Preparing for Hurricane Season 2017

Hurricane season is upon us, and predictions for this year have not been friendly to Florida residents. The TSR is predicting a total of 14 named storms, including six hurricanes and three major storms, while The Weather Company is guessing seven hurricanes with three of them being major. Needless to say, this year’s season should be quite the memorable one for the Sunshine State, and not in a good way. Are you and your home ready in the event an emergency is coming? Here are some tips you can follow to make sure you and your home can reduce the impact these storms can have.

Preparing Your Home

One of the best ways to reduce the impact a hurricane can have on your life is to make sure your home sustains as little damage as possible. Hurricanes can carry sustained winds well in excess of 100 miles per hour, with category five storms sustaining winds over 150 miles per hour. The first thing you should do is remove anything that could cause damage to your home and keep it as far away from your property as possible. Keep your trees trimmed, and remove dead limbs, particularly the ones that are close to your home, as they could break off and go crashing through a window.

Speaking of your windows, if a hurricane is on its way, reinforce them and your doors with boards or storm shutters. Your doors should also be reinforced with a deadbolt, either a head-and-foot bolt for double-doors or a deadbolt that’s at least one inch long. You should also bolt your garage door shut if possible. Finally, you want to make sure you have evidence of your possessions and the protection you have on them. Keep a current, updated list of your belongings and a copy of your home insurance policy where it can be easily found and packed away in seconds.

Have an Evacuation Plan

If evacuations are rumored, people will quickly begin flooding stores looking for supplies, so it’s best to have them ready in advance, before a storm has even started forming. You should always have food and water to last you three days, personal hygiene and sanitation items, flashlights, a battery-operated radio, ice packs, and a spare supply of any medications you might need plus a first-aid kit. Keep it all in a cooler that you can grab and load into a car on a moment’s notice—this will save you valuable time.

Finally, if you have a pet, do not assume a hotel or public shelter will accept them. Many will require that you show current, valid proof that their vaccinations are up to date, so it’s important to make sure they are. Have a pet carrier that’s large enough for them to stand up and turn around in, plus a collar with a current ID tag. Be sure to bring enough food and water for them as well.