10 Ways To Prepare For A South Florida Hurricane

10 Ways To Prepare For A South Florida Hurricane

Rule # 1, Have A Plan

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Florida is a hurricane-prone state. Luckily, the state knows this is a problem and has your back. Lots of local resources go to great ends to help. The Post recently published a hurricane prep kit, however, this Guide will show you how to prep your house. Remember, there have been tragedies in Florida like The Okeechobee Hurricane in September 1928.The hurricane left the state with 2,500 fatalities.  

Boynton Beach is “America’s Gateway to the Gulfstream.”  This city in Palm Beach County is within Florida’s hurricane high risk zone. Since 1930, 86 hurricanes have hit Boynton Beach. Hurricane Irene in 1999 was the largest hurricane. Hurricane Anna in 2015 also brought severe damage to Boynton Beach. Hurricane Irma in 2017 also did not spare Boynton Beach or other areas of Palm beach county.

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Hurricane Irma stormed through the state of Florida in September 20017 flooding streets and causing power outrage in most part of the state.  Irma was a made landfall as a Category 4 but later weakened to Category 2 but not until its strong winds and storm surge wreaked havoc by knocking down palm trees, destroying many homes.
Boynton Beach ranks as the 15th city most affected by hurricanes and storms based on the 2016 list of 152 islands and cities in coastal United States, the Caribbean Islands and Mexico. 
Every year, many states in the United States experience strong winds, heavy rains, and storm surges brought about by hurricanes and tropical storms. 
The hurricane season in the Atlantic which includes the city of Boynton Beach is from June 1 to November 30 peaking between the middle of August up to late October. 

Hurricane Preparedness

First, Call your local affordable handyman in Boynton Beach. With the entire Palm Beach County including the city of Boynton Beach is also along the path of a hurricane, the city has asked its residents to take a proactive approach so they can survive the hurricane season with minimal effects. 
Preparing for a hurricane is something Boynton Beach residents need to have topmost in the mind. Since it is a situation that is most likely to happen every year, it is best to be always prepared. 

1. Have an Evacuation Plan.

Create a family hurricane survival plan. An Evacuation Plan should be number one on your list. Residents often have to evacuate to safer grounds so as not to be caught off guard when a storm surge occurs. A storm surge is water rising to as much as 20 feet and spanning the coastlines for as far as hundreds of miles. 
Your evacuation plan should include:

• Know where to go. Local governments inform residents in advance about the location of evacuation centers and the best and safest routes to take from your home to these centers.
• Have an emergency communication plan for your family.
• Assemble a Survival Bag including

Have your family practice the evacuation plan and the evacuation route. 

1. Be Prepared to Make a Decision

Be informed of the possible impact of the hurricane. Be prepared to make a decision of whether to stay at home or move to an evacuation center. 
Prepare on staying at home by having sufficient supplies for the entire family for at least five days.
Prepare on moving to the evacuation center by having your Survival Kit Bag.

1. Double Check Your Insurance Coverage

Flooding is not always part of a standard home insurance coverage. Make sure to include flooding in your home insurance especially so when you live along the coastline. If you don’t, still buy flooding insurance because even the slightest of rain can cause some flooding.

1. Prepare Emergency Supplies

Prepare two different sets of supplies. One set is for when you and your family need to go to the evacuation and another set is for when you decide to stay right home.

• Emergency Kit for Evacuation Center

• Cellphone with charger that is battery operated
• Battery operated radio and extra batteries
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Cash
• Food for each family member good for 3 days.
• Clothes for at least 2 changes
• Medicines
• Sleeping bags, blankets, pillow, cots
• - Photocopies of important documents
• Identification
• Playing cards, games, books
• Whistles for each member of the family
• Map

• Emergency Supplies if Staying at Home

• First aid Kit
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• Food for at least 3 days that do not need to be refrigerated and cooked. ( canned meats, canned vegetables, dried or canned fruits, canned juice, jelly, peanut butter, protein/energy bars, salt-free crackers, cookies, dry cereal etc.)
• Water for at least 3 days (stored in plastic containers and at least 1 gallon per person per day)
• Cellphone with battery operated charger
• Small fire extinguisher
• Medicines
• Personal Hygiene products
• Whistles for each member of the family
• Candles
• Rain gear
• Sturdy boots
• Plastic sheets for valuable documents
• Garbage bags
• Plastic buckets
• Coal Stoves in good working condition
• Coal and kerosene.

Should you decide to wait for the hurricane a home, have your family’s Emergency Kit nearby. You may just need to transfer to the Evacuation Center. 

1. Prepare and Protect Your Home

Prepare your home for a hurricane if you plan to stay home and even if you decide to move to an evacuation center. Preparing and protecting your home will minimize damage which the hurricane may cause. 
Here are the things you need to check. Should repairs be necessary, immediately get in touch with your local handyman.

• Reinforce and secure doors, windows and roofs.
• Have all loose shingles repaired
• Ensure galvanized sheets on the roof are securely fastened
• Clean clogged gutters of debris
• Secure downspouts and rain gutters
• Have all structural issues of your home repaired
• Pack-up things in your yard that can be carried away by the strong winds.
• Hammer plywood sheets on over all windows for protection against flying debris. You can also have storm shutters installed.
• Trim damaged tree branches
• Learn how to turn off your water supply, electricity and natural gas.
• Try to build a FEMA safe room (a hardened structure built to meet the standards of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for protection during extreme weather conditions such as tornadoes and hurricanes.
• Move furniture far from windows

1. Photocopy Important Documents

Have all important documents photo-copied including home and car insurances, property proofs of ownership, marriage contract, birth certificates, school records and other important documents. Store them in a hurricane-safe kit and place them in a safe location. They should be easy to pick up just in case you decide to move to the evacuation center. 

1. Have a List of Emergency Contact Numbers

It is important to have a list of all emergency numbers in your neighborhood just in case you need to be rescued or need updates.

• Emergency Management Office
• County Public Safety Fire/ Rescue
• County Law Enforcement
• Local American Red Cross
• Local Hospitals
• Town/ City / County / State Government
• Local Utilities
• Local Radio Station
• Local TV Station
• Property insurance Agent

1. Plan for Your Pets, too

While planning on getting your home and family members prepared for a hurricane, you need to prepare some things for your pet/pets, too. Have a photo of your pet in your Emergency Survival Kit just in case he gets lost. Also have his vaccination information handy. 
Nor all emergency shelters or evacuation centers will take in animals so make arrangements for temporary shelter for your pet just in case you decide to move to an evacuation center. Fasten a pet collar with a phone number that needs to be contacted just in case your pet gets lost. 
You should also prepare an Emergency Kit for your pets to include:

• Dog food
• Water for at least 3 days
• Pillow or blanket
• Litter box
• Non-perishable food
• Carrier/ crate
• Favorite toy
• Leash

1. How to Keep Your Kids Entertained

Keep the kids involved so know what is going on and they will not panic or get scared. Let them help as much as is possible while you are preparing your home for the hurricane. 
Have them pack their own emergency kit, too. They should pack their favorite toy, playing cards, papers, crayons, markers, colored pencils and their favorite snack. They should also have their own flashlight and whistle. 
Talk to your child about the incoming storm or hurricane. Research the web and read with them why a storm or hurricane happens and what to expect. The more they know about hurricanes and storms they will not be as scared of the coming disaster. 

1. Stay Informed

Before the hurricane always stay informed on the latest news so you know when to take the right actions. Most cities give emergency notifications either through text messages or email. Stay tuned to the radio or TV to receive the latest news. Know the numbers to call when you need emergency updates. 

There are a lot of things you need to do to prepare for a hurricane. No matter how tedious the task may be it is better to prepared rather than to be sorry. Should you need some repairs some repairs to be done in your home in preparation for the hurricane, call the handyman and rest assured he will have your home in top shape to minimize the effects of the hurricane.