As the new hurricanes prepare to form in the oceans, we are once again anticipating the worst that can happen. Each year at the beginning of the season, meteorologists announce the names; we recall our horrifying and animated hurricane memories amongst friends and family and habitually wait last minute to find solutions.
Signs of rain draw near; we begin to run hardware stocks dry, scramble for tin items, join what is to be a line to fill gas tanks and condition our minds to lift shovels and brooms in the aftermath. Everything seems fine. But there’s just one problem. We made little to no preparation regarding what to do when the hurricane actually strikes.
Let us remember that the greatest threat to personal safety exists during the hurricane. Flash floods and storm surge as a result of it, pose dangerous and sometimes deadly threats. To stay safe during a hurricane, it is suggested that individuals think about and apply these steps:
Stay away from windows and glass infrastructure:
As the hurricane violently charges on land and rips through light posts and trees and pretty much everything outside, you want to be out of its way! Being at the window or glass door may just put you in great danger, even if it’s bolted with what is thought to be durable material. Debris moving with great force through the air can sometimes make your external preparation look useless; so ensure you’re in a safe spot, away from any openings. It’s best to stay in an interior room, a closet or bathroom on the lower level.
Do not go outside:
There are times we are tempted to experience the hurricane full on by stepping outside. This is ill-advised as winds at high speed and flooding may just lead to your detriment. There are also times we believe the hurricane has passed and it’s safe to venture outdoors because the amount of rainfall significantly drops. Bear in mind that before the eye of a hurricane passes, there is calm. On the other side of the eye though, there is usually a buildup of heavier winds and rain. You never know when the rain will return. Don’t try to find out for yourself by stepping out the door.
Stay away from low lying and flood prone areas:
Often times, the hurricane will result in floods; based on your area you have the responsibility to make the preparations to leave if your house lies in any of the two aforementioned. Try to move as many household items to a place on higher grounds even before the rain arrives. Seek a shelter, so that during the hurricane, you remain dry and ultimately, safe. Refrain from going back to the house to check up in the rain and be sure to make provisions for your pets too.
Monitor electronics:
At this time, having a battery-powered radio in your possession is of utmost importance. Ensure you’re tuned in for weather conditions and updates throughout the natural disaster. However, for other electronic devices and appliances, it is recommended that they are turned off and unplugged. Just as lightning travels through phone wires, it also travels through electrical wiring. Not only is it important to unplug electrical items to protect you from getting shocked, but you also want to be sure you have your devices working well after the hurricane.
Avoid bathing in bathtubs and washing plates:
During the hurricane, using stored water in plastic buckets to bathe and eating from plastic dishes and cups are probably the safest choices. Lightning may enter a structure by traveling through plumbing. Items such as metal pipes and sewages are known to be great electricity conductors and the water they carry may also contain impurities that accommodate electricity. The last thing you would want to happen is being electrocuted, worse, in a hurricane.
So as we enter the first couple months of this rainy season, let’s remember taking precautions during the hurricane is just as important as preparing for it and picking up the pieces afterwards.