Hurricane Earl: Preparedness and Safety Tips

With Hurricane Earl in the news and marching his way up the Eastern coast of the United States, I thought I'd repost my Hurricane Preparedness tips in case you missed them the first time.  Be careful.  Be safe.

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When it comes to mother nature, our only real defense is planning and preventative measures. So we've put together a list of hurricane preparation tips. Stay safe this season!

Have a tip to share? Tell us below and help keep others safe.

Hurricane Preparation Tips

If you are evacuating your home:

• Turn the pilot light off on your water heater and furnace, then turn off the gas line valve near the appliance and, finally, turn off your gas at the meter. This will reduce the probability that a tree falling on the roof will break an active gas line and create the chance for a spark to cause a fire. Turning off valves working from the appliance to the meter will make it easier to reignite on your return by reversing the process.
• Turn off your master water supply
• While some would recommend leaving your master breaker on for your alarm and refrigerator function, if you are leaving the property due to the severity of the weather, chances are the power may be lost anyway. It's really safest to shut it off. The reason is that if the power surges, as it does when the power company is trying to restore the down service or with blowing transformers, it can damage electronics including HVAC systems. Homes that are equipped with a generator must turn off the main breaker to avoid shifting power back out to the street as this can be dangerous for utility company workers or if a line has broken from the property with the generator. If you are not going to be leaving the property you can, and should, keep the main breaker on until the power goes out.
• Unplug all fixtures or small appliances that can be accessed.
• Bring into the garage, or otherwise secure all movable exterior items such as small plants in pots, lawn furniture and pool equipment.
• Fill all vehicle fuel tanks.
• If you have time trim all branches or heavy bushes that could damage windows.
• Use wind shutters: either pull down your professionally installed hurricane shutters or install your own plywood panels.*

Take with you:

• Food and snacks for two days
• Two gallons of water per individual
• Clothing for one week
• First aid kit
• Medications for 30 days
• Flashlights and spare batteries
• Cash
• Important documents (wills, insurance, licenses, medical and bank records as needed)
• Pet care items
• Tell a neighbor that is staying where you are going and how to contact you. Exchange numbers.

If you are staying: (Highly discouraged if you are in a storm surge area or near the immediate path of the storm):

• Increase food supplies to 3-7 days—preferably non-perishable food items.
• Fill up your propane tank for your grill or buy two sacks of charcoal.
• Insure that you have a functional fire extinguisher. ABC type will work on any fire. Remember, with down trees and no reliable phone service 911 may not be an option.
• Increase water supplies to one gallon per person per day.
• Adequate toiletries, diapers and special items to last at least one week
• One flashlight per individual and one spare set of batteries per light
• Increase cash on hand.
• Battery operated radio
• Toys books and games
• Tools
• Clean and fill the tub the night before land fall. This water will be used for pets and flushing toilets.
• Do all of your laundry before land fall. You may not have a chance for a week or so.
• Take digital pictures of your home and each room. This will support future insurance claims.
• Store your valuable papers in a waterproof container or bank vault
• Fill bags with ice from your ice machine
• Back up your computer data and store it in a safe place

Additional steps for family safety:

• Discuss hazards that could affect your family (storm surge, rising water, down power lines).
• Determine a safe escape route and two meeting points if you have to evacuate your house unexpectedly. Have a contact person out of the area that each family member can contact if you are separated.
• Locate the safest room in your home. Pre-stock with pillows and blankets if room allows.
• Plan for taking care of your pets.

* According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), "In past hurricanes, many homeowners upon returning have noticed their temporary plywood shutters blown off because they were not adequately fastened. If you have a wood-frame house, use adequate fasteners to attach the panels over the openings when a hurricane approaches. Have these temporary shutters stored and ready to use since building supply stores generally sell out of these materials quickly during a hurricane warning. If your home is made with concrete blocks, however, you will have to install anchoring devices well in advance."

Read more predictions for the 2010 season:
Forecasters Predict Above Average Hurricane Season
2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook from NOAA