Hurricanes are the most impactful natural disaster that we face in the United States. . If you or someone you know is in or entering into this region, we want to make sure you know what to do when it happens.

This episode focuses on how to understand the information being provided by local and national weather services. Additionally, it will walk you through the 6 things to know to prepare for hurricane season and give an extra 15 things you need in every hurricane evacuation kit. Lastly, we will touch on the key documents you should never evacuate without.

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Notes from the Episode:

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1. Understand your risk

Be prepared with not only a plan to escape but a plan to come back and restore life to the way you want to live. This usually means carrying homeowner’s insurance and making sure that your coverage extends to hurricanes and floods. Remember Inland Flooding is usually associated with a hurricane, but flood insurance is not usually covered in standard homeowners’ coverage. Also, don’t forget that those riders usually take 30 days to become enforceable. That means that when you find out a hurricane is headed your way, it’s too late to add it. 

Most of the damage that is created from a hurricane is related to the Wind. Sustained winds of up to 190MPH can stir up quite a storm and can be felt miles inland. Boats, cars and even houses can be toppled in minutes. If you have a car you are leaving behind take care to garage them either at your residence or at a storage facility inland. Drydock boats if possible and we will get into how to prepare your house before evacuation in a later article. 

Although Wind is the most damaging, Storm Surge is the most deadly. Storm surge is the rising of the water level unrelated to precipitation. There are really two factors here, first is that the weight of all the air above the ocean is constantly pushing it down to what is thought of as it’s normal level. When a severe low-pressure front comes into play, there is less pressure on the ocean and there is a doming effect that happens allowing the water to rise above its normal level. 

The second part of the storm surge is the wind that is constantly pushing from the same angle at the waves. This causes an accumulating effect like the leaves in my backyard that tend to stack up by my fence. Together this storm surge has produced the largest loss of life due to a natural disaster when a hurricane claimed up to 12,000 lives in Galveston, Tx. 

If you don’t know which of these applies to you, check out this helpful tool for finding your evacuation zone: Find Your Evacuation Zone

2. Know your Plan

We will cover this in more detail, but it doesn’t hurt to start thinking about your route out and what impediments may fall in your way. Pay specific attention to rivers and bridges that will be on your path and pick alternates for each in case trouble strikes. Consider traffic on your way out and avoid major bottlenecks when possible like tunnels and bridges. 

3. Be Ready to Go

When the order is given to evacuate, don’t be the last one out. Finding supplies to batten up a house and long lines at gas stations and on roads are not the best method for staying safe. Have a bug-out kit ready that is easily loaded in the garage and leave early. It’s best to take an impromptu “vacation” to a relative and not have the storm hit your place than to stay put and ride it out.

4. Battening Your Home

I am going to go into this one in more detail, but for now, it’s best to keep supplies on hand for boarding up windows and securing your home. When an evacuation order is given, products will become scarce quickly. 

5. Help Others if you Can

Getting out of dodge is a great plan, but what about your elderly neighbor that can’t lift that sheet of plywood. Take care of your family, but then reflect on what if it were your mom or dad that needed some assistance in getting clear of the storm. If they are sheltering in place help them prepare and if they are evacuating make sure they are geared up and protected. It is our neighborhood, let’s be neighbors. 

6. Practice your plan

I can’t say this enough, if you don’t practice your execution you won’t be ready when the time comes. Professional football players don’t just study the plays and Broadway actors don’t just memorize their lines. They practice and rehearse. At least once a year your family should plan to load up the car and just go for one night as a surprise. Even if it is just to a neighbor’s house with your evacuation kit loaded up in the car, you should still practice the plan. 

Developing a Hurricane Evacuation Kit

What does it mean to evacuate? Lots of time driving in traffic, and a lack of fuel, food, and water along the way. If you don’t have a destination plan, you will probably spend some time in a Government provided shelter. What could go wrong?

Here is what you need to be prepared:

• Fuel – Don’t wait until the last minute to fuel up. If you can grab an extra gas can to bring with you and fill it up if possible. If you run out you will have a way to get more and if you brought extra with you, well then when the station you try to stop at is out of gas, that won’t be a problem to get to the next exit. As you drive, don’t let your tank below half. It sounds like a lot of stops, but you can be sure that all stations will have fuel of power to pump fuel. 

• Cash – The amount of cash you can carry is based on your lifestyle, but remember that with the number of people traveling there will become infrastructure issues with internet connectivity and power consumption. Be ready for restaurants and store credit card machines to be offline. I recommend denominations of $20 and smaller only. 

• Water – at least one gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days (Plus water for pets). If you don’t have or can’t carry with you that much water, consider bringing water purification methods that travel well like tablets or pumps so that you can be sure, especially when returning, that you are consuming potable water.
• Food – at least enough for three to seven days. If you are staying just outside of the evacuation area, storms and flooding can still occur so if your staying as a guest, don’t assume they will be able to cover you and your family for the days while the storm passes. Pack food that can be eaten in the car for the trip, plus breakfasts and entrees for when you arrive at your destination. Include food for infants and the elderly. Don’t forget a way to eat or open your food, so pack a non-electric can opener, paper plates, and plastic utensils. 
• Radio – battery-powered radio with extra batteries that can access the NOAA weather station.
• Bedding – If you are heading to a shelter some of the trappings of home will help you with the adjustments. Lack of sleep will exacerbate the stress levels leading to unhealthy responses. Try to ensure that you can get a good night’s sleep at your safe place.
• Clothing – Seasonally appropriate clothing should be packed for a duration of 3 days. Bring any rain gear you might have and closed-toe shoes. When arriving back after the hurricane there can be debris and you need to make sure you protect your feet.  
• First Aid Kit – You should assume that many medical first responders will be heading toward the storm after landfall to provide assistance. So the first responders remaining could be quite taxed with the influx in population. Ensure that you are ready to care for yourself with proper medical supplies. Ensure medicines are with you, This is not the time to need to get into a hospital because your needed medications are back at the house.
• Special items – This mostly pertains to babies and the elderly.  
  • Diapers
  • Food 
  • Supplies that are special to their age and physical needs

• Toiletries – hygiene is not only important in the way of preventing illness, but also as a means for normality and sense of comfort. Pack:
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Washcloth
  • Handsoap
  • Sanitizer
  • Shaving needs
  • Haircare items

• Flashlight and batteries – We hope you make it clear of the storm, but in some cases, you will not find hotel space along your route to your safe house or shelter and may need to weather a night in your car. Be prepared to not rely on the car battery power for any stays without the engine on as you will drain the battery. Don’t sleep with the engine running as you will run out of fuel and can have other issues that are not ventilating correctly. Pack a good flashlight or lantern. Preferably one that has a crank or solar recharger. Ensure you have extra batteries as well.
• Keys – When you secure your home, consider that your power may be out when you get home and your garage door will not open. If you have any keys to items off-property like safety-deposit boxes or safes, make sure you bring those as well. 
• Cell Phone – Keep in touch with loved ones, access maps, and weather updates.
  • Cell phone
  • Phone charging cord for your car
  • Phone cord wall adapter for the hotel/house
  • A backup battery or power stick
  • Solar phone charger

• Toys, books, non-electronic games – There is going to be some downtime and whether you have kids or not, even a deck of cards can go a long way.
  • Pet care items – During Katrina evacuation, ASPCA estimated that over 100,000 pets were left behind and nearly 70,000 of those perished. The remaining created issues for first responders who were encountering both animals that now needed saving deterring them from helping people in need and creating safety issues for them getting to the people in need. Be prepared to take your animal with you. 
    • Water – 1 gallon per day per animal. 
    • Food – 3-10 days worth of food. I always just keep one extra bag on hand which is good for shelter in place or loading up in the truck. 
    • Collar and Leash – Laws vary by county and private facilities. You are responsible for controlling your animal along the way. If your dog is like mine, on my property he doesn’t always wear a collar, so don’t forget that and a leash. 
    • proper identification/immunization records – If your dog has been licensed and treated, bring that paperwork with you. 

• Medicine

• Carrier or cage – There are pet-friendly hotels and evacuation shelters. Most will require your pet to be kenneled and to have the appropriate paperwork for vaccinations. Most shelters will not allow pets, but you will get turned away from “pet-friendly” shelters if you don’t have those items.

Documents to bring with you:

• Store important documents in a fire and waterproof container. This is ideally a portable safe. 
• Insurance papers
• Medical records
• Bank account numbers
• Social Security cards/Passports
• Deeds or mortgages
• Birth and marriage certificates
• Stocks and bonds
• Recent tax returns
• Wills 

Links

Fema Hurricane PDF: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1527015736946-1f1f8b5f3989072327dd54d5007c06cf/HurricaneV2.pdf

NOAA Stats: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf
National Hurricane Center: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov