HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS
Provided As A Free Public Service From Your Friends At Cutting Edge Carpentry Service
(Please Print And Save For Your Future Reference And Protection)
While we always welcome the opportunity to serve you in your home repair and home improvement needs,
we would rather it wasn't at the expense of your losses due to the potentially violent conditions
that sometimes exist here along the Gulf Coast. Hurricanes can be very devastating, but there are
ways to minimize your loss and damage to your home by following some practical preparation tips. If you do experience damage to your home, we are here to help you re-build. But taking some precautions ahead of time can help reduce the impact and suffering you might otherwise incur.
Before The Storm Arrives: 
In most cases, there are a few days of advance warning before a major storm strikes. Heed all watches and warnings and treat each one as a very real threat. Even though there are many close calls and the preparation may often seem like a waste of time, it is that one time that Mother Nature doesn't change her mind that will make the "dry runs" pay off. If you have taken all the necessary precautions and the storm changes it's course, consider it not only a fortunate event, but also one more practice in being ready for the real thing. Use the following checklists to assist you in assembling your own storm survival kit for you and your family.
Household Items
- Candles (preferably pillar type, long burning)
- Lanterns & fuel
- Flashlights with fresh batteries
- Battery operated radio with fresh batteries
- Extra supply of batteries for each battery operated device
- Canned & non-perishable foods
- Snack Foods
- Portable cook stove (camping stove) DON'T FORGET THE FUEL!
- Paper plates & plastic eating utinsels
- Bottled water for cooking & drinking
- 5 Gallons of water PER PERSON BEFORE THE STORM for washing & bathing. Don't forget your pets
- Matches, lighters & candles(hurricane lamps)
- Pre-moistened towelettes
- Heavy gauge plastic or garbage bags (to cover unexpected openings)
- Duct tape - at least 2 large rolls
- First-Aid kit, well stocked. DON'T FORGET YOUR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS!
- Mosquito repellent and flying insect killer
- Camera with at least 3 fresh rolls of film and fresh batteries (for insurance photos)
Personal Items
- Reading materials
- Deck of cards
- Puzzle books (for the kids)
- Simple board games
- Pocket style video games with fresh batteries
- Travel size personal hygiene items
- Changes of clothing in sealed plastic bags
- Personal protection devices (keep out of children's reach)
- Cell Phone with back up batteries (fully charged - use only for emergency)
Preparing Your Home
- Use plywood, cut to size, to cover each exterior window. Label them for easy identification in future storm situations. For easier installation, install permanent securing devices to the window frames and have the panels cut and ready to go during nicer weather.
- If for some reason you cannot cover your windows with plywood, the very least you can do is to use a heavy-duty strapping tape and go from corner to corner in an "X" pattern and then make lines with the tape from edge to edge across the window. This will not protect the window from breaking but should keep it from shattering and sending shards of glass hurling through the home. It is not recommended to remain in the home if this is your only means of protecting the windows and should only be done as a last resort to boarding.
- Have a supply of sand bags to dam flooding waters....there's no such thing as too many! These, too, should be prepared during off seasons and stored in a cool, dry environment for use when the need arises. Have them inside the home before the storm hits so they are handy if you need them.
- Inside the home, elevate items prone to water damage. Move them to an upper level of the dwelling when possible.
- Tie down outdoor furniture or bring inside if possible. Do not tie the furniture to anything that is not firmly secured to the ground. Use good rope and make sure the knots are tight or else you will be wasting your time and increasing the chances for them to be yanked loose and sent airborne.
- Bring in outdoor trash receptacles, portable barbecue grills and any other patio items.
- Store bicycles and other outdoor toys in the garage or house.
- Take down antennas, flags, signs and any other non-secure fixtures
- Park vehicles in garage or as far from open areas as possible
Keep in mind that anything left loose outdoors is likely to become a missile of destruction in the forceful winds of a hurricane. Lawn mowers, garden tools, even simple things such as a tennis racket or a dog food dish can become deadly if left out in the open.
During The Storm
Whether you remain in your home or seek refuge in a shelter, there are precautions to take while the storm is passing through your area. A hurricane can be a frightening experience and made only worse by not using some common-sense. During the storm's fury:
- STAY INDOORS
- Do not open doors to see what's going on.
- Don't sit near windows. Even though they are covered with plywood, they aren't immune from shattering.
- Stay off of the telephone. This is another way lightning can enter the home.
- Stay calm, even though the noise of the storm can be frightening. Panic will not make the situation go away and will keep you from reacting rationally to any emergency that arises.
- If the eye of the storm passes over your area, STAY INSIDE. Don't be fooled into thinking that the storm is over. The wind will resume in a matter of minutes, from the opposite direction and normally stronger than before.
- Be alert for tornadoes. They often accompany hurricanes. Be prepared to react quickly and rationally. In the event of a tornado, go to the innermost part of the dwelling and on the lowest level. The best place is in an iterior room or a small closet.
- Do not leave your home until you are positive that the threat of injury has passed.
In the event of a major storm, evacuation is always recommended. If you decide to stay in your home, please do so only if you are properly prepared to do so, and only if your home is strong enough to take a brutal beating and still provide a safe haven for you and your loved ones. The checklists on this page are merely guidelines to help ensure you will have a better chance for surviving not only the storm but the recovery period that follows. Normally, after any major storm, there is massive damage and destruction and it can take days or even weeks for things to start to return to normal. Everyday conveniences that we take for granted, such as electricity and water, may be interrupted for extended periods of time. Clean-up and repair efforts can last for months, so be prepared for the aftermath of the storm as well.
AFTER THE STORM
- Use extreme caution when going outside for the first time. Expect to be greeted by scenes of destruction.
- Be alert for downed power lines. Do not go near them - they may still be "live".
- Take pictures of any damage done to your home and property as soon as possible for your insurance company.
- Be on the lookout for snakes and other dangerous creatures that may have been displaced by the storm. They will likely be more aggressive than usual.
- Avoid flooded areas if at all possible. Don't let children out to play until it is safe!
- Don't be a hero. Consider your own safety when assisting other victims of the storm.
- Don't drink any tap water until it has been declared safe by public health officials.
- Observe any curfews imposed. They are for your safety and protection.
- Follow the instructions of the disaster response and recovery teams that are dispatched to your area. They are there to help get things re-organized on the way back to normal.
- Drive only if necessary and then do so with extreme caution. Don't drive into areas where water covers the roadway.
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