A hurricane, or tropical cyclone, is a well-organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that forms over warm tropical waters and rotates around a well-defined center. Hurricanes can generate a variety of severe dangers, including torrential rains, storm surges, damaging winds, and tornadoes. While storms can be lethal, planning and preparing can help lessen the likelihood of injury and significant property damage.
What can I do before a hurricane?
These storm preparedness tips will give you more information and help keep your family safe and damage to your property to a minimum.
Maintain clean gutters, downpipes, and drains.
During heavy rainfall, leaves and other debris can accumulate in gutters, clogging downpipes. Overflowing water can cause damage to the foundations of your home, pull gutters away from the roof, and result in mildew and structural damage. Prevent this by cleaning your gutters regularly. Additionally, this is an opportunity to inspect for missing roof tiles or loose sheet cladding that could come loose in high winds.
Prune overhanging tree branches.
Maintaining the health of garden trees can help prevent damage from falling branches and boughs or even uprooted trees. Consult your local council’s tree trimming guidelines and leave large jobs to the professionals. Engaging the services of a trained tree surgeon is a far safer option than doing the task on your own.
Secure loose items.
Wind gusts in excess of 90 kilometers per hour can accompany severe storms, transforming commonplace objects such as garden furniture into lethal projectiles. Secure outside goods and bring cars indoors or away from trees as part of your storm preparedness. Remember that storms can strike while you are away, so keep outdoor areas tidy and stow away items that are prone to be picked up by strong winds rather than leaving them out in the open.
Keep an emergency storm kit on hand.
Storms can knock out power and water for several days. Having an emergency kit on hand can assist you in surviving until normal service is restored. Your storm kit should include prescriptions, a flashlight, a portable radio, spare batteries, a first-aid kit, food and water supplies, and blankets and clothing. Additionally, you might add crucial documents in waterproof containers in your kit.
Take precautions as the storm approaches.
Close windows and doors and bring pets inside as the storm approaches. Unplug electrical appliances and aerials and turn off circuit breakers. Storms are frequently brief, and while it may be tempting to watch the action, it is recommended to avoid windows in case of flying debris. Rather than that, keep an eye on the radio or the internet for local weather updates.
Consult your local authorities and emergency services.
Acquaint yourself with your community’s emergency plans, warning signs, evacuation routes, property restoration companies and emergency shelter locations. Additionally, local emergency services can educate you on the most prevalent forms of disasters in your area.
Conclusion
We have little time to build hurricane shelters or storm shutters when the National Weather Service issues a hurricane warning. On the other hand, hurricane preparation can put you one step ahead of the storm. These storm preparedness techniques can assist you in keeping your family safe while also minimizing damage to your property during a storm.
