Though you ought to spend more, if possible, a mere fifteen minutes of preparation can save you from a world of pain, frustration, discomfort, and danger when a hurricane hits.
To help you spend those fifteen minutes wisely, we’ve put together a short list of five hurricane safety tips for your home - without leaving your home or going out for anything you don’t already have handy.
If there is a risk of flooding, figure out where the breaker box for your home is, and consider disabling power in advance. Going without power is uncomfortable, but major flooding combined with live power can become a serious threat to the safety of your home, your family, and possible rescue workers.
In lieu of that, make sure they’re closed and locked at minimum. Ideally you can have them shuttered and sealed around the edges; refreshing the weather stripping on your front door can mean the difference between a flooded front room and passing the storm without incident.
Turning off power should only be done if there’s a risk of flooding.
Of course, its best if you can have as much of the list as possible stored in a go-bag, so it can double for evacuations if necessary; consider what your budget allows.
The best action you can take for your safety and the safety of your family, once all else is handled, is finding a secure interior room without windows to ride out the storm. Once a safe space is identified, prepare a room for comfort by bringing in chairs or television if time allows.
A reliable room for hurricane safety is windowless, protected by other rooms around it, and not likely to flood. If your home doesn’t have a room like this, evacuation may be necessary, unless you have high grade impact windows and doors installed.
Fifteen minutes of preparation is better than none at all - but if you can avoid limiting yourself to little preparation time you’ll be much better off. When it comes to preparing your home to face the fury of a hurricane, being proactive instead of reactive is key.
If you really want to secure your home, protect your property, and keep your family safe from the weather, you’re going to want to storm-proof your home in advance. That means installing impact doors and windows, keeping your roof and walls well-maintained, and checking up on your drainage systems. It’s worth the investment of time and money—for peace of mind, safety, and long-term savings.
Contact Alco today for a friendly and informative partner in planning your next safety project.