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10 Safety Tips to know this Hurricane Season

Many families wait until their home is in the path of a storm to prepare their home and family, but there is a lot you can prepare for before a storm forms and heads your way. Hurricane season runs from June to the end of November, so it’s important to be prepared for one to hit your area at any point during this timeframe. 

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of 10 safety tips that will help reduce your stress if a hurricane does come your way. 

1. Have a family disaster plan 

Perhaps the best thing you can do prior to a hurricane coming is to have a family disaster plan in motion. A family disaster plan allows everyone in your household to know exactly what to do in case things escalate during an emergency, such as a hurricane. When there is a plan in motion, there is less panic or room for error. 

2. Prepare a disaster kit 

A disaster kit is a great way to prepare for any kind of disaster, including hurricanes. Your disaster kit should include things like…

Your emergency kit should be able to provide for your family for multiple days and for multiple situations. Anything that you could see as a need in your worst times, add it to the kit. It’s better to have an item than wish you had it.  

3. Invest in a weather radio 

A weather radio is crucial for when power outages occur and you are trying to reserve your cell phone’s battery. Weather radios will help keep you updated on the storm and it’s progress through your area, as well as alert you for any severe weather heading your way. 

4. Consider purchasing a generator 

While a generator can offer great peace of mind prior to a storm, they can also be critical for your safety and well-being during a storm. We like to recommend brands like Generac and Champion, as both provide excellent quality. It can feel like a big investment at first, but having one of these handy can make a world of difference if you lose power for a hurricane or any other weather-related event. Be sure to never use these in a garage or inside your home. 

5. Know your evacuation zone

Every area’s evacuation zone is different, but knowing ahead of time what zone you should be paying attention to is a critical part of being ahead. For Hampton Roads, Virginia labels our zones A-D and you can find your zone using the resource linked here. It’s also a great idea to sign up for alerts prior to major weather events coming to our area. You can sign up by going to your favorite weather providers website and registering your phone. 

6. Prepare your home

If you know a hurricane is coming to your area, it’s best to take some time a few days prior to prep your house. Things like boarding the windows and tying down outdoor furniture can help ensure that your home stays in as good of condition as possible while the storm comes through. Another good way to maintain your home prior to a storm is to clear out the gutters. This will allow rain to run off your roof as quickly as possible, leaving less water to cause damage on top of your home.

7. Stock up on gas for your grill and generator

If you are at risk of losing power, you will want to ensure that you have plenty of propane for your grill. This will be a great way to cook and provide for your family if you do lose power. You will also want to ensure you have plenty of gas on hand (safely in a gas container) for your generator as well. You may also want to consider filling up your car’s gas tank prior to the storm coming as well. If gas stations lose power, they cannot give you gas, so having some handy can make things a lot less stressful. 

8. Ensure you have the proper power tools 

Trees and debris falling around your yard will be a common occurrence during any hurricane, so having the proper power tools (and gas!) available will help make clean up go smoother. We love to recommend STIHL for chainsaws and leaf blowers as their products are top of the line. They will make any hurricane clean up project a breeze.  

9. Review your Insurance Policies

It’s a good idea to review your home insurance policy prior to a hurricane coming through your area. While many people assume they have hurricane insurance, it’s not always included in your policy. Ensuring that it is active on your home’s insurance plan can be a great way to keep peace of mind as we go through hurricane season this year and every year. 

10. Gather supplies

Whether you stock up on extra supplies now or when a storm is headed your way, it’s important to make sure you are stocked on the necessities before you bunker down for the storm. Items like dry foods, canned goods, toiletries, water, and common household items are important to have on hand. We recommend keeping some of these handy in your Disaster Kit, and stocking up on what you need ahead of the storm is a great idea. 

While a hurricane can leave devastating impacts to your home and neighborhood, preparing in advance can help alleviate some of those impacts. If you need any help putting together a disaster plan or preparing in general for weather incidents, come visit us at your neighborhood Taylor’s Do it Center. Our experts would love to help you!