Know What to Do if You Enter an Area Affected by a Hurricane

Many states have experienced hurricanes and you should know what to do if you enter an area recently affected by one. Some of those states include Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Texas.  These states especially have experienced some of the costliest and deadliest hurricanes of all time.

A Force of Nature

In 2018 alone, 8 hurricanes formed in the Atlantic region. In 2017, many hurricane records were broken with a whopping 17 tropical storms resulting in 10 full blown hurricanes.

Hurricanes are extremely powerful forces of nature that can wreak havoc on a very large scale causing mass destruction and death. Normally, government agencies and non-profit organizations step in to evacuate areas with potential hurricane threats to avoid life loss and injuries. However, after the storm has passed, you still need to remain vigilant against the hidden dangers left behind by the hurricane while various business services work on rebuilding. Some may seem obvious but staying on the look out and knowing what to do could be critical to your safety.

Essential Safety Tips

Here are some tips for staying safe if you venture into an area recently affected by a hurricane:

• Don’t enter the area before officials allow you to. Officials monitor the situation in these areas and will not encourage people to return until they know it’s safe.
• Only drive in these areas if you have to, and if you do drive be sure to avoid flooded roads and damaged structures.
• There will be a lot of business services in the area doing important recovery work. Let them work and do not drive through areas where it could put them in danger.
• Take note of downed power lines as well as other potentially harmful debris that may exist, whether in standing water or not. Treat all power lines as if they have a current in them and be careful not to cut yourself on debris – this is a sure way to get an infected wound.
• Do not enter buildings still surrounded by floodwaters. They could be unstable, and as the water around or in them recedes the building could shift or collapse entirely.
• Be wary of gas leaks in and around buildings. Risky activity around these areas could spark a flame or cause damage to your body if you inhale enough gasses.