Hurricane Preparation
Thankfully Elsa didn’t get the chance to ‘let it go’ on Florida, but what’s stopping the next Irma or Dorian happening in your backyard this hurricane season? Here are some helpful tips and reminders on what to do to prepare for your the next hurricane that you might have to experience.
You see an alert on your phone that a hurricane is in the works typically in the Gulf or ALantic ocean, what should you do before anything? Make a plan right away. If you do not live in the most secure home, you might have to evacuate your home and follow the neighborhoods disaster preparedness plans.
Next you should secure anything that’s exterior and that includes: trimming trees, bringing in all outside furniture, potted plants, bikes, toys, etc., and installing storm shutters to your windows. You don’t want any of your items going through your house or someone else’s house… unless you want to see your trampoline flying to your neighbors house down the road.
Then you should move your car(s) to areas not under any trees or power lines. It’s best to park them on higher ground or parking them in the garage or right next to it. While you’re doing that, fill up your car’s gas tank and maybe a can or two, charge your phone, and test your generator because you never know. I reccomend getting a solar powered portable charger.
While you’re prepping for the storm, it’s best to make sure all your appliances are unplugged and are away from windows and doors. When you finally get through those steps, it is highly reccomended to store all of your important documents like legal papers, birth certificates, marriage license, financial papers, insurance policies information, and your valuables into a safety deposit box or a bolted safe in a place where there is no doors or windows around.
The final two things that are reccomended for preparation are putting together an emergency kit with flash lights, candles, a portable radio, batteries, lots of non-perishable food, bottled water, cash, blankets, tolietries, and some clothes just in case. When all this is done, make sure you have a shelter room picked out and if you happen to live with anyone, make sure they also know the location as well. For ideas on emergency kits, click the button below.
These are some basic tips and suggestions no matter your location. For more information on how to prepare for a hurricane visit the site below.
Fun Facts
The deadliest hurricane to hit the United States was the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900. It was a category 3 with wind speeds of 130mph and the death toll was around 8,000.
Hurricane season in the Alantic starts June 1, while in the Pacific it starts on May 15, both ending on November 30.
As the storm approaches, the huge waves it causes are called storm surges.
The rotating storm cloud creates an “eye wall” which is the most deadly or destructive part of a hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center started naming the storms female names in 1953, but that ended in 1978.
The category 5 hurricane, Katrina, had $108 billion in damages.
When a hurricane is a category 5, the name can end up retiring if it is extremely destructive, like Katrina, Sandy, Mitch, and Andrew.
Only 40% of the hurricanes that hit the U.S. hit Florida.
The no name storm in 1993 hit on March 12 before the season started. The wind speeds were 90mph with strong wind, rain, lightning, and tornadoes. 15 died and 2 billion lost power.
Citrus County is a high risk zone for hurricanes. 78 hurricanes have been recorded in Citrus County since 1930.
The largest hurricane was Dora in 1964.
