BE PREPARED!
Things we should all remember to do - By Sonia R. Martinez
As we are all aware by now, hurricanes are unpredictable forces of nature that can cause at least severe if not catastrophic damages. The time to prepare for a possible hurricane is before one is expected. Hurricane season starts June 1 and lasts through the end of November, so the time to check your hurricane preparedness supplies and plans is NOW!
If you live in a hurricane prone area, or in any area where a hurricane is likely to make land, plan ahead. Remember that Hurricane Hugo went in through Charleston, SC, but ended up doing damage as far inland as the North Carolina Mountains area, and Hurricane Iniki made a path through Kauai and also caused damages in Oahu.
Have a Hurricane Preparedness List that you can check off every year before June 1st and to store your supplies in a designated Emergency or Storm Closet makes a lot of sense. If a closet is not available set up shelving in a garage, workshop area or any other convenient spot.
Any supplies in your “Storm Closet” that are not used during hurricane season can then be used throughout the year or the edibles can be donated to a food bank and replaced before the next season starts.
I don't consider myself as an expert, but having lived in Cuba, the Carolinas, and South Florida, and my son lived in Puerto Rico several years, we have had some experience weathering several hurricanes. Much of what we do today to prepare for a storm we have learned through the years. This first part of reading might be boring to you, but you should read it anyway...it might come in handy sometime.
WHAT DETERMINES IF A STORM IS A HURRICANE? On the Saffir/Simpson Scale storms are categorized as follows:
Category Wind (MPH) Damage Potential
1 74 – 95 Minimal
2 96 – 110 Moderate
3 111 – 130 Extensive
4 131 – 155 Extreme
5 Over 155 Catastrophic
Source: Accu\Weather.com ©2005 (Reg. TM)
What is a Tropical Storm? A Tropical Storm is a storm that originates in the tropics in which the winds reach a constant speed of 39 mph. These storms can turn into hurricanes.
A tropical storm watch is issued for coastal areas when there is a threat of a tropical storm within 24 to 36 hours.
A tropical storm warning is issued when the threat is within 24 hours.
What is a Hurricane Watch? Hurricane Watches are issued when there is a good possibility of hurricane conditions, including damaging winds, surf and flooding rains that may occur within the next 36 hours.
What is a Hurricane Warning? Hurricane Warnings are issued when there is a high probability of hurricane-force winds occurring anytime within the next 24 hours.
What to do to prepare:
Ideally, before the hurricane season starts, you would have prepared the designated Emergency or Storm Closet to keep water, canned food items, flashlights, batteries and other items that might be needed.
Don’t wait until there is a storm advisory since everyone else will be running to the stores to get needed items and supplies will run low or you will find empty shelves.
If a storm or hurricane watch is issued, check your local Civil Defense websites (in Hawaii Island: http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/active-alerts for updates. Keep your radio on to hear all local advisories.
-Secure your home as much as possible by taping windows (from the inside) or placing wood shutters on all exposed glass windows and doors. Taping the windows does not mean that the glass won’t shatter, but at least you will lessen the damage or danger of flying glass.
-Take down pictures and store under couches or beds. All knick-knacks and other items should be taken down and stored on floor, under furniture or beds, inside cabinets, etc., to prevent them from becoming flying missiles. Of course, if there is danger of flooding in your area, then try to store items where they will be away from rising waters.
-Wrap items such as photo albums, scrapbooks, keepsakes, etc, inside large, heavy black plastic bags to prevent as much water damage as possible. Store them in lidded plastic bins or clean trash cans with lids and store in a place where they won’t get damaged if they get wet.
-Secure all items outside the house, both in the yard and in the lanai/porches. Yard furniture, patio umbrellas, and plants in planters, hanging baskets, outdoor grills, doghouses, and anything else that can turn into flying missiles should be stored or secured.
-Take valuables such as jewelry, etc., and store in a bank safety deposit box, days before the storm is expected, or else make other arrangements for safe keeping. Do not leave these items at home and don’t take them with you if you have to evacuate to a shelter.
-Remember there is the probability of losing power, ATM’s will not work and banks might be closed for days, so have as much emergency cash on hand as possible in smaller bills for easy transactions.
-Fill and top-off car with gas – get an extra 5 gallon gas can or two filled if possible to keep at home or take with you in case you need to evacuate.
-Place jugs of water in the freezer several days before the expected storm. This will keep freezer contents frozen or colder longer if power is lost. Check out more freezer and refrigerator tips below.
-Fill bathtub(s) and large buckets or containers with water before the storm for washing up, flushing, etc., after storm has passed in case services are interrupted. Do not use this water for drinking unless you put a drop or two of chlorine in it.
-Have a supply of long industrial type extension cords on hand. After Andrews in Miami, the power on our side of the street was restored a couple of days before the neighbors across from us. All neighbors on my side of the street placed cords across to supply the neighbors across the street with power.
-Check that all of the batteries in your power tools are charged – screwdrivers, power saws, etc., you might have to use them afterwards.
If you are evacuating:
-Pack your car with everything you and family members might need for at least a week. Check the lists of must have items below.
-Make sure that you know where all the nearest shelters are located and all routes that lead to them. If your family members are scattered at work, school, etc., make sure everyone knows what the plans are and set up a meeting place if at all possible.
-Don’t forget your pet’s comfort. Take treats, food, medicines and anything your pet might need. If shelters won’t accept pets, make safe arrangements for them. Please don’t abandon them!
-Take any important papers with you such as home and car insurance, a set of photographs or videos of your home, inside and out, panning room by room, wall by wall, showing your personal possessions, including closet contents, to be able to substantiate your insurance claims in case of losses. This is something you should always do or have, in case of fire or any other damages to your home.
-Keep a second set of copies in a safety deposit box or with your insurance agent. If you have kept a running list as you bought items for your home, make sure you have a copy and the receipts in safe keeping.
-Pack your Passports and other personal IDs of all family members in your group. A small address book with names, the addresses and phones/e-mails of family members away from your area for easy contact will be convenient. Place it all together inside a sturdy Zip-lock bag and keep with you at all times.
-Prepare an envelope addressed to medical personnel if anyone in your group has a pre-existing medical condition. Place all this inside a heavy zip-lock bag and carry next to your person.
-If you have a cell phone, pre-program phone numbers of close family and friends for easy access to let them know you’re ok.
-If you have a lap top computer or electronic tablet, pack with your ‘to take’ belongings. If a home PC has to be left behind, protect it by wrapping it and the monitor with blankets and then place in large, heavy black plastic bags.
-Take whatever food you can from refrigerator with you in a cooler if at all possible.
-If you use gas for cooking or water heater or heating house, turn off the gas supply before you leave the house.
If not evacuating:
Follow all of the above instructions anyway.
-Set up a safe inside room or hallway in center of house to ride out the storm. Place mattresses around or above you. Keep some pillows and blankets by you.
-Keep supplies handy. Use flashlights and battery-operated lamps rather than candles or kerosene lamps for safety and prevention of fires.
Must Have Supplies - Food:
- Bottled water – the recommended amount is 1 gallon per day per person
- Bottled or pouch packed juices.
- Packets of granola bars or other cereal type energy bars.
- Boxes of no salt soda crackers. Salt makes you thirstier.
- Canned goods: fruit, beans, Vienna sausages, Spam and other canned meats – this is no time to be finicky - also canned tuna or salmon, anything that either can be eaten without cooking or does not need much cooking. Flip top cans are ideal, but don't forget an easy to operate manual can opener just in case.
Packages of dried fruit – mango, apricot, raisins, plums, etc., for quick energy. Peanut butter jars. Powdered milk, canned evaporated milk, small packets of salt and pepper or other favorite seasonings, sugar in individual packs, instant coffee or hot chocolate packs, and individual quick oatmeal and instant grits packs. The packs can be kept inside seal-able plastic bags or containers. Other convenience foods that are quick and easy for cooking are boxed pasta and/or rice dishes that come with their own seasonings. A can of spray oil for cooking or spraying on grill would be convenient.
Must Have Supplies – Non-Food:
- Keep a knapsack handy for each family member packed with a couple of extra changes of warm & comfortable clothing, extra underwear, T-shirts, socks and sturdy, comfortable walking shoes, prescriptions, etc.
- Battery operated radio
- Check all your flashlights – replace them if need be
- Supply of extra batteries – make sure you have all sizes needed for your flashlights or radios – store batteries in zip-lock bags in freezer until needed.
- Rain ponchos and rubber boots; also hat or other headwear to protect from sun. Keep sunscreen handy.
- Mosquito or insect spray, punks/mosquito coils, or other insect protection supplies.
- Thermal blankets, pillows, towels, soap, and toiletries.
- Video camera, digital or regular photo camera and extra film for taking pictures of damages and losses for insurance purposes.
- First Aid Kit that you put together, not a twinkie store-bought one: Bandages, gauze, tape, cotton swabs, cotton balls, aspirins, children’s aspirins, allergy medicine, Benadryl or Calamine lotion, moisturizing lotion, Visine drops, eye wash, herbal throat lozenges, surgical scrub brush/sponge, nail brush, antibiotic ointments, Listerine pocket packs, Band-Aids in different sizes, scissors, alcohol, Peroxide, etc.
- Supply of prescription medicines and daily vitamins and supplements, aspirin, flu/cold preventive swabs, etc. Feminine products, and don't forget diapers, if you have small children.
- Camp stove, or Sterno stove and gel cans, or small butane stove and extra little fuel tanks.
- For cooking grills, if propane gas, check that your gas tanks are full.
If using charcoal, make sure you have plenty of charcoal, lighter fluid and matches. Remember to not use the charcoal grills indoors, specially when all windows and doors are closed.
- Keep a couple of pieces of inexpensive cookware, BBQ grill utensils a cutting board and a sharp knife for preparing and cooking food on the grill. A cast iron skillet would be convenient.
- Clorox gallon jugs.
- Manual can opener, compostable, disposable, or easy to wash plastic plates, cups, flatware, napkins, toilet tissue, paper towels, moist wipes, plastic storage bags, trash bags. If you can, it is a better idea to invest in metal messkits, which can double as cooking vessels with old fashioned Boy Scout utensils that nest together. Makes it very easy to cook and eat out of the same container and saves on vinegar/clorox water for clean up because you only have to clean once.
- Tool kit for small or emergency repairs. Duct tape. Hammer and nails for boarding windows before storm and make some repairs after. Saws and machetes, axes or hatchets for cutting fallen tree trunks and branches. If you have a chain saw, make sure you have the gas and oil for it.
- Heavy working shoes, work gloves
- Clear plastic goggles - check they fit over your glasses if you wear them, to protect eyes from any small flying debris or later for clean-up work outside.
- Household type fire extinguishers
- Convenient and optional – a generator and extra gas
- Optional – books to read and board or card games for the children when not doing anything else and time hangs heavy on your hands.
Taking Care of Your Freezer and Refrigerator Contents:
Always keep extra jugs filled with drinking water in freezer to keep contents frozen or cold longer if power goes off. A well-packed freezer will stay frozen longer than one that is half-empty. Fill all the empty spaces. After power goes off, place a few of the frozen water jugs from the freezer in refrigerator to keep items colder longer and use as drinking water as they thaw.
If you have time before the storm, cook any perishables stored in freezer or refrigerator such as meat, shrimp or fish, bacon, eggs, etc. Fry the bacon and store in zip-locks, all the cooked meats or fish can then be re-frozen and stored in zip-locks. They will last longer and can then be eaten without reheating or very little heating. Hard-boil all the eggs and put back, unpeeled, in the refrigerator.
Keep several loaves of sandwich bread in the freezer. It thaws quickly when needed and will keep longer.
If power is lost for more than 4-5 days and all the water jugs have thawed, throw away stuff that can spoil fast such as milk, mayonnaise, etc. As long as you can keep a few frozen jugs in the refrigerator, those items should be all right.
If you still have too much food that will spoil – either cooked or un-cooked, share with neighbors so that it can be used and not be wasted.
Being prepared can save your life and that of your family and pets. Be prepared!
