7 Things You Can Do To Prepare for Florida Hurricane Season
Florida is no stranger to hurricane season, and it’s important to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Whether you’re a long-time Florida resident or a newcomer to the Sunshine State, it’s never too soon to start prepping for hurricane season.
In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of hurricane preparedness and provide seven handy tips to get you ready for the upcoming season. From stocking up on supplies to considering hurricane insurance, we’ll cover everything you need to know to stay safe and secure. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – so let’s get started!
Understand the Basics of Hurricanes
In order to be prepared for the season, it’s important to understand what exactly hurricanes are and what types of damage they can inflict. A hurricane is an intense weather system defined by high winds and heavy rain that circulates counterclockwise. They form over tropical or subtropical waters and are typically accompanied by thunderstorms and large waves.
The main types of damage are caused by wind, flooding, rain, and tornados. High winds cause the most destruction during a storm and can destroy property and infrastructure, as well as create power outages. Flooding and rain can lead to damaged homes, roads, vehicles, and communities. Tornadoes can also create significant infrastructure damage due to their high winds, and storm surges can destroy anything in their path.
Learn About Hurricane Watch and Warning Zones
Hurricane watch zones are areas likely to experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours. This allows people to prepare for the potential storm by securing outdoor items or windows and creating an evacuation plan. Hurricane warning zones are areas likely to experience hurricane conditions within 24 hours or less due to an approaching storm. If your area is within a warning zone, preparations must be made beforehand.
Have a Family Disaster Plan
If evacuation orders have been issued, it’s important to plan a route in advance to reach safety quickly and efficiently. Make sure everyone in your family knows the route in case they become separated during evacuation or need to travel alone if you’re unavailable. In addition, create a plan for staying connected as a family after any disaster in case of power outages or other communication issues that may arise during the storm. This could involve family members keeping their cell phones on at all times or having designated meeting places if everyone needs to be reunited following the storm.
It’s important to have an emergency kit containing items you may need during the storm or after it’s passed, including non-perishable foods, water, first aid supplies, flashlights, radios, and a solar generator, if possible. Having these supplies ready can save you time if you need them during an emergency caused by a hurricane.
Protect Your Property from Damage
Keep Trees Trimmed
Tree branches can become flying debris during a hurricane, potentially causing serious property damage and injury risks. Hence, it’s important to trim these back before the season begins to reduce risk significantly should a storm occur near your area.
Secure Outdoor Items
Securing outdoor items like lawn furniture and decorations is essential when preparing for hurricane season. These objects can easily become projectiles if not secured properly due to the storms’ high winds. Store any valuable items inside or tie them down with rope or bungee cords for extra security against strong winds.
Board-up Your House
Your home is one of your biggest investments. Hence, it’s important to protect it from potential hurricane damage by implementing measures such as boarding up your windows or installing metal shutters before the storm arrives. You should also check your roof shingles for any signs of wear before hurricane season begins since these could pose a danger during heavy winds.
Know Your Insurance Coverage
Purchasing insurance coverage is essential when preparing for hurricane season since it will cover any costly damages resulting from the storms. Be sure to research different hurricane insurance options to get adequate coverage depending on where you live.
Understanding what is covered under your policy is just as important as having coverage since this will help you determine what costs will be reimbursed for damages incurred due to hurricane conditions. In addition, knowing exactly what your policy does and does not cover will save you time when dealing with claims after the storm has passed.
Monitor Storm Activity
Knowing what storms are coming ahead is essential to prepare before hurricane conditions arrive. Keeping track of weather updates via local websites, and social media will help you stay informed about any developing storms in your area or where they may be headed. In addition, setting up weather alerts on your phone will ensure you get real-time updates on developing storms so you can be aware of what’s heading your way at all times. This is especially helpful if you’re away from home when severe weather strikes which could otherwise leave you unaware of what’s happening until it’s too late.
Take Preparation Seriously
Follow Evacuation Orders
If your area has been placed under an evacuation order due to approaching hurricane conditions, your family must understand and take these orders seriously. Not following evacuation orders could put you and those around you at risk for serious injury.
Stock Up
Before hurricane season starts, it’s important to stock up on essential supplies that may be difficult to find once stores close due to approaching bad weather. Necessary items include canned goods, bread, cereals, batteries, flashlights, generators (solar generators are especially ideal), and fuel cans. Also, ensure everything is properly stored away before the storm hits so nothing gets ruined when bad weather arrives.
Take Shelter
Once warnings regarding approaching storms or hurricane conditions are issued, everyone must take shelter immediately to remain safe until the danger passes. This could mean finding shelter at a relative’s home farther away from affected areas or at an official shelter designated by local authorities, which could offer better protection against dangerous conditions than staying at home.
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