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Subject: K1) What steps should I take when a hurricane watch/warning is
posted?
Contributed by Neal Dorst
When a hurricane season starts -
The time to start your preparations is long before a hurricane watch is
issued for your area. A good time to begin is during Hurricane Awareness
Week, which occurs the week before hurricane season begins on June 1st.
This is the time to make a hurricane plan or assess the one you have
already formulated. Go through your hurricane supplies and replace
any items that are outdated. Test your flash lights and other battery
operated equipment. Check your shutters to ensure they're in good
working condition. You may even want to deploy one or two to make
sure they fit properly and you remember how they go up. Update any
emergency numbers and phone numbers for family contacts outside the
area. Pick up a hurricane preparedness brochure at the store and
review it for pertinent tips and usefaul information.
When a hurricane watch is issued for your area -
Now is the time to double check your supplies, your shutters, and
your plans. If there are any actions in your plan that need to be
done long before you hunker down, now is the best time. You should
get some cash from the bank or ATM and gas up your car. The longer
you wait, the longer the lines will be, wasting your time.
When a hurricane warning is issued for your area -
Now is the time for action! Put up your shutters before the winds
get too high. Clean up your yard and prep your pool. Lower your
refrigerator temperature and fill up your bathtub and any extra jugs
with water. If you are evacuating, prepare your property first then
leave the area with plenty of time ahead since roads will become
congested soon after the warning is issued.
This is just a general outline of actions you ought to take. Look at
these Websites for more detailed safety plans:
Last Updated : April 21, 2010
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