HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS (PART 2)

Hurricane Preparedness Part2:PREPARING THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME:
The most important thing you can do to protect your home is to protect theopenings where the wind can get in. Available options include hurricaneshutters (obtain DRB approval first!), plywood covering during the storm, etc.
Check your garage doors and consider installing braces on them.
Keep all windows completely closed during a storm.
Bring in any objects that can blow away, including garbage cans, lawnfurniture, garden tools, grills, plants, etc. Anchor objects that cannot bebrought inside.
Disconnect propane gas tanks and turn off the main gas line.
Turn off gas appliances at their individual shut-off valves inside your home, ifaccessible. Do not turn them off at the outside meter.
Fill your vehicle’s gas tanks as soon as possible to avoid long lines and delays.Keep a full tank of gas immediately before and following the storm becausegas may not be available in the area for several days (remember, pumps don’twork when there is no electricity!).
Park any vehicles that are not evacuating with you in a garage or carport. Ifthis is not available, park your vehicle as close to the side of the house aspossible away from any trees that may fall.
Do not trim trees or shrubbery immediately before a storm, because the debriswill not be collected. This debris can become a flying obstacle during a stormand be very dangerous during high winds.
Prepare your pool. Lower the water level of your swimming poolapproximately 6 inches to accommodate heavy rains but do not drain itcompletely. Add extra chlorine to the pool and turn off electricity to the poolequipment.PREPARING THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOME:
If you choose not to evacuate or it is not a feasible option, you should preparethe inside of your home in advance to ensure your quality of life in the daysfollowing a hurricane. Be sure you have your supplies and that they are in asecure location.
Choose a “Safe Room” where you will ride out the storm. Normally, thiswould be a hallway, large interior closet or an interior bathroom with nowindows.
Equip your “safe room” with a battery-operated radio or TV and extrabatteries; chairs, sleeping bags or cushions; snacks and drinking water; towels;games, cards, books; etc. A slow moving storm could mean a long wait.Have a mattress ready to move into your safe room if advised to do so byemergency personnel. You should only have to do this in an extremely severestorm.
Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitiveelectronics BEFORE THE POWER GOES OUT. If the power goes out, turn offthe circuit breaker or remove fuses. You might want to leave on one circuitbreaker that operates a lamp, so that you will know when the power has beenrestored.
If the electricity goes off, use only flashlights. Never use candles or kerosenelamps during the storm.
Never cook during the storm. A gust of wind could spread a fire, and the firedepartment would not be able to respond.
Tell stories, sing songs or play games to keep children calm.
Do not go outside during the storm, unless winds have calmed briefly andprotective repairs are absolutely necessary. The winds and rain may stop for afew minutes to more than half an hour and then can suddenly pick back upagain from the opposite direction, possibly with greater force than before.
Turn your refrigerator & freezer to their coldest settings. Freeze water inplastic jugs and use them to fill empty spaces in your refrigerator and freezer tohelp keep food cool. Cover your refrigerator with blankets and secure themwith ropes to keep the coldness in. If you open the refrigerator only whennecessary and close it quickly, you can keep food cool for up to 2 dayswithout electricity.
Prepare a water supply for bathing and sanitary purposes by storing water inthe bathtub and other jugs and bottles. Seal the bathtub well by caulkingaround the drain to keep the water from running out. Remember that thiswater is NOT for drinking.
Place valuables and personal papers in a waterproof container or plasticgarbage bags and store them on the top shelf of a closet. Include voterregistration cards, passports, visas, and all important papers.
Take identification and insurance papers with you if you leave your home(you should take a recent electric or other utility bill, voter registration card,etc. with you to prove permanent residency and facilitate re-entry).Community Management Group Hurricane Planning Tips
Fill clean, sanitary jugs with water for drinking. You will need a minimum of 7gallons per person. Sterilize the jugs by putting a little chlorine bleach (plain,no lemon) in some water, sloshing them around and rinsing thoroughly.Please tune in next week as I will continue to provied more tips to prepare for the already active Hurricane Season.