start building a “nest” in the room that’s the safest area of the house.  Put down a mattress (possibly with a heavy table over it as protective cover), have some snacks and water handy, make sure you have a radio and flashlights all with extra batteries.  Also, be sure to have your pet carriers there for smaller animals.  This keeps them protected and easier to move if needed.
25. Start filling your extra water containers (bathtub, etc.) in anticipation of a loss of water.
26. If you can secure them (so they don’t blow away), your outside trashcans can be used as rain barrels.

As the Storm Comes Rolling In

27. If the kids have bike or skateboard helmets have them put them on.
28. Unplug all the electronics you were charging and unplug any valuable electronics like your television, stereo, desktop computer, etc. to protect them against surge from lightning strike (and stay off corded phones).
29. Close but don’t lock all your interior doors to limit flying debris or wind flow should a window break.
30. Move to the “nest” you made in your safe area and stay put until the storm is over.

Next, you’ll want to read the full version of this article, complete with outside links for additional free information and lots more important detail than we can post in this abbreviated version.  For the full article complete with free PDF download visit www.disasterprep101.com and look for it on the “News and Articles” page.

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About the Author:  Paul Purcell is a terrorism and natural disaster preparedness consultant in Atlanta, GA.  He’s also the author of “Disaster Prep 101” found at www.disasterprep101.com.  © 2010 – Paul Purcell.  Permission granted to share this article with others provided it is distributed for free, and that all portions, including footnotes and “About the Author” sections remain intact and attached.

If you are the owner of a business, prepare for a hurricane well beforehand. Gather your equipment and inventory and move them to a more protected location. Lock up your office and have copies of vital office records stored in a safe location outside your office’s premises. Evaluate your insurance coverage and prepare for future documentation by taking stock of your equipment and other important belongings. Take pictures of these items and gather serial numbers, policy numbers and contact numbers.

Be prepared to work with minimal means. Have a contingency plan where you can work with minimal cash and no access to power and water for two weeks. If you can afford it, purchase a back up generator and have emergency kits and supplies in the office. Prepare a temporary office in another location in case your office is completely destroyed by the hurricane. Make sure that this provisional office is not very far from your original office. It should also be accessible by phone and must have computer and internet access.

Organization is the key to keeping your business afloat during times like this. Make sure you have prepared well by having a file of phone numbers of key personnel and clients. Also, collect your personnel’s computer passwords and other important codes so you can access any file if the need arises. Do not forget to have a plan of how to contact your employees if the hurricane has the potential to be life-threatening. Have their numbers at hand and alert them immediately not to go to the office if this situation arises. If you have the luxury of being informed by news and weather agencies about the hurricane in advance, also talk to your clients and suppliers and inform them of how you intend to carry on with the business. If some suppliers cannot promise you that they will be accessible, also have a number of alternative suppliers which you can contact. Always take note of each expenditure file including sales invoices and tax returns.

When your business is badly affected by a hurricane, search for available loan plans which you can avail. There are agencies designed to help businesses recover crises like this by offering unemployment compensation and counseling. Because of the severity of hurricane disasters, loans are hastily processed so business owners can get back on their feet as soon as possible. A good example of a loan which a business owner can explore and avail is the disaster loan offered by the US Small Business Administration. Business owners can get loans to repair their offices and restore inventory after going through a calamity. Federal loans offer as high as $1.5 million for as low as four percent interest in terms of up to thirty years. To find out more about federal loans, contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

It will take time for you, for your business and for your employees to recover. Make sure you have informed your employees on your stand regarding the handling of disasters like hurricanes. Make sure you are always in touch with your employees and keep them posted regarding when they should be able to go back to work and where. Be compassionate and do not pressure them to go back before they have their families and homes secured. The hurricane will be expensive and business owners must always have spare cash to not only rebuild the business, but also take care of your employees’ basic needs so the employers can be of help in whichever way they can be. This will build a strong relationship and will give your employees more motivation to work for you.

Barrel-bolt Style Plywood

The barrel-bolt style is to be used on concrete, stucco structures that have at least a 2-inch inset on the windows.

Supplies needed:

• Enough plywood to cover all your windows and doors. The sheets should be at least 5/8 inches thick.
• Enough barrel bolts for one bolt every 6-12 inches.
• Masonry or carbide-tipped bit if you have stucco or concrete walls.

Prepare the Plywood and House:

• Cut the plywood into pieces that fit as perfectly as possible into the window frame.
• If your window is bigger than your pieces, put two pieces together by nailing 2x4s as the connector piece.
• Attach the barrel bolts to the pieces.
• Mark the frame of your house where you will drill the holes for the bolts to fit into.
• Drill the holes.

Attach the Plywood:

• Fit the plywood into your window frames or doors as snugly as possible. If the winds get under the wood, you could see all your work literally blow away.

Overlapping Plywood Shutters

If you do not have a 2-inch inset on your windows, you can overlap the plywood instead.

Supplies Needed:

• Enough plywood to cover all your windows and doors. The sheets should be at least 5/8 inches thick.
• 1/4-inch lead sleeve anchors (lead, not plastic) at least 2-3 inches long.
• Tapping screws – at least 2-3 inches long.
• Masonry or carbide-tipped bit if you have stucco or concrete walls.

Prepare the Plywood and House:

• Cut the plywood into pieces large enough that will give you at least a 4-6 inch overlap from piece to piece.
• Drill holes into both the plywood and the spots on your house where you plan to secure the sheets.
• Hammer the lead sleeve anchors into the wall.

Attach the Plywood:

• Secure the plywood into place with the tapping screws.

As happens every year, there is a run on plywood when a hurricane approaches, so make sure you get your supplies early. Also make sure you give yourself plenty of time for installation. Things often don’t go as well as planned, especially if you are not used to doing this type of work. This plywood solution should run you generally $1 – $5 per square foot.

First, let’s look at the list of items you should not be buying. Do not buy snacks like salty chips, crackers and nuts. Aside from not having any nutritional value, these will only make you thirsty. Peanut butter, although protein rich, is also salty, so take it in minimal amounts, or if you think you cannot control yourself, keep this off your list. Candy is also undesirable because aside from causing you to be thirsty, it also has a high level of sodium.

With regard to liquids, do not stock up on sodas and alcohol. Alcohol is obviously not a good idea since you need to be alert and fully conscious in a hurricane situation. Instead of sodas, buy vegetable and fruit juices as an alternative. They are a much healthier substitute. However, if you have infants in your home, monitor their intake of fruit juices because too much of this can cause sicknesses like diarrhea. Also do not binge on sports drinks – drink them in moderation.

Here are some good ideas of provisions to have and meals to prepare:

1. Ramen Noodles – Food can’t get any easier than this. To enjoy ramen noodles, you just need to pour boiling water over them. If you want to get creative and make this into a salad, all you have to do is purchase chicken-flavored noodles and draw off the broth. Add about a teaspoon of peanut butter and some bacon bits and dried chives and you have a fast and easy Asian noodle salad.
2. Bacon and Sausages – Purchase shelf-stable bacon and hard sausages and you can have all the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches you want. If you run out of bread or lettuce, you can always add these two to your pork and beans. If you want to intensify the flavor of your bean salad, it would also be a good idea to put in a little bacon and sausage.
3. Condiments in Single-Serve Packets – Not only are they handy, sanitary and easy to organize, single-serve condiments of mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup are shelf-stable. The uses for these condiments are endless. They can be used as dressing or to add extra flavor to your canned tuna or drained ramen noodles.
4. Chunky Pasta Sauce and Salsa – Salsa is a good dressing for your sandwich. You can also use it to make a salad by mixing it with other ingredients like dried apricots and beans. The Chunky Pasta Sauce will be delicious with your bacon, cheese and your drained ramen noodles. If you prefer to have pizza instead, put pasta sauce on bread, sprinkle cheese over it and wrap it in foil before grilling.
5. Cooked Tuna and Chicken – Mix your favorite condiments like mayonnaise or mustard with cooked tuna and chicken and spread it over bread to have an easy and healthy meal. You can also use these ingredients with Ramen Noodles. Mix olive oil, some herbs and some beans and add this to your Ramen Noodles.
6. Milk- Shelf-stable milk is good and healthy to add to your canned soups. Remember to heat this meal first on the grill. Milk is also essential for your children’s cereal. Always remember to place the milk back in the cooler.
7. Cheese – Purchase shelf-stable cheese. Good examples of shelf-stable cheese are processed cheese and cheese made with oil. Cheese is perfect for easy and delicious sandwiches. You can transform your cheese into a dip by mixing it with salsa and wrapping this mixture in foil. Grill or melt this mixture. With tortillas, this will make an excellent quesadilla.
8. Potatoes and Beans in Cans – Beans can be used as the perfect topping for salads mixed with ramen noodles. They are also excellent for rice and sausages. For your potatoes, drain them and mix with milk or canned soup. Warm this up on a grill or on a saucepan and top it all off with cheese.
9. Puddings and Fruit Packaged Individually – Fruit in cups are a healthy snack. You can also add the fruit to some coconut and layer this mixture with pudding to create parfait. To make a custard sundae, sprinkle some crushed nuts or cookies over it.
10. Rice and Couscous- Purchase five-minute rice. To cook rice and couscous, simply pour boiling water and leave them to cook. Rice and couscous can be accompanied by beans, some tomatoes or whatever is available in your cupboard.

There are options you can choose from where you can leave your boat. Ports usually have extra garages or storage buildings which you can rent. Keep in mind the level of the storm and the sea level anticipated so you know how high to store your boat. Of course it is also not wise to store your boat too high since there is always the possibility that strong winds will blow it away. This is considered to be the best possible alternative since it has been proven historically that boats are more likely to survive hurricanes if they are stored ashore.

There is also the option to moor your boat in a hurricane hole. These are deep and narrow coves surrounded by sturdy trees which block the wind. If these two options are not available, you can also opt to store your boat at a marina or a dock. But make sure that this marina or dock offers reasonable shelter and is not too open to the water. If the marina or dock is not protected by a high sea wall, it may not be a good idea to store your boat in that area because of the possible entrance of huge waves, and there is also the possibility that your boat will not be safe from a storm surge. Florida residents should note that a law was recently passed that allows marina and dock administrators to move vessels from their marinas and docks in the occurrence of storms. This is done at the owner’s expense, but it helps maintain cleanliness in these marinas and docks, before and after storms.

If you are out on the water when a hurricane approaches, the biggest hurdle you’ll encounters is getting to land safely. Keep an eye on your surroundings and be on alert for possible landing spots. If you have an outboard engine, it is best to take it out. Make sure that your potential landing spot is clear of obstacles like trees, buildings, power lines or any structures that may build up wind tunnels. Secure all loose gear and electrical equipment. In situations like these, ground anchors are best to use since they are the most sturdy and least dangerous.

If your boat happens to be connected to a trailer, make sure the trailer is held very firmly to something very strong and heavy. If your boat is not connected to a trailer, look for the sturdiest structure or object you have in your yard and tie your boat to it. Before doing this, fill your boat with water to give it a stronger foundation. There is also another alternative if your boat is a little smaller – you can decide to simply turn it upside down. You can fasten your boat to a secure structure or to the ground. If you have spare room in you garage, you can also keep your boat there. If you need more information regarding this matter, you can contact the Boat Owners Association of the United States at (800) 283-288.

If you happen to have an in-water boat and are planning to secure it by taking it out of the area, it is best to leave long before the storm season hits. It is inevitable that bridges will be locked down when the hurricane becomes dangerous. Always remember not to anchor or dwell near floodgates since your boat will mostly likely be torn to pieces once these gates are opened. It is best for these kinds of boats to use double bow and stern lines but do not tie up too close to the sea wall. Water levels can be unpredictable and you do not want your boat to be tied near a sea wall where water levels could rise ten feet to twenty feet above normal water level. In cases where your in-water boat is in a canal, it is ideal that you sink all four ground anchors (two for the stern, two for the bow). Your in-water boat will only survive if you wrap the line over and over until the lines form an X and anchor only to trees that are deeply-rooted. Be careful with this since you do not want your rope to slide off trees.

In cases where you think collisions are inevitable, use fenders to protect your boat. You can also use tires as an alternative. Do not put excess fuel in your boat. Do not forget to automatically set your bilge pump and open cockpit drains. Shut and seal all openings like hatches, windows, doors and vents with duct tape. Finally, remember to cut off shore power to your boat.