Be Prepared This Hurricane Season

5/13/2022 (Permalink)

In order to be prepared this hurricane season, make a plan, build a kit and stay informed.

At SERVPRO of Gainesville West/Alachua County West, we take storm season seriously. And the best way to deal with a potential disaster is to prepare for it. You need to make a plan.

The State of Florida website offers a comprehensive list of kits, how to secure your home, and dealing with power outages.

Hurricane Kits

It is important to create a kit of supplies that you could take with you if you are forced to evacuate. This kit will also be useful if you are able to stay in your home, but are still affected by the storm, such as through the loss of power. One common trend seen when hurricanes are approaching is a widespread panic. When this happens, people rush in large numbers to get all the supplies they think they need. However, if you prepare your kit ahead of time, you can alleviate a lot of the potential stress of a very chaotic situation. You should create your kit in a bag that you can easily take with you.

Some recommended items to include are:

• Non-perishable food (enough to last at least 3 days)
• Water (enough to last at least 3 days)
• First-aid kit (include any prescription medication you may need)
• Personal hygiene items and sanitation items
• Flashlights (have extra batteries on hand)
• Battery-operated radio (again, have extra batteries)
• Waterproof container with cash and important documents
• Manual can opener
• Lighter or matches
• Books, magazines, games for recreation
• Special needs items: pet supplies and baby supplies if applicable
• Cooler and ice packs
• A plan for evacuation and for if family members are separated

Securing Your Home

Here are some tips to secure your home in the event of damaging winds, storm surge and flooding.

• Cover all your windows, either with hurricane shutters or wood.
• Although tape can prevent glass from shattering everywhere, be warned that tape does not prevent the window from breaking.
• If possible, secure straps or clips to securely fasten your roof to the structure of your home.
• Make sure all trees and shrubs are trimmed and clear rain gutters.
• Reinforce your garage doors.
• Bring in all outdoor furniture, garbage cans, decorations and anything else that is not tied down.
• If winds become strong, stay away from windows and doors and close, secure and brace internal doors.

Power Outages

In the event a storm should leave you without power, there are a few things to consider and help you be ready and stay safe outside of your normal hurricane preparedness.

• Gas: Make sure your tank is full far in advance of an approaching storm.
• ATMS: Have extra cash on hand in the event no ATMS in your area are accessible or working.
• Cell Phones: Charge your cell phone and limit use after power is out.
• A/C: This can be the most uncomfortable side effect of losing power during a storm. Try to prevent as much light from entering and warming the house by covering up your windows on the inside. If you have backup or battery-operated fans, don't run them unless you are in the room. Fans create a difference in perceived temperature but do not cool the room. Instead, they create a cooling effect by dispersing the heat off your skin. It is said they can actually add heat to a room just by running.
• Water: Fill bathtub and large containers with water for washing and flushing only.
• Food: Turn your fridge temperature down and/or freeze any food or drinking water that can be frozen if you expect a power outage. Have a cooler with ice packs prepared to cool your drinks and snacks after power has been out for more than four hours. 

And if tragedy strikes and your house floods, a tree crashes into your roof exposing the house to water damage, or a power outage causes your HVAC to go out creating a possible mold situation, call SERVPRO of Gainesville West/Alachua County West. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to start working on your home or business disaster and make it "Like it never even happened."