If you haven’t lived in Florida long enough to experience a hurricane, it might be overwhelming to know what to do in order to prepare for the stormy season. Karrilyn has lived here her whole life and knows the drill by heart. I, however, still remember my first hurricane: Hurricane Irma. Everyone around me seemed to know what they were doing but having lived in the Midwest my whole life, I was used to tornadoes, not hurricanes. I had no idea how to prepare. If you don’t know what you’re doing when it comes to hurricanes and tropical storms no need to worry, we’re giving you an outline of best practices.
Rule of thumb: If the locals aren’t worried, you more than likely don’t need to worry either. This, of course, is a do-at-your-own-risk type of thing but I realized early on it’s pointless to freak out every time the news amps up the storm stories.
Here are a few things you need to know first:
While hurricanes are much more dangerous, tropical storms and depressions can also be devastating. Learn the difference between all the terms.
- Tropical Wave: According to National Hurricane Center, a tropical wave is a "trough or cyclonic curvature in the trade-wind easterlies.
- Tropical Depression: When a cyclone's wind speeds reach 38 mph or less, it becomes a tropical depression.
- Tropical Storm: To be classified as a tropical storm, surface winds have to be between 39 mph and 73 mph, which is one mph faster than a tropical storm.
- Hurricane: Once a tropical storm's wind speeds reach at least 74 mph, it is classified as a hurricane. From there, hurricanes are defined further using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which is a five-point scale: Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, Category 4, and Category 5.
- Category 1: 74 mph - 95 mph sustained wind speeds
- Category 2: 96 mph - 110 mph sustained wind speeds
- Category 3: 111 mph - 129 mph sustained wind speeds
- Category 4: 130 mph - 156 mph sustained wind speeds
- Category 5: Wind speed greater than 156 mph
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. How do you prepare for a hurricane? And what do you do during and afterward?
Before
The best time to prepare for hurricane season is June 1st. Here’s a checklist of things to do in order to prepare:
- Know Your Hurricane Evacuation Zone. It’s important to know which zone you reside in A/B/C/D/E. It’s important to note that this zone is different from a flood zone. In the event that the city starts evacuating people, they will release you by zone. If you decide not to evacuate when the city has urged you to, you do so at your own risk, and the coast guard is not required to send in a rescue team in the event of an emergency. You can find your zone here.
- Have an emergency kit. Check your flashlights, generators, and storm shutters. Here is a complete list of items to include.
- Have a stash of cash. In the event that the power goes out, credit cards won’t work. You’ll never know how long the power might be out so it’s smart to have some cash in case you need to get gas or emergency supplies.
- Make an emergency plan. It’s smart to sit down with your family and figure out how you’ll contact each other, where to go, and what you will do in the event of an emergency. You can find a written emergency plan worksheet from Lee County here.
- Review your insurance policies. Make sure you have the proper coverage for any damage that may occur.
- Make sure you are signed up for emergency notification services. The AlertLee system is a great place to get notifications in emergency situations. The Everbridge app is another great resource.
During:
- You need to always be prepared to evacuate in case of a storm surge. Having things ready to be packed makes it easy for a quick getaway.
- Secure your home. Make sure your hurricane shutters are fastened properly. If you don’t have shutters, you can use marine plywood to board up your windows.
- Keep the news on. Check websites, and social media for updates on the storm. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or tune into your local TV stations.
- Listen to the instructions of local officials. Leave immediately if you are ordered to evacuate.
- If you don’t evacuate, stay away from windows or any glass doors and put as many walls between you and the outside as possible.
- Keep your phone charged. In the event that the power goes out, make sure you have a full phone charge in case you need to call for help.
After:
- Continue to tune in to the news. Turn on NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for any updates.
- Avoid driving if possible. Roads may be flooded which can hide debris that may be destructive to your vehicle. Keep an eye out for fallen electrical wires or weakened roads.
- Check for any damage around your house. Look out for any loose power lines, gas leaks, or structural damage.
- Use battery-powered flashlights, not candles. If leaked gas is present a candle can ignite and potentially cause harm.
Hurricanes can be scary to think about but it’s better to be safe and prepared than sorry. Start making your plan now and get educated on what you should do.
