What to Do Before and After a Hurricane
When it comes to natural disasters, hurricanes are some of the most destructive and most common near the coasts of the United States. They can destroy entire cities and leave chaos and panic in their wake. But as important as it is to keep your home as hurricane-proof as possible, the most important thing is staying safe. 
Hurricane season is approaching quickly, but that doesn’t mean they can’t strike sooner. The odds are lower, but a hurricane can also hit during other times of the year. It’s essential to be as prepared as possible and have a plan if a storm occurs.
Hurricanes impact people in many ways. It may destroy homes, workplaces, businesses, or tragically, they sometimes take lives. While there’s no way to guarantee that everything will remain damage-free when the hurricane hits, you can decrease the damage done if you make sure to prepare for a storm in advance.
Preparing for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm
It’s easy to panic if a hurricane or tropical storm heads your way, but if you’re adequately prepared and keep a level head, you should get through it okay. One of the most important things to do if you live in an area at risk of hurricanes is to make sure you have everything you’ll need, even if it’s not hurricane season.
As long as local authorities don’t specify otherwise, you can stay home and wait until the storm passes, or put your hurricane evacuation plan into action.
Preparing to Stay Home
Deciding to stay home during a hurricane is dangerous, but sometimes it’s the right decision for certain people. However, you need to know what’s in store and get fully prepared for its arrival.
If you decide to stay home through a hurricane, identify which area of the house will keep you safest, considering all the possible hazards of the storm. The safest area available may be a designated shelter set up by the community, rather than your place of residence. Consider going there if you don’t want to evacuate your city or county.
Stock up on non-perishable food supplies. Suitable items include canned goods, drinking water, and more. It’s also a good idea to have a battery-powered radio and flashlights and a first aid emergency kit if someone gets hurt. Hurricanes almost always mess up the powerlines, causing a power outage.
Be Aware of Electrical Hazards
Make sure you unplug all appliances and electronics before the storm hits. If flood water enters your home, you don’t want it to become electrically charged and do more damage. Set your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting so that if they lose power, there’s less chance of the food inside them going spoiled. Fill anything you can with water to have enough available to flush your toilet, cook food, and wash things.
Evacuation
As previously stated, listen to the advice of your local authorities. This is especially important if you choose to evacuate. Even if you’d rather stay and wait until the hurricane passes, evacuate when told that you should. Before leaving, unplug all appliances and electronics. Reduce the risk of valuables sustaining water damage by moving them as far from the floors and windows as possible. Turn off your home’s water to reduce the risk of flooding from broken pipes. Turn off any gas to reduce the risk of leaks. Make sure all vehicles are ready for the journey. Establish the best ways to get out of your home and the best routes to safety.
What to do After the Storm
After the storm has passed and it’s safe for you to return to your home, there’s still more to do before returning to life as usual. Never approach downed or loose power lines. If you see any damaged powerlines, maintain a safe distance and report them to local authorities immediately.
Upon arriving at your residence, your power will likely be out. When it comes back on, resist the urge to go and turn on your appliances right away. Turn them on gradually to reduce the risk of damage to sensitive equipment. Starting with the fridge and freezer can help you reduce the amount of spoiled food.
Never use a generator indoors or in enclosed spaces because they produce deadly fumes. It doesn’t matter how well ventilated the room is—it can still be dangerous. Do not turn on or use any gas or electric appliances exposed to water.
Follow safety precautions, stay away from floodwater, and take photos of any damaged property for your insurance company. Once you’re safe, contact friends and family to make sure they’re okay and let them know you’re safe.
AdvantaClean
Find more useful safety tips and disaster information, visit our blog. AdvantaClean specializes in disaster readiness and repair, and your safety is important to us. Once the danger has passed, we can help you clean up the aftermath. We handle natural disaster damage, water damage restoration, fire damage cleanup, and more. If you need help, call us today at (877) 800-2382!
