NEW FROM THISOLDHOUSE.COM 08/26/11: Hurricane Safety and Preparedness Checklist
What does it mean when they issue a hurricane watch? Or a hurricane warning? Thanks for the heads up, but what should I be doing to keep my home and everything in it as safe as possible? Many northeasterners are new to the whole hurricane situation, so whether the storm hits or not, the best way to keep your head in an emergency is to know what to do in advance.
Here's what you should be doing in the event of a watch, warning, evacuation, and during a hurricane, courtesy of our friends over at The Weather Channel. __Tabitha Sukhai, thisoldhouse.com
In the event of a hurricane watch:-Fill vehicles with gas.
-Get extra cash.
-Fill prescriptions.
-For mobile homes, secure tie-downs and prepare to evacuate when ordered.
-Bring in loose objects from outside.
-Prepare to secure all windows with shutters or plywood.
In the event of a hurricane warning:
-Secure all windows with shutters or plywood.
-Place valuables and important papers in a waterproof container and store on highest floor of home.
In the event of an evacuation:
-Follow all instructions from local officials, and leave immediately when told to do so.
-Bring emergency supplies listed above.
-Bring copies of important papers such as insurance policies and list and photos of your home's contents.
-Bring blankets, sleeping bags, books, and games.
-Unplug appliances, turn off electricity and main water valve.
-Lock windows and doors of your home.
-Go!
If you are told NOT to evacuate:
-Stay at home! Leave the roads available for those who must evacuate.
-Clean bathtub with bleach, fill with water for washing and flushing (not drinking).
-Set fridge to maximum cold and keep closed.
-Turn off utilities if told to do so by local officials.
During a hurricane:
-Go to an interior room on the lowest level of the structure in which you're taking shelter.
-Stay away from windows and doors, even though they're covered with shutters or plywood.
-During extremely strong winds, lie under something sturdy such as a stairwell or large piece of furniture.
-Do not go outside, not even during passage of the eye. If the eye passes directly over you, the winds could become very weak, but only for a very short period. It will not be long before hurricane-force wind resume, blowing from the opposite direction as before the eye arrived.
For more on what to do when, see The Weather Channel's Take Action. And, here's their Hurricane Survival Kit list, too.
MORE FROM THISOLDHOUSE.COM:
6 Surprising Disaster Kit Essentials
