Are You Prepared for a Hurricane?

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There are a few key steps that you can take to ensure the preparedness of your household.
Hurricane Preparedness Checklist
According to the CDC, there are a few things tasks that you need to complete prior to a hurricane disaster. The sooner you complete the items on this list, the sooner you will be prepared to face any potential disaster.

  • Post a complete list of emergency phone numbers by phones. (These emergency numbers should also be in each family member’s cell phone.)
  • Determine the best escape route from your home.
  • Find your home’s safest spots.
  • Teach every family member how to shut off your home’s water, gas, and electricity.
  • Get a fire extinguisher, and ensure that every family member knows how to use it.
  • Fit your home with smoke detectors, paying special attention to bedrooms and fire hazards like ovens and clothes dryers.
  • Invest in first aid and CPR classes for your family.
  • Check to make sure that your home is protected with a complete home insurance policy.

Gather Your Emergency Hurricane Supplies
You know the drill: every time a hurricane threatens, everyone runs to the store to buy out their entire stock of bottled water, bread, and batteries. If you prepare now, you can ensure that you have the supplies that you need without a frantic last minute trip to the store.
At a minimum, your hurricane emergency kit should include:

  • A three to five day supply of water for your family (about five gallons a person).
  • Three to five days worth of nonperishable foods for your family.
  • A good first aid kit and its manual.
  • A flashlight and battery powered radio (and extra batteries for each).
  • Sleeping bags and/or blankets.
  • Water purifying supplies.
  • Prescriptions and other special medications.
  • Disposable cleaning cloths.
  • Personal hygiene supplies.
  • A vehicle emergency kit for your cars.

Make sure that this kit is well maintained, and that it is kept in a central location in your home for easy access. All family members should know where this kit is, what it contains, and how to use each of the items in it.
When a Hurricane Threatens
Once you get notified that a hurricane is on the way, stay calm. Since your emergency kit is already prepared, there are only a few other tasks that you must perform in order to prepare:

  • Make sure that your vehicle is filled with gas and is placed in a secure area, under cover.
  • Stay tuned to your radio or television for weather updates and warnings.
  • Secure any items outside of your home – you don’t want them to become projectiles in high winds.
  • Fill sinks and bathtubs with water as a backup.
  • Adjust your refrigerator and freezer to their coolest settings. If there is a power loss, your food will last a bit longer.

Remember – safety is key when it comes to protecting your family from a disaster. Investing some time into preparing now will help you to ensure your family is safe and sound when a hurricane inevitably heads your way. Call Vargas & Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655 to discuss your various home protection coverages well in advance of any announced hurricane.
Photo credit: roger4336 / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

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