Are you ready for a hurricane?

Posted 5/25/22

Florida’s hurricane season starts June 1. The National Weather Service offers the following tips for preparing for Florida storms.

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Are you ready for a hurricane?

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Florida’s hurricane season starts June 1. The National Weather Service offers the following tips for preparing for Florida storms.

Know your zone: Do you live near the Gulf or Atlantic Coasts? Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area by contacting your local government/emergency management office. If you live in an evacuation zone or in a mobile home or RV and plan to evacuate in case of a storm, know where you will go if a storm is headed your way,

Put together an emergency kit: Put together a basic emergency. Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters. The National Weather Service recommends a basic kit might include:

• Water: One gallon per person per day for several days is recommended. If you normally drink bottled water, stock up on extra bottled water. If you normally drink tap water, find containers to store water when a storm is headed your way in case utility service is disrupted. A 5 gallon Igloo cooler can be useful. You might also ask friends who normally buy water in one or five gallon bottles to save the empties for you. If you use well water, consider what you will do if the power to your pump goes out. Do you have a generator to run the well pump? If not, plan ahead to store sufficient water for drinking, flushing the toilet, washing hands, etc.

• Other beverages: Stock up nonperishable on beverages your family normally consumes such as juice drinks and sodas.

• Food: Non-perishable food for several days is recommended. What you buy depends on your family. Buy foods your family will eat even if the storm does not hit your area. Some options include peanut butter, crackers, nuts, granola bars, canned tuna, dried fruit, beef jerky, Pop Tarts, pickled foods and baked goods. If you have a generator and it is not sufficient to operator your stove, consider buying a hot plate so that you can heat canned foods or cook pasta. Be sure to keep a manual can opener on hand.

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio

• Flashlight and batteries

• First aid kit

• Face masks

• Duct tape

• Plastic sheeting or large garbage bags (to help protect sensitive items from water damage)

• Moist towelettes, paper towels, hand sanitizer, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)

• Cell phone with chargers (plug-in and car charger) and battery backup

• Glow sticks (helpful to mark pathways when power is out)

• Prescription medications, vitamins and over-the-counter medications you regularly take

• Prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses and contact lens solution

• Cash (If power is out, credit and debit cards won’t work.)

• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container

• Sleeping bag, blankets, pillows

• Changes of clothing for each family member

• Fire extinguisher

• Personal hygiene items

• Paper cups, paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils

• Paper and pencil

• Books, games, puzzles and other activities for children

Write or review your Family Emergency Plan: Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster. For tips, see the Ready.Gov webpage.

Fill up the gas tanks on vehicles. Have additional fuel supply ready if possible.

Prepare your home:

• Have hurricane shutters or plywood ready to cover windows,

• If you have a generator, test it to make sure it works properly. Have fuel supply ready for the generator.

• Review your insurance policies: Review your insurance policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your home and personal property.

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