Hurricanes can shatter lives as well as damage your home or property. Being prepared can
help you, your family, or your business minimize the impact of the storm or
hurricane. The best way is to start before the threat is imminent. Here's what
you need to know.
Things to Prepare before Hurricane
·
Emergency Contact Numbers
Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them on the refrigerator or
near every phone in your house. Program them in your mobile phone, too.
·
Emergency Supplies
Gather and prepare an emergency supply kit. Food, water, medicines, and
emergency power sources will come handy.
·
For Pet owners
Pre-identify shelters, a pet-friendly hotel, or an out-of-town friend or
relative where you can take your pets in an evacuation. Local animal shelters
may be able to offer advice on what to do with your pets if you are asked to
evacuate your home.
·
Learn Information about Shelters and Evacuation Centers
You might need to evacuate if the situation will be worse. The address
of the nearest evacuation center will come in handy. If shelter locations in
your area have not been identified, learn how to find them in the event of a
storm.
Things to do During Hurricane, Things Not to During Hurricane
·
What to Do During a
Hurricane
If you are staying home, here's what you should do:
·
Monitor the radio or television for weather conditions and updates.
·
Stay away from all windows and exterior doors and seek shelter in a
bathroom or basement. Bathtubs can provide some shelter if you cover yourself
with plywood or other materials.
·
Evacuate to a shelter or a neighbor's home if your home is damaged or if
you are instructed to do so by emergency personnel.
·
If power is lost, turn off all major appliances to reduce the chances of
damage in the event of a power surge.
·
If flooding nears your home, turn off the electricity at the main
breaker.
·
What NOT to do During a Hurricane
Avoid these dangerous actions and stay safe:
·
Do not handle electrical equipment and do not use the telephone except
in an emergency.
·
Do not go outside, even if the storm appears to have subsided. The calm
or the "eye" of the hurricane or storm can pass quickly, leaving you
outside when intense winds resume.
·
Do not use candles during the storm - they could cause a fire. Stick
with battery-operated flashlights or emergency lights.
·
Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters. Six to twelve inches of
water is all it takes to take you down or flood your car.
Things to Prepare after Hurricane
The hurricane has passed. What can you do now?
·
When power returns to your home, do not start all major appliances at
once. Turn them on gradually to reduce damage to sensitive equipment.
·
Avoid downed, damaged, or loose power lines and report them immediately
to the local police and fire department, as well as to the local transmission
and distribution services utility in your area.
·
Even if you have ventilation, never use a generator indoors. This
includes garages, basements, and crawl spaces. Exhaust fumes contain high
levels of carbon monoxide, which can be deadly if inhaled.
·
Do not use electrical or gas appliances that have been wet, and do not
turn on damaged appliances because of the hazards of electric shock or
fire.
·
Stay away from floodwaters as they can contain harmful contaminants and
hide dangerous debris that could possibly harm you and your family.
·
Take photographs of any damage incurred for insurance purposes.
·
If flooding or water damage occurred, call a Naples mold remediation and water damage
repair company to respond to your water damage emergency. Make sure
that this company has certified
technicians to know and diagnose the issue right away.
Summary: Hurricanes can shatter lives as well as damage home
or property. Here's what you need to know on what and how to prepare for an
upcoming hurricane.
Title: Preparing For a Hurricane: Before, During, and After the
Hurricane | Expert Restoration & Cleaning Services Inc.
Meta: Preparing for hurricane season in advance and knowing what to
expect when one hits is one of the smartest things you can do. Read more to
find out