Are You Hurricane Ready?

Unlike other natural disasters such as an earthquake, a hurricane is not an unexpected event. Weather forecasters and the media give advance warning so you have time to evacuate and get to safety. Before you leave your home behind for an undetermined amount of time, have you done everything you can to prepare your house for the hurricane season that runs through November 30th? Here are five preventative measures you should take before a hurricane arrives in your area:

1.     Install code-approved impact resistant shutters on your windows. The shutters need to pass the 1994 Southern Building Congress codes so they can withstand debris that travels at hundreds of miles per hour. The shutters should be attached to the wall surrounding the windows so any impact will hit the wall and not the window.

2.     Protect your roof with hurricane straps so the roof is bolted to the rest of your home. Consider using roofing cement to fix any loose tiles that might come off in heavy winds.

3.     Protect your HVAC system from potential damage by turning off the power to the system at the circuit breaker box. Cover the outdoor unit with a tarp and hurricane straps to protect it from wind and water. Also, make sure all of the bolts are tight and holding the unit in place.

4.     Don’t wait until the last minute to buy an emergency generator. If the power goes out at your home, there is a good chance the power is out at your local hardware store or the store is not even open for business. Purchase a back-up generator in advance so you will not be without power for a long period of time.

5.     After a hurricane has hit, some stores will be closed because of damage and the ones that remain open will have long lines and limited supplies and inventory. Have a hurricane kit ready to go filled with essentials such as a flashlight, batteries, a radio, a first aid kit, water, nonperishable food, a change of clothes and cash.

It’s never too early to be prepared for a hurricane. Planning ahead and making sure your HVAC system, as well as the rest of your home, is outfitted with code approved shutters and straps is an important first step in ensuring the safety of your home. You can find more information about being prepared for a hurricane at:

• https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php
• https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane
• https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes