10/09/2024
Repost:
Your safety comes first, above all else, to take whatever action you deem appropriate to protect the safety of yourselves and your families, to keep us posted, and/or reach out for assistance if needed.
As that storm reaches land, please be sure to stay safe and if you feel you are in danger and need to relocate -- your safety comes first. Also please keep us posted as you are able to if you are having difficulty. We are ready and willing to assist. Please reach out with any questions or concerns and STAY SAFE!
🌀The Essential Guide to Hurricane Preparedness🌀
Each year hurricane season begins on June 1st and lasts 5 months, with storms typically peaking in August and September. As with every hurricane season regardless of forecast, knowing the essentials of how to prepare could truly be a life saver.
🌀Hurricane Knowledge🌀
First, know your hurricane facts and understand common terms used during hurricane forecasts. Storm conditions can vary depending on the intensity, size and even the angle at which the tropical cyclone approaches your area, so it is vital you understand what the forecasters and news reporters are telling you.
Tropical Depressions are cyclones with winds of 38 mph. Tropical Storms vary in wind speeds from 39-73 mph while Hurricanes have winds 74 mph and greater. Typically the upper right quadrant of the storm (the center wrapping around the eye) is the most intense portion of the storm. The greatest threats are damaging winds, storm surge and flooding. This is in part why Hurricane Katrina was so catastrophic when bringing up to 28 foot storm surges onto the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines.
Here are some important terms you may hear:
● Tropical Storm Watch: Tropical storm conditions are possible in the area. ● Hurricane Watch: Hurricane conditions are possible in the area.
Watches are issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical storm force winds.
● Tropical Storm Warning: Tropical storm conditions are expected in the area. ● Hurricane Warning: Hurricane conditions are expected in the area. Warnings are issued 36 hours in advance of tropical storm force winds. ● Eye: Clear, sometimes well-defined center of the storm with calmer conditions. ● Eye Wall: Surrounding the eye, contains some of the most severe weather of the storm with the highest wind speed and largest precipitation.
● Rain Bands: Bands coming off the cyclone that produce severe weather conditions such as heavy rain, wind and tornadoes.
● Storm Surge: An often underestimated and deadly result of ocean water swelling as a result of a landfalling storm, and quickly flooding coastal and sometimes areas further inland.
During a watch, prepare your home and evacuation plan in case a warning is issued. During a warning, carefully follow the directions of officials, and immediately leave the area if they advise it. In the event of an Extreme Wind Warning/Advisory, which means that extreme sustained winds of 115 mph or greater are expected to begin within an hour, immediately take shelter in the interior portion of a well-built structure.
🌀Hurricane Forecasts 🌀
Predicting a tropical cyclone's path can be challenging; there are many global and local factors that come into play. The storm's size and path can directly influence what sort of wind patterns guide, enhance or hinder its growth, and vice versa! Forecasters have computers that take huge amounts of data and try to predict where the storm will go and usually can calculate 2-3 days out fairly accurately. This is where you hear the terms computer models and spaghetti models being used. Generally the forecast track or path is given with the average consensus of these models. The National Hurricane Center has the most up-to-date information on tropical cyclone developments, forecasts and weather alerts, discussions analyzing the data and more. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
🌀Hurricane Names🌀
Hurricane names are picked randomly, then rotated and recycled every 6 years. If a hurricane was catastrophic or severely deadly and costly (i.e. Charlie, Katrina, Irene) it is officially retired since use is not appropriate and can be confusing when naming current storms. To view the current list of tropical cyclone names click here:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml
🌀Pre-Storm Preparation🌀
● For information on preparing for a hurricane or other disaster, visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management at FloridaDisaster.org.
● Additionally, explore the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster preparedness resources at Ready.gov.
Hurricane Preparedness Guide for Realtors Link
Florida Disaster Assistance link
🌀Hurricane Kits🌀
It is important to create a kit of supplies that you could take with you if you are forced to evacuate. This kit will also be useful if you are able to stay in your home, but are still affected by the storm, such as through the loss of power. One common trend seen when
hurricanes are approaching is a wide-spread panic. When this happens, people rush in large numbers to get all the supplies they think they need. However, if you prepare your kit ahead of time, you can alleviate a lot of the potential stress of a very chaotic situation. You should create your kit in a bag that you can easily take with you. Some recommended items to include are:
● Non-perishable food (enough to last at least 3 days)
● Water (enough to last at least 3 days)
● First-aid kit (include any prescription medication you may need)
● Personal hygiene items and sanitation items
● Flashlights (have extra batteries on hand)
● Battery operated radio (again, have extra batteries)
● Waterproof container with cash and important documents
● Manual can opener
● Lighter or matches
● Books, magazines, games for recreation
● Special needs items: pet supplies and baby supplies if applicable ● Cooler and ice packs
● A plan for evacuation and for if family members are separated
🌀Securing Your Home🌀
Know how to secure your home in the event of damaging winds, storm surge and flooding.
● Cover all of your windows, either with hurricane shutters or wood. ( Although tape can prevent glass from shattering everywhere, be warned that tape does not prevent the window from breaking. )
● If possible, secure straps or clips to securely fasten your roof to the structure of your home.
● Make sure all trees and shrubs are trimmed and clear rain gutters. ● Reinforce your garage doors.
● Bring in all outdoor furniture, garbage cans, decorations, and anything else that is not tied down.
● If winds become strong, stay away from windows and doors and close, secure and brace internal doors.
🌀Power Outages🌀
In the event a storm should leave you without power, there are a few things to consider and help you be ready and stay safe outside of your normal hurricane preparedness.
● Gas: Make sure your tank is full far in advance of an approaching storm. Most people wait until the last minute, rush to get extra gas for cars and generators, and subsequently gas stations can run out early.
● ATMS: Have extra cash on hand in the event no ATMS in your area are accessible or working.
● Cell Phones: Charge your cell phone and limit use after power is out. ● A/C: This can be the most uncomfortable side effect of losing power during a storm. Try to prevent as much light from entering and warming the house by covering up your windows on the inside. If you have back-up or battery operated fans, don't run them unless you are in the room. Fans create a difference in perceived temperature but do not cool the room; instead they create a cooling effect by dispersing the heat off your skin. It is said they can actually add heat to a room just by running.
● Water: Fill bathtub and large containers with water for washing and flushing only.
● Food: Turn your fridge temperature down and/or freeze any food or drinking water that can be frozen if you expect a power outage. Here is a guide on freezing food: Freezing and Food Safety. Have a cooler with ice packs prepared to cool your drinks and snacks after power has been out for more than 4 hours. And importantly, check out this food safety guide for when to discard your perishable food:
http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/refridg_food.html
● Health/Safety: The CDC has a great guide on how to stay safe in the event of a power outage: Power Outages
Remember, any severe storm can be deadly and destructive. If you've survived a landfilling cyclone, you know the inconvenience and distress it can cause. One of the best tips to be prepared is knowing the cycle of a cyclone - Approach, Arrival & Aftermath. Prepare ahead of time and listen to the directions of officials for the approach. Secure your home, or find a safe shelter for its arrival, and know how to proceed safely during the aftermath.
🌀Health, Food, Safety, and Shelter🌀
● In the event of a medical emergency or apparent criminal activity, call 911. ● If you have an immediate housing need, text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 to find a FEMA shelter in your area or visit FEMA.gov. You may also visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management at FloridaDisaster.org/shelters/ for an index of Florida shelters by county.
● If you have an immediate need for food, water or shelter, call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROS (1-800-733-2767).
● To see what storm-related watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for your area, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at
Alerts.Weather.gov and scroll down to select the state or county of your choice. ● To determine whether your county or neighborhood is under a boil water notice or for additional information on ensuring water is drinkable, visit the Florida Department of Health at FloridaHealth.gov/environmental-health/drinking-water. ● The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a toll-free, multilingual and confidential support services hotline 24/7 through their Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.
● To find out what referral services are available in your community, call 211.
🌀Financial Relief🌀
● Those experiencing financial losses due to a hurricane may be eligible for FEMA Disaster Assistance. To determine your eligibility or to apply for assistance, visit FEMA.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). There is no fee to apply or to receive assistance.
● Immediate foreclosure relief may be available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to individuals located in federally designated disaster areas. For more information visit HUD.gov or HUD.gov/Espanol.
● In the event of a disaster, the Governor has the option to activate the Emergency Bridge Loan Program via executive order. A bridge loan, facilitated by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, is a short-term, interest-free loan offered to support businesses that experience physical or economic damage due to a hurricane. For more information, visit FloridaDisasterLoan.org.
● Disaster loans may be available from the U.S. Small Business Administration to qualifying businesses to cover losses not fully paid for by insurance or other relief methods. For more information, visit DisasterLoan.SBA.gov. There is no fee to apply for or receive assistance.
● Disaster Unemployment Assistance may be available through the Florida Department
of Economic Opportunity to qualifying Florida residents whose jobs were adversely affected due to a hurricane. For more information, visit FloridaJobs.org and enter “Disaster Unemployment Assistance” in the search box at the top of the webpage.
● The Florida Department of Children and Families may offer additional emergency services to Floridians during times of disaster. For more information, visit MyFLFamilies.com/disaster.
Contact your lenders, financial institutions and service providers to see what programs
they may offer. Following a hurricane or other disaster, many businesses institute programs to ease the financial burdens on their customers during the aftermath by restructuring or delaying payment plans, waiving late fees, forgiving overages and more. From mortgage servicers to phone plan providers, contact the institutions you use to determine what your options are. Prior to signing up, be sure you understand any requirements the program may have such as additional fees, accrual of interest and doubling of your next monthly payment.
🌀Preparedness Checklist🌀
Complete this checklist to ensure your home and belongings are as protected as possible before a storm event hits.
Close and lock your windows.
Inspect each window and door and reseal if necessary
If your doors could use some additional reinforcing, purchase and install a bolt kit from a hardware store.
Bring all outdoor furniture, decor and children’s toys inside.
In advance of hurricane season, trim any tree branches that are breaking, dead or near windows or your roof. Once a storm is threatening your area, trimming is discouraged as debris may not be picked up and can become projectiles during a storm.
Clean out your gutters.
Store any valuables in waterproof containers.
Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their highest settings as a precaution to eliminate food waste due to power outage.
Find a “safe zone” in your home.
Move your hurricane supplies to your “safe zone.”
Print out your insurance coverage documents and store them in a waterproof container.
Review your insurance coverage.
Use surge protectors to protect your electrical appliances and property. Fill an extra bathtub with water if possible or fill empty gallon jugs/2-liter bottles with water to use for showering, cleaning and rinsing.
🌀Hurricane Supply Checklist🌀
Water – One gallon daily per person for 3-7 days
Food – Enough for 3-7 days (Non-perishable, packaged or canned food/Formula and food for infants or those with dietary needs)
Non-electric can opener, paper plates, plastic utensils
Flashlights and extra batteries
First aid kit, sunscreen and bug spray
Medications*
Radio – battery powered or hand- crank weather radio
Special items for babies, the elderly and those with special needs
Toiletries
Full tank of gas in your vehicle
Ensure electronic devices such as cell phones and back-up batteries are fully charged. Car chargers are useful to help charge devices if you don’t have power. Spare propane tank or charcoal for your grill
Cash – banks and ATMs may not be available
Important documents in a waterproof container** (Insurance cards, Medical records, Bank account and credit card information, Social Security cards, Birth and marriage certificates, Documentation of valuables, Important phone numbers) Pet care items (Food, water and any medication, Identification and vaccination information, A carrier or cage, leash and collar)
Portable battery bank for electronic devices
* Florida law allows pharmacists to refill your prescribed medications early if the county where you reside is: Currently under a hurricane warning issued by the National Weather Service; Declared by an executive order issued by the governor to be under a State of Emergency; or Operating its emergency operations center and its emergency management plan
** If you need to quickly store important documents, place them in your dishwasher and engage the locking mechanism. Dishwashers have a water-tight seal that can help protect your documents.
*** I hope everyone is taking the necessary precautions and heeding the warnings if you need to evacuate and travel out of Florida. My prayers are with you, your friends, and your families for safety.
Hey Luv, Manifesting Homes and Securing Keys for the clients God sends to me! Ps. 46:5
