Hurricane Ian Safety Guide – Hurricane Ian is rapidly approaching and can pose a significant risk to life and property, even if you don’t live in a low-lying coastal location.
Storm surges, coastal and inland floods, currents, and even landslides are just some of the hazards associated with hurricanes. Therefore, it is crucial to make the most of every single thing that you have access to.
Hurricane Ian Safety Guide: Things to know for safety
This Hurricane Ian safety guide will teach you how to stay safe during an evacuation, how to get weather alerts, how to create an emergency plan for your family, what items should be included in an emergency supply kit, and more.
So, here we go –
Always have a hurricane checklist handy
When a cyclone strikes, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and neglect basic safety procedures, so prepare for hurricane season by making a detailed plan of what to do and what to bring with you in the event of a storm.
You may go to your list for guidance rather than relying on your memory in the event of a storm.
Make an Emergency Plan
Creating a family emergency plan that includes an escape route is essential to prepare for hurricane season. Make sure you and your loved ones have a plan for communicating and getting important information in the event of a disaster.
Prepare both an in-place shelter and an escape route and if you have any children, pets, or family members who have mobility challenges, be sure to account for them in your plan. Also, think about who in your family needs access to certain medical supplies or medications and make sure the youngsters in the family are aware of the strategy and how to implement them before hurricane season hits.
Keep your house safe and prepare your home and business for hurricanes and severe winds by doing the following –
- Trees should be trimmed to get rid of any diseased or damaged limbs.
- A hurricane-proof entrance is a must.
- Put up window shutters before a storm.
- Tempered glass should be used for all external windows.
- Make preparations for patio accessories, including seating, plants, and games.
Prepare Your Supply Kit
When a storm is approaching, the last thing you want to do is scramble to get supplies. Therefore, you should be prepared for any sudden events by keeping a go bag on standby. You should add the following to your emergency supply kit –
- Durable food
- Water in convenient plastic bottles
- Flashlights
- Batteries for backup devices
- Small, portable radio
- Essentials for administering first aid
- Treatments that need a doctor’s prescription
- Food for pets
- Cash
- Blankets
- Portable battery packs for mobile devices
- Products used for personal hygiene
Review Your Insurance
If a hurricane damages your house and you need to submit a claim with your homeowner’s insurance, you’ll need to list everything lost. If you can get this information to your insurance company quickly, they will be able to pay your claim, and you can go on the road to recovery much more quickly.
If you need to make a claim, it will be helpful to know how much you spent on each item and make an itemized list of everything you own by going through each room in the house. Pictures or receipts of your expensive products can be used too.
You should use an app to assist you in keeping track of your stock, and every year before hurricane season, you should revise it.
Relevant Paperwork
Get a home safe that is both watertight and fireproof, and store all your crucial documents inside first. After that, make sure there is a digital duplicate of each document in case your house is destroyed and your safety is lost forever.
A few examples of essential records to safeguard are –
- Birth Records
- Marriage certificates
- Credentials issued by the Social Security Administration
- Military Service documents
- Security plans
- Financial Reports
- Medical certificates
- Pets identification tags
- Legal and Paperwork
- Mortgage costs (to identify financial records and obligations)
- Tax documentation
- Medicine-related data (in case medical care is needed)
- Medical insurance card copies (to make sure existing care continues uninterrupted)
- Vaccination certificates
- Medications
- Family Contacts
Prepare your residence
Remove any loose items from around your property that the wind may pick up and cause harm, and you should use the shelter to store bikes, outdoor furniture, barbecues, propane tanks, and construction supplies.
- The outdoor glass must be covered, and windows should be protected by installing storm shutters or nailing plywood over the openings. In the event of a glass break, this would protect you from flying shards.
- Prepare to switch off the electricity as soon as you notice water, fallen power lines, or if you have to evacuate your house.
- Get some clean water jugs and fill them up. You’ll be glad you did this if the storm cuts your water supply.
- To avoid CO poisoning, check your detector and turn down the refrigerator and freezer controls to their lowest settings.
Check your automobiles
Please refuel your vehicle and get the vehicle inside the garage or somewhere dry and safe.
Don’t leave home without a fully stocked emergency automobile kit and risk being caught in the storm without ensuring your vehicle is in working order.
Wrap up your outdoor gears
When winds pick up where you live, outside possessions such as furniture, potted plants, toys, yard decor, and lawn equipment can become a potential hazard.
- Submerging watertight, heavy goods in a pool is a simple approach to ensure your safety. Chairs and other outdoor furniture will likely sink during a storm and remain submerged for the duration of the weather event. To protect your pool liner from scratches and tears, place tennis balls under the feet of your furniture and other large items.
- Everything that can’t be submerged or brought inside should be secured. Please bring inside as many outside necessities as you can.
- Trim and cut down any weak or loose tree limbs, as this will reduce the likelihood of roof and window damage from errant branches.
Keeping other people in mind
Take into account the needs of everyone living in your home, including those who may have special requirements such as medicine or need help communicating.
Your pet, like any other family member, may sometimes need assistance. Make preparations for your pet ahead of time. Find out which shelters will accept pets if you have to evacuate with them.
Also, You should see if your neighbors require any assistance.
Main Evacuation Strategies
Zone A includes the counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Pasco, Hernando, and Manatee, all of which have been mandated to evacuate. Although you may not be required by law to leave during a mandatory evacuation, it is necessary because you will not be eligible for rescue efforts until the storm has passed and rescuers return. Know where the nearest exits are in case of an emergency.
- During an active crisis, the FEMA app will provide a list of available shelters in your region, and the evacuation instructions will be broadcasted through battery-powered radios.
- Make sure you give yourself enough time to get out of town before bad weather traps you.
- Bring your animals with you, but remember that certain public buildings may only let assist animals. Make a plan for your pets’ care in the event of an emergency immediately.
- Make a phone call or send an email to the person listed in your family’s emergency plan. Please don’t leave them guessing about your whereabouts.
- Lock all the doors and windows before evacuating and also turn off all the electronics and unplug the tiny appliances.
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer plugged in unless there is a chance of flooding.
- Write a message explaining when you departed and where you will be found.
- Put on some solid shoes and protective clothes, including warm trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, and a cap.
- If an evacuation is ordered, use the designated routes and avoid shortcuts.
- Watch out for potential traffic dangers, including fallen power lines, washed-out roads, and bridges, and do not drive through water that high.
Hurricane Ian Safety Guide – Things to do when a Hurricane is going on
- Store your go-bag of necessities in a readily accessible location.
- Cell phones and other gadgets should be charged, and the refrigerator and freezer should be set to their coldest settings in case of a power loss.
- Keep an ear out for storm reports on the radio or television.
- It’s best to stay indoors even if the storm has passed. Even amid a severe storm, the weather might temporarily clear up, so don’t leave until you’ve heard or seen that it’s over from an official source.
- Avoid being near windows where you might be wounded by flying glass or other debris. Get somewhere dark and quiet, like a closet or a room with no windows.
- Put on your shoes and get ready to go.
Flood Prevention
Remember that hurricanes can create floods. On average, floods kill more people annually than other natural disasters, including tornadoes, lightning, and hurricanes combined.
In the United States alone, 89 lives are lost annually due to floods. The difference between life and death during a flood may be determined by how well you are educated and prepared before the event occurs.
- Research what measures have been put in place in case of an emergency.
- If you need to evacuate or seek higher ground, you should already know where to go and how to get there.
- Keep an ear out for weather reports, emergency instructions, and evacuation announcements through your phone, TV, or radio.
- Do not attempt to cross flood waters on foot or in a vehicle. Moving water as shallow as 6 inches may knock you down, while water as deep as 1 foot can carry your car away.
- You should evacuate your vehicle and seek higher ground if floods begin to surround it. Don’t get out of the vehicle and swim.
- Please stay away from parking or camping near waterways like rivers and creeks while it’s raining heavily. These places are prone to sudden and unexpected flooding.
Protection against Tornadoes
Hurricanes may cause not just floods but even tornadoes. The safest place in a building is the basement or the very lowest floor or tiny internal space, such as a closet, restroom, or interior hall, if possible. This applies to both private and public structures.
- Use a big coat, blanket, quilt, or heavy sleeping bag to shield yourself from falling debris.
- Tornadoes pose a significant threat to those living in mobile homes. Mobile home residents should immediately seek refuge in the closest permanent structure.
- Find a safe place inside, such as a basement or storm shelter, if you find yourself stranded outside.
- If you cannot reach a shelter on foot, you should immediately get in a car and go to the next available haven. Always wear your seat belt and avoid going up on any highway or bridge overpasses.
- In case of high winds and flying debris, it is best to pull over to the side of the road, park, and remain buckled in while the engine is still running. Recline with your head resting on the floor under the windows and a blanket or hands over your face. If possible, you should try to lower yourself below road level safely. Lie down in the lowered location with your hands protecting your head.
Power Outage Reporting
- Dial 1-800-419-6356 for Duke Energy’s latest updates
- Duke Energy customers may call 1-800-769-3766 to report an outage or check the current outage status.
- Phone: 1-800-386-4833 (Energy United)
- For North Carolina’s Electric Membership Cooperatives, Call Toll-Free: 1-888-411-7870
- Please get in touch with Randolph Electric at 1-877-736-2633.
- Contact Piedmont Electric at 1-800-449-2667.
- You may reach Surry-Yadkin Electric at (336) 356-8241.
- Lexington Municipal Utility Company, Electric Service: (336) 248-2337.
Hurricane Ian Safety Guide – Plans for after a Hurricane has passed
If you have left your house because of the storm, you should double-check with authorities before returning.
Prepare for delays to normal activities, and remember that coming home before storm debris is cleaned is perilous, especially when you return to disaster-affected regions following major events.
- Spread the word to loved ones about your anticipated return.
- Prepare for prolonged power outages by charging electronics and purchasing backup batteries.
- Make sure your gas tank is full, and think about using an app that can tell you if there are any gas stations along your route.
- Pack some water and nonperishable snacks for the trip.
- It would be best if you stayed away from downed power or utility lines since they might pose a danger. Avoid them and contact the utility provider immediately if you see anything suspicious.
- Never use a generator inside a home or garage, and never connect a generator directly to a home’s electrical system.
- Use WXII 12 App – If you want to stay up-to-date even if the power goes out, download the WXII 12 App.
In addition to local weather reports and predictions, you can watch live videos, check the latest headlines, and get the latest forecast updates.
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