The safest places to be during a hurricane

A depressing byproduct of global climate change is more and more powerful hurricanes. Case in point: Hurricane Helene is currently barreling toward Florida and the southeastern U.S., threatening to cause “unsurvivable” storm surges in some areas that will be powerful enough to sweep away buildings and flood potential escape routes.

It is now a fact that everyone who lives near the American coast is potentially at risk from these types of vicious storms. But you can keep yourself safer if you follow a few simple steps.

What are the safest places to be during a hurricane?

• First, get out of the hurricane’s path. The safest place when a hurricane approaches is somewhere else; so you should definitely evacuate when necessary. Hurricanes are not entirely predictable, but they are slow enough that evacuation is usually possible. Don’t be proud; follow storms while they are far away and leave Dodge when you are in danger. (Information on tracking hurricanes is below.)

• Go to a designated shelter: Sometimes residents are sent to shelters as hurricanes approach. If the municipality tells you to go there, do so. An ‘official’ shelter will almost certainly be safer than your home.

• Stay inside your house. If you have not been evacuated (because you are stubborn or because a shelter-in-place order has been issued), stay indoors. Hurricanes are powerful, fascinating storms, but resist the urge to go outside and experience them or try to batten down the hatches as the storm barrels toward you. It’s too late. Save yourself, not your garden furniture.

• Stay away from the windowS. Don’t look out the window during a hurricane. The winds of the storm can turn the glass in your windows into flying daggers of death in an instant.

• Go into a small inner room: The safest part of your house is the middle. You’re trying to avoid the shards of flying glass when your windows are blown in, so an interior room without windows is the best choice. It could be a hallway, a bathroom, a pantry, etc. Wherever you settle, make sure there are no heavy objects above you that could fall.

• Stay on the lowest floor: Avoid the upper floors of your home, as winds become stronger the higher you go, and during major hurricanes, roofs can be blown off or destroyed by blowing debris. The first floor (or better yet the basement) is stabilized by the foundation of your home.

• Stay in your home even longer: Be patient and don’t be fooled when the storm calms for a while. You are probably just in the eye of the hurricane and the strong winds are likely to pick up again. Listen to your radio and wait for local officials to say it’s okay to go outside.

Being cooped up in your home is the most dramatic and harrowing possibility for a hurricane, but you don’t want to end up there, so take some pre-hurricane preparation steps.

Know how hurricane emergency alerts work

Staying informed can help you and your family stay safe. You know whether you need to evacuate or whether it is safer to stay. Make sure your phone and backup burner phone are set up to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) from FEMA through the Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS). These are free 90-character texts that local authorities can send to mobile devices within range of cell towers in an affected area. You don’t have to register; Make sure your phones are updated and charged.

For more hurricane information, sign up for local public warning systems

Then do a search for your jurisdiction’s opt-in public alert system, like this: “(name of city, city or state) + emergency alerts” to see how to sign up. It’s also not a bad idea to contact your local emergency management or public safety agency. You can also receive alerts and warnings directly from the National Weather Service with a NOAA weather radio. Do your best to make sure everyone in the family can receive alerts and alerts, not just you.

What is the difference between a hurricane ‘advisory’, ‘watchful’ and ‘warning’?

Warnings aren’t much help if you don’t know what they mean. Here’s a quick overview of the hurricane and tropical storm warnings, via FEMA:

• Hurricane advice: The National Weather Service (NWS) issues this when they expect a storm to cause significant discomfort that could be dangerous but not life-threatening.

• Hurricane watch: NWS issues this if there is a possible hurricane within the next 48 hours. When you see a watch has been issued, turn on your NOAA weather radio, local radio, TV or other news source to stay informed. Double-check your emergency supplies and go-bag in case you need to retreat or evacuate.

• Hurricane warning: The NWS issues this if it expects a hurricane within the next 36 hours. Do everything listed in the Watch section and then prepare to evacuate if you are asked to do so.

These warnings could very well save your life, so take them seriously.

How to Prepare for a Hurricane Evacuation

It is possible that local authorities will tell you to evacuate the area, so you should be prepared to leave as quickly as possible. Here’s what you need to do to be ready:

• Have an evacuation plan: Learn your community’s evacuation plan or develop one yourself using suggested routes through your state’s Department of Transportation or Office of Emergency Management websites.

• Have a place to go: Notify family or friends you may be staying with, or find a nearby emergency shelter location using the FEMA mobile app. Designate a meeting place for everyone in case you split up.

• Prepare your vehicle: Fill your gas tank, load your car with basic emergency supplies and make sure it’s ready to go.

• Grab your go bag: Make sure your go-bag, or “bug-out” bag, is stocked with useful emergency supplies and keep them on hand. Make sure everyone in your family has one. If you don’t have one, do your best to throw one together now.

Make sure your evacuation plan takes into account everyone in your household, including pets. If authorities tell you to evacuate, do so immediately.

How to protect your home from a hurricane

If you have the time, prepare your home for high winds, heavy rain, and flying debris. That means strengthening doors and protecting windows. If you don’t, the wind can literally rip your roof off or cause your walls to collapse. Or at least destroy the inside of your home.

All windows, skylights and sliding glass doors must be covered. Plywood is the cheapest option, but must be installed properly. They know a lot about hurricanes in Florida, so here is the state’s guide to proper plywood installation in hurricane preparation.

DO NOT tape up your windows in hopes of protecting them. It is not very effective and this method can even create larger, more dangerous shards of glass if they break.

How to prepare your garden for a hurricane

Once you’ve covered all the openings, bring in all your loose items that are in your yard: patio furniture, trash cans, bicycles, toys, garden tools, etc. If something is too big to bring in, anchor it as best you can. you can go outside. Make sure your trees are pruned to prevent branches from crashing into your house. Disconnect the electronics and make sure all propane tanks are turned off.

Last but not least, prepare your home and property for possible flooding. Remove debris from your gutters and drains, boost your heating system, boiler and electrical panel, and don’t store easily damaged valuables in the basement or low places.

What to do after a hurricane

The danger is not over when the wind stops blowing. Here are some things to remember after a hurricane ends.

• Stay out of floodwaters: Do not walk or drive on a flooded street. Don’t think it would be funny to take out your paddleboard. That water is likely full of hazardous chemicals, human and animal waste, and probably cholera.

• Do not go near damaged buildings: Storm-damaged structures may collapse.

• Watch out for broken power lines: Strong winds can topple power lines and power lines can electrocute you. Prevent.

• Use generators safely: If you’re out of power but have a generator, make sure you know exactly how to use it safely. Do not run it indoors, otherwise CO2 can be fatal.

• Stay away from strange animals: Storms can free pets that may be wandering the post-apcolyptic wasteland that was once your neighborhood. Do not feed them, pet them or do anything other than call the authorities.

• Make sure your food and water are not contaminated: Discard food and drinks that have come into contact with flood water, or that smell or look suspicious.

• Follow the instructions of the municipal authorities: Listen to the emergency radio and be prepared to follow the directives of those in authority.