Tropical Storm Barry is steadily making his way towards to Gulf Coast, and if some meteorologist predictions are correct, he will be a hurricane by the time he makes landfall. This is bad news for Louisiana who is already experiencing flooding.
It could be disastrous if Barry sits over the state instead of moving on, as the Mississippi River is already at high levels.
Being prepared for the first hurricane to make US landfall is important, and in the coming months, we can expect to see even more. Hurricane preparedness is serious and important. These tips will help keep you and your family safe in the event of a hurricane emergency.
We rely on our phones for everything, but if your power goes out for an extended period of time, you might not have that luxury. In your hurricane prep kit, you should have a battery-operated radio and plenty of spare batteries.
Radio is still the way that the government is going to send out emergency notifications, and it will also be the cheapest and easiest solution to the problem. Write down the main local stations – both for music to entertain you, and local news – and use clear tape to secure it to the back or bottom of the radio.
Don’t think that soda, juice, or tea is a good substitution for water. When you’re getting your kit ready, you need to make sure you have plenty of clean, safe drinking water – at least one gallon of water per person, per day, with a minimum of a three days supply, is recommended at all times.
So for you, your spouse, and one child you should have at least nine gallons of water on hand. This is for consumption, sterilization, and more.
Soda and juice seem like good alternatives, and they can be a nice ‘treat’ for you to enjoy when the power is out and the damage is over, but soda won’t sterilize a wound, you can’t cook in it, and it certainly won’t hydrate you!
In your prep kit, you should have a list of vital emergency contacts. The numbers for local hospitals, TV stations, radio stations, law enforcement, emergency management systems, the American Red Cross, and all of your utility providers should be included.
In addition, we recommend having your insurance agent’s phone number listed as well! The sooner you can get a claim into it, the better off you will be.
Make sure your whole family is on board with your plan, and everyone understands their role. What happens when an evacuation order goes out? If you get separated, where do you meet up? Phone lines are not always working, and cell towers often go out in a storm!
What will happen to your pets? They’re family, too – you can’t leave them alone to die.
And what about flooding? At what point do you seek higher ground?
Seriously! As a final tip, we’re going to share a secret – keep an emergency ax in the attic.
Stories of people drowning at the top floor of their home due to intense flood surges are rare, but they happen. It’s absolutely possible to seek higher ground in your home and become trapped. An ax will allow you to break through the roof and go on top of your home, a last-ditch effort but an important one!
