Hoping that everyone in my hometown and state will stay safe and sound! My family and I survived through seven hurricanes and over a hundred tropical storms/sub tropical cyclones: here are some tips that we used to survive! Prepare for a week of no water and electricity!
If flooding is in your area, don’t take showers or drink any of the tap water! Try to avoid contact with floodwater. This is highly contaminated water; the floodwater goes everywhere (decomposing graves/animals, standstill bodies of water, highly fertilized areas, etc.) and contain insects and dangerous animals.
Turn your fridge and freezer at the coldest setting! Only open it if necessary. Keep the cold air trapped.
If you have space and electricity, keep gallon ziploc bags of (purified) water upright in your freezer! This will keep your freezer cold in case you no longer have electricity. Plus if purified, it is an extra supply of drinking water.
If the hurricane has not hit yet in your area, fill up your bathtub, sinks, and several buckets with water. This water can be used for flushing the toilet, washing dishes, bathing yourself, etc. If purified, that is an extra supply of water.
Your dishwater is a literal metal bunker! Keep important documents in here to stay dry: your passport, birth certificate, social security, wallet, money, insurance policies, identification. If you have to evacuate, it is important to take all these with you. Don’t worry if water gets inside your dishwasher, it will drain out at the bottom.
The same goes for your washing machine! Your washing machine is built is drain water, so stock it up with loads of ice and cold items. The ice water will all be drained away when it melts.
When phone lines are down, use walkie talkies. In the chance that you and your family get separated in an evacuation attempt or when the lights go out in the dark, walkie talkies have a long enough range to communicate with them.
When you have to evacuate, you should already have a bag filled with items that you really need. So state issued IDs, water, food, toiletries, flashlights, batteries, walkie talkies, radio, etc. Keep these items in a ziploc bag within your backpack or bag in case you have to wade through high waters.
Unplug any small appliances. Try to reduce the amount of flowing electricity and open wires/cords in your home in the case you have flooding.
In the case you have no electricity, use flashlights! Try to avoid using candles. When there is wind and flowing water, or in a moment of confusion, a candle can easily get knocked over and cause a fire. There will be little to no fire services in your area.
Even if your windows are boarded up with wood or metal barriers, keep away. The winds can climb up to more than 100 mph, but it is debris that the winds pick up that will most likely take down the barriers. Avoid rooms in your house (if you can) that have large windows. If you can’t, quickly do what you need to do and then leave.
If anyone can add on any tips for pets that would be great! (I don’t have any so I don’t know what is best for them.)
Feel free to add onto this list!
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