If you’re a Florida native, you’ve been around hurricanes all of your life. And while familiarity with them doesn’t make them any less terrifying, you have at least had the experience with them and have learned the best and most efficient ways to prepare for them. However, if you’re new to the area, hurricane season probably seems like nothing other than a daunting experience, and you might not know where to begin when it comes to preparation.
Stay In the Know
The first step of preparation is staying informed about the current and future weather patterns. The closer you pay attention on an everyday basis, the less you’ll panic when a hurricane is on the horizon.
You can sign up for alerts from the National Weather Service, through the community, and through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They also make a specialized radio called NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) that will alert you to all weather-related hazards.
You should also familiarize yourself with the various terms that are used to define hurricane conditions and storm escalations.
- Tropical Storm or Hurricane Advisory is issued when the National Weather Service (NWS) expects conditions to cause significant inconveniences that may be hazardous but non-life-threatening.
- Tropical Storm or Hurricane Watch—A watch is issued by the NWS when a tropical storm or hurricane is possible within the next 48 hours. Tune in to your local weather station to obtain current information about the developing situation. At this point, you should also get your emergency supplies in order, make sure devices are charged, and waterproof any important documents.
- Tropical Storm or Hurricane Warning—The NWS will issue a warning when it expects a tropical storm or hurricane to hit within 36 hours. During a Warning, complete your storm preparations for yourself and your home, and pay close attention to evacuation orders. Leave immediately if directed to do so by local officials.
Stay Prepared
The key to weathering any kind of storm is making sure that you’re always prepared for one. This doesn’t mean living in fear; it just means that you have done as much preparation before the storm hits so that you don’t need to stress out about it at the moment. Here are some of our top preparation tips:
Prepare Your Home
If you live in a coastal region of Florida, then your hurricane encounters will be more common than you might like. One way to protect your home from high winds, slanted rain, and debris flying around is with hurricane shutters. They’ll help to protect the window panes from damage which is one more way to keep water out of your home.
Prepare Your Family
Do you have an emergency kit that is pre-packed and ready to go? If not, this is your sign to make one. Emergency kits are great to have for any natural disaster, and they contain all of the essential items you would need to survive without power or a steady food source.
Contact Our Team
Even with all of the preparation and materials in the world, there’s only so much you can do to protect your home from a hurricane or tropical storm. At a certain point, you have to prioritize the health and safety of yourself and your family and get out of there. If this happens to you, and you come home to water and storm-damaged home, don’t panic. While it’s a stressful scenario, you can rest easier knowing that you have a team of compassionate professionals on your team to help you recover from the damage.
Visit our website today or give us a call at (888) 408-2335 to learn more about the services we offer and for more helpful resources and guides.