Hurricane season, just knowing a destructive storm could make its way to your area anytime within these six months can bring feelings of fear and anxiety.
But there are things you can do now to prepare and help alleviate those feelings of dread.
Evacuation plan
First things first, know your zone. Check and make sure you know when to evacuate your area.
Develop an evacuation plan and share this plan with your family and friends. It’s always good to have several routes to take.
And remember, you don’t have to evacuate to an area hundreds of miles away, just somewhere outside of the flood prone area.
Assemble your hurricane kit
From knocking out your electricity for weeks to making your water supply undrinkable, storms can bring unpredictable impacts.
Assemble a kit to prepare for the worse, and have enough supplies to last each person in your family for at least three days.
(iStock)
Some items to include in your kit are:
- Non-perishable foods for family and pets
- Water
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Prescription and non-prescription medications
- Cash
- Maps
For a complete list of what you should pack in your hurricane kit, click here.
Check your insurance
Call your insurance company and check that you have enough insurance to cover home repairs or replacement. If you need separate flood insurance, sign up now, as it usually takes a month for it to go into effect.
Also, document your belongings just in case you need to file for a claim down the road.
Prep your home
You don’t have to board up your windows now, but cut the wood to size so this way, you only have to nail them in when a storm is on the way.
Install storm shutters and hurricane proof your exterior doors and garage door.
(AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Cut branches and trees that could snap easily, replace rocky landscaping materials and clean up any other debris around your home. Strong winds from tropical systems can turn these objects into missiles, damaging your home.
Click here for other home prep tips and what to do if you own a mobile home or boat.
Prepare no matter what
No matter how many tropical storms or hurricanes we see this season, remember it only takes one storm to make it a bad season.
Hurricane categories should also not sway your thoughts on what to prepare.
Hurricanes at or above a Category 3 aren’t the only destructive storms. Category 1 and 2 hurricanes and even tropical storms can also cause devastating flooding and damage.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.