The catastrophic hurricane Florence is approaching the USA – the latest news and forecasts about the weather monster can be found in the online translation of ForumDaily, which is constantly updated. All residents of coastal cities in the current situation need to quickly respond to weather changes and know how to prepare for them, what to do during the hurricane and what precautions to follow after it ends.
Preliminary preparation
Prepare in advance if you live in a territory that is affected by hurricanes and typhoons. In the US, hurricanes often affect the states of Florida, Georgia and Carolina. State authorities and state rescue services, regularly suffering from hurricanes, recommend their residents to prepare for the hurricane season in advance (before June 1). Preparatory procedures include the creation of a family action plan and the preparation of emergency supplies in order to ensure that any member of the family can find everything necessary for him in a hurry.
- A family emergency plan should contain a list of actions that you need to take when a hurricane comes. Try to think over the evacuation routes. Best of all, if there are several of them at once, in case the preferred route is not available. Assign a meeting place to family members if you find yourself in different places.
- Train family members to cover water at home, gas and cut off electricity. Even the smallest member of the family should know emergency service phones.
- Reserve reserve for emergency should be ready for immediate use. It should include all that is necessary for survival, at least within 72 hours, for example, food, water, first-aid kit and flashlights.
- When a hurricane wind acquires a tropical force, it will be impossible to carry out preparatory procedures, you will have to concentrate on survival.
Think about purchasing a backup generator. The generator will allow you to start generating electricity for your own needs right after the end of the storm and until the centralized electricity supply is restored. Store the generator in a dry unheated room. Learn how to properly operate it and do not forget to ensure good ventilation during operation.
- The generator must be grounded and placed in a dry room.
Never connect the portable generator to an ordinary outlet or directly to the electrical network of your home, since your electricity can leak into an external power network. - To reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is better to run the generator outdoors and away from windows and doors.
- If you are not sure that you can properly start the generator, ask the sales consultant from the store where you buy the generator, to conduct a demonstration.
- Generators require regular care and checks. Follow the instructions for caring for this equipment so that the generator does not turn out to be inoperative at the most crucial moment.
Buy radio and flashlights with self-powered power. Practically with full certainty it can be asserted that during a strong hurricane you will necessarily remain without electricity and will lose access to communications and lighting. That’s why you should think about radio and flashlights on batteries or with kinetic recharging.
- The most convenient and easiest way to buy a radio battery. Set it on the local radio station and check the work so that in an emergency you can learn about the development of events in a timely manner.
- Acquire energy-efficient flashlights on batteries or on kinetic recharging. There are a number of good models of LED flashlights, which from three AAA batteries can cover a small area for several days. Lamps on the kinetic charge transform the mechanical energy of the movement of the handle into an electric one, so their make-up simply can not run out.
- Also, neon sticks can serve as a safe alternative backlight. Given the possible risk of gas leakage during a hurricane, you should be very careful about using candles.
- Create an impressive supply of batteries and pack it in a sealed container.
If possible, design a “security room” at home. The security room is a sort of private bunker designed to survive extreme weather events, such as tornadoes and hurricanes. A similar room can be built at home in one of the inner rooms. People who decide to take refuge in a safe room have a good chance of avoiding injuries and death during an extreme weather situation.
- The safe room must be fortified. That she could withstand a strong wind, she must have a reinforced concrete ceiling, floor, walls, as well as other design features.
- The security room can be built inside the house from scratch or modify any existing room. This room should be easily accessible, moderately comfortable for people to stay, have a supply of water and other necessities. Often, as a security room, people choose a bathroom.
- For example, in the US there are even government grants and co-financing programs for projects to build security rooms in homes.
Protect your property in advance. The main damage from a hurricane is brought by a strong wind, which can blow away or destroy everything that is badly fixed. Try to minimize potential damage by taking special measures even before the start of the hurricane season.
- Since a strong wind can break branches of trees and even trees themselves, prudently cut down all damaged branches of trees around your house before the onset of the hurricane. Clear the territory of any debris that can be raised in the air by a strong wind.
- For better protection, upgrade the roof, windows and doors of the house. For example, you can pre-install impact resistant glass, reinforced shutters and doors to protect against potential damage.
- Also, you can hire a specialist who will strengthen the construction of the roof with metal anti-hurricane staples.
Take measures to protect your shelter when you hear a storm warning. If you find out that a hurricane is moving in your direction, you must take further protective measures. Even if you have strengthened your house in advance, there are a number of additional measures that will help it withstand the storm with the least losses.
- If your house has shutters on the windows, close them. Otherwise, the windows should be boarded or sealed. It is best to use for this purpose plywood, as well as construction, and not ordinary or sealing tape.
- Secure the shaky roof gutters and downspouts. Also, clean them from dirt and blockages. Turn off the gas equipment.
- Check that the garage doors are locked. Do not leave them open and close any gaps between the bottom edge of the gate and the ground. A metal garage raised by a hurricane in the air can seriously damage your house.
Prepare a supply of food and water. If electricity turns off, the refrigerator will stop working, and any meat, dairy and other perishable products will become unusable. A centralized water supply can also be stopped. To ensure the best chance of survival, prepare at least a three-day supply of canned and non-perishable products, as well as bottled water.
- Fill the empty plastic bottles with water and place in a place reserved for reserve stock. You will need about 3.5 liters of water per day per person and additional water for cooking and washing. On the day when the water reserve is created, put the appropriate label on the calendar to regularly update the stored water.
- Prepare at least a three-day supply of non-perishable products. These can include canned goods and ice cream-dried foods. Also, store the pet food.
- Immediately before the very beginning of the hurricane, sanitize the bathroom and other large tanks and fill them with water. After the end of the hurricane, these water supplies can be vital for drinking, bathing and flushing the toilet.
A safe escape from the storm
Evacuate. If you have such an opportunity, go deep into the continent, where the hurricane will lose its power, even if it overtakes you. It is more reasonable to try to avoid a hurricane, along with all family members and pets, than to wait it out in immediate danger.
- Stay together. Leave the house in one group and, if possible, use one car.
- For evacuation, follow the instructions of the rescue services.
- If you live in a house on wheels, evacuation for you should be a top priority, even if your car is younger than 1994’s. Houses on wheels can be destroyed even by the hurricane of the weakest first category.
- Take with you only the most necessary things, for example, a cell phone, medicines, personal documents, money and some clothes. In addition, take with you a first aid kit.
- Pour into the car a full tank of gasoline and do not delay with evacuation. You do not have to be in the car directly at the time of the onset of the hurricane.
- Never throw pets. If they can not avoid collapse of structures, floods or flying objects, they can get injured and even die.
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