How to Prepare for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm

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​People tend to panic when it comes to impending inclement weather.   The thought, "what if," circles people's minds as they drive to the grocery store to stock up on bread and milk.  With an impending storm on the horizon, what should you do to prepare?  Well, to help spread the word, I decided to share a direct source.  This is from the CDC:

"You can’t stop a tropical storm or hurricane, but you can take steps now to protect you and your family.
If you live in areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to begin preparing for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year.
Please follow these important hurricane preparedness tips from CDC:

• Preparing for a Hurricane: Take basic steps now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Emergency Supplies You Will Need: Stock your home and your car with supplies.
• Make a Plan: Create a family disaster plan.
• Avoid Flooded Areas: Take precautions before, during, and after a flood.
• Prepare to Evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order.
• Protecting Older Adults: Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
• Protecting Pets: Ensure your pet’s safety before, during, and after an emergency.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm: Ensure your CO detector has working batteries. Place generators outside at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
• After a hurricane: Learn how to avoid injuries, make sure your food and water are safe, and clean up mold safely.

After you have read these tips, please review the other resources available on the CDC Hurricanes website. You can also check out CDC’s new reference document that contains key messages on hurricane and flood related health threats. The Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters can help local responders quickly create and adapt health communication products for affected communities. The document contains messages on various topics including food safety, carbon monoxide poisoning, waterborne diseases, and mold.
CDC strongly recommends that you print all important resources before a hurricane strikes. Power outages during and after a hurricane can prevent you from accessing information online when you most need it. Preparing now can help keep you and your family safe."

Prepare Your House

​We are most likely going to see the most impact from heavy rains.  So, it is important to do a few things to prepare your house for flooding. 

1. Check your gutters and downspouts for debris and clogs.  You will want your gutters to be performing properly and diverting water away from the house.  

2. Check your exterior and potentially interior drains.  Make sure they are free from debris and able to move water if necessary. 

​3.  Check your sump pump to make sure it is working properly.  Clean out any debris that may have built up.   Consider buying a battery back up system in case the power goes out. 

4. Patch/seal any foundation cracks.  In addition, seal any windows or doors that leak.  This will help to prevent water from coming into the house. 

For more information on preparing fro floods, see FEMA's handout.