(RNN) - You may have the luxury of seeing a hurricane coming, but that doesn't mean you can wait until it arrives to prepare. Planning for a hurricane days before it arrives will keep you and your family safe.
According to ready.gov, the first things you should do are build an emergency kit, make a family communications plan and know your evacuation routes.
Some people choose to weather hurricanes and tropical storms at home, but if you change your mind or are forcibly evacuated, you need to know your evacuation plan. Included in it should be where to go, where to take shelter and when to leave so you don't get stuck in traffic or the storm itself while on the road.
Know where higher ground is located in case of flooding, which is a major risk with tropical storms and hurricanes, and know if your home is prone to flooding or is in a low-lying area.
Ready.gov advises there are a few simple things you can do around your home to prevent damage:
Cover all of your home's windows, either with storm shutters or 5/8" marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape will not prevent your windows from breaking.
Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame of your home.
Reinforce your garage doors.
Anything outside that is not tied down should be brought inside.
Unclog or clear all outdoor drains, rain gutters and downspouts.
Secure your home.
Lastly, you should check your insurance and make sure you have flood coverage. The days before a hurricane is too late, so you should prepare your insurance well ahead of time. Once a year, look over your insurance policies and make sure all of your important documents, such as passports or birth certificates, are in a waterproof container within easy reach of your emergency and evacuation kit.
Copyright 2012 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
Saturday, May 25 2013 7:00 AM EDT2013-05-25 11:00:14 GMT
(RNN) - An active six months is predicted for the 2013 North Atlantic hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center has called it an "extremely active"
An active six months is predicted for the 2013 North Atlantic hurricane season.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:46 PM EDT2013-05-25 01:46:35 GMT
The list of the names is a part of rotating lists of names. For example, the list used in 2012 is used in 2018. Each storm will be named alphabetically. The lists of names are chosen by World Meteorological
The names for the 2013 North Atlantic hurricane season.
An internal review says federal weather forecasts for Superstorm Sandy were exceptionally accurate last fall. But the warnings themselves were confusing.
Federal weather forecasts for Superstorm Sandy were exceptionally accurate last fall, but the warnings themselves were confusing, an internal review found.
Workers are set to begin demolishing perhaps the most famous symbol of Superstorm Sandy's devastation along New Jersey's shoreline.
Riding the Jet Star roller coaster as a girl vacationing at the Jersey shore, Nicole Jones said there was always that one breath-catching moment when the passenger cars swerved toward the ocean, as if threatening to dump...
Tuesday, April 30 2013 10:45 AM EDT2013-04-30 14:45:27 GMT
Six months since the Superstorm Sandy hit Connecticut's shores and tore down a number of homes in Milford this past November, the cleanup efforts continued Monday. Crooked porches, hanging roofs and busted
Six months since Superstorm Sandy hit Connecticut's shores and tore down a number of homes in Milford this past November, the cleanup efforts continued Monday.
Friday, April 26 2013 7:03 AM EDT2013-04-26 11:03:49 GMT
(RNN) - Most natural disasters come as a surprise to all homeowners, but not being covered can be surprising and costly when you aren't sufficiently insured. One major insurance company is aiding homeowners
For homeowners, the instance of having insurance is not the only part in being prepared for severe weather when it strikes.
Monday, April 15 2013 9:06 PM EDT2013-04-16 01:06:27 GMT
A new audit released Monday by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor says the state could be on the hook for hundreds of millions in disaster relief payback. The money was supposed to help property owners
A new audit released Monday by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor says the state could be on the hook for hundreds of millions in disaster relief payback. The money was supposed to help property owners recover from Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
Monday, April 8 2013 7:09 PM EDT2013-04-08 23:09:50 GMT
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Hurricane Season officially starts June 1st, but emergency management and disaster relief organizations are already hard at work getting ready for the season, saying the risk
Hurricane Season officially starts June 1st, but emergency management and disaster relief organizations are already hard at work getting ready for the season, saying the risk of a big storm is always there.
(RNN) - As Hurricane Sandy continues its roll towards the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, people in some of the nation's most populated cities have either evacuated hunkered down to ride out what has become
Sandy, no longer a hurricane, has made landfall along the southern coast of New Jersey.
Sunday, October 28 2012 7:34 PM EDT2012-10-28 23:34:19 GMT
You may have the luxury of seeing a hurricane coming, but that doesn't mean you can wait until it arrives to prepare. Days before a hurricane arrives you should plan for the major weather event to keep
Days before a hurricane arrives you should plan for the major weather event to keep you and your family safe.
