Hurricane Season Storm Names
Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Martin, Nicole, Owen, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie, Walter.
Prepping Before Storms
Start prepping your hurricane kit. Each person in your home should have canned and/or nonperishable food for at least seven days and at least one gallon of water per person. Make sure you have enough food and water for your pet, too. Your kit should also include:
- flashlights
- a battery-operated or cranked radio
- cash
- a first-aid kit
- medicine
TIP: Don’t wait until a storm is coming to stock up. Start buying items little by little ahead of time. That way you can shop around for bargains and have time to find items that are hard to find, like baby formula, due to shortages.
Also, only buy food you eat. This way, if a storm doesn’t come, it won’t go to waste.
Inspect your shutters, roof and fences in case repairs or replacements are needed. Start pruning your trees, too.
If you have home and flood insurance, check that your policies are current and if you have sufficient coverage for hurricane season.
Check to see if you live in an evacuation zone and discuss possible evacuation routes with your family.
If a Storm is Coming
- Fuel up your car, charge your power banks, withdraw cash, buy supplies (food, water, medicine, etc.) you still need.
- Bring your patio furniture, pets and potted plants inside. Tie down anything that could become airborne. If you have a boat, secure it properly.
- Monitor local news for updates from the National Hurricane Center, your local National Weather Service office and local officials on the storm’s track, what type of hazards to expect and if there are any evacuation orders in effect.
- Get sandbags.
- Find a safe place to park your car.
- Put your shutters up and don’t leave trash on the curb. If you don’t have shutters or hurricane-proof windows, board up your windows with 5/8-inch plywood. Do NOT tape your windows. It doesn’t work.
During a Storm
- Keep your hurricane kit nearby at all times and try to stay in a room with few or no windows.
- Don’t take a bath or shower during the storm, Miami-Dade County says. Lightning can travel through plumbing. Plus, if there’s an emergency, no one wants to see you in your birthday suit.
- Don’t use your generator during the storm, even if you lose power. Generators and rain are a bad combo. Wait for the storm to pass before turning it on.
- Don’t leave your house during the storm. Forecasters will say when it’s safe to do so. And remember, don’t let the eye of the hurricane or tropical storm deceive you. While it might seem calm, things can quickly change. The winds surrounding the center of the storm are the strongest.
- If your home begins to fall apart, get in the tub and pull a mattress over yourself to protect from debris
After a Storm
- Report property damage and power outages.
- Monitor for curfew and boil-water-order notices. Also, keep an eye out for price gouging.
- If you want to use a generator, make sure to keep it at least 20 feet from a home, including your neighbors, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use it indoors, including in your garage. If you live in an apartment, use a battery-powered generator or portable power station.
- Put the shutters away, bring your patio furniture out again and start any yard/backyard cleanup.
- If you plan to go out (maybe to seek air conditioning, a hot meal or to check on grandma) be careful on the roads. There might be downed trees, fallen power lines, traffic lights that aren’t working and debris. Some roads might also be flooded. Do not drive or walk through standing water.
