Your Hurricane Preparedness Plan – Expect to Lose Power

If you live in an area of the country that occasionally experiences hurricanes or their effects – and Hurricane Sandy proved that could mean far away from coastlines – you know how devastating those storms can be.

These tropical cyclones, which occur in the north Atlantic Ocean and the northeast Pacific Ocean, have sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or stronger. Some have been recorded as high as 195 mph.

At the very center of the air circulation is the eye, inside of which it's relatively calm. But the strongest thunderstorms and winds circulate in the eye wall immediately surrounding the eye. When you're in the eye, you know you're just about to get hit with the ferocious eye wall at any moment. 

Today I'm going to give you some before, during, and after tips for dealing with hurricanes and other severe storms. I'm also going to share with you a way to save money while protecting yourself and your family.

Drenching, destructive, & deadly

The downsides to a hurricane – and there are plenty of them – are they can be very slow moving and can bring excessive amounts of water with them.

They can cause extensive and deadly flooding and are often accompanied by thunderstorms and tornadoes, plus sustained rains and winds. Hurricanes can knock out power for days or weeks, and cut off usable water supplies. 

The largest Atlantic hurricane on record as measured by diameter with winds spanning 1,100 miles, Sandy affected 24 states and caused an estimated $65 billion in damage in the U.S.

Katrina resulted in at least 1,833 deaths, making it one of the five deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history. Plus an estimated $81 billion in property damage.  

When it's heading your way

It's absolutely crucial that you and your family have an emergency response plan in place in case a hurricane or other severe storm heads your way. Having a 72-hour survival kit and your bug-out bag ready to go and knowing your evacuation routes will save you valuable time. 

One thing that is impractical to do in advance – but which you should be ready to start executing at a moment's notice when you hear a hurricane is heading your way – is preparing your home. This involves: 

  • Boarding up windows with plywood or installing storm shutters.
  • Securing your roof and siding to your houseframe with straps. 
  • Reinforcing garage doors, trimming long tree branches, and bringing outdoor furniture into your house.
  • Familiarizing yourself and your family with utility shut-off switches and valves in your house in case you need to evacuate.

Other activities you should engage in prior to a hurricane approaching your area are: 

  • Familiarize yourself with emergency routes and shelters. Print out those routes and keep them in your vehicle's glove compartment.
  • Make yourself aware of community shelters in your neighborhood just in case you need to use one.
  • Make sure your car has a full gas tank and that important items such as a first-aid kit are in your car.

During and after the storm 

During a hurricane or other severe storm, assuming there was no evacuation order and you decided to ride it out, monitor emergency radio and mainstream media reports.

Close your blinds and move your most valuable possessions away from windows, and then stay away from those windows. Close interior doors and remain in your home's interior rooms.

Once the storm has passed, continue to monitor weather reports. Try to use flashlights instead of candles if your power is out.

If you're returning after evacuating, keep an eye out for flooding, ruptured gas lines, and damaged structures. Be aware that water may have become contaminated. Report any damage sustained by your home to your insurance agent as soon as possible. 

Before I get into the dangerous flooding aspect of hurricanes and other severe storms, take a look at this short video from my buddy Matt that will tell you how to build a 72-hour emergency preparedness kit. 

Before flooding starts 

As previously mentioned, hurricanes and other severe storms can result in life-threatening flooding. Following are four action steps you can take before flooding occurs in order to be better prepared: 

  • Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood map site to discover whether you are in a flood plain and where the nearest high ground is located.
  • If you are a property owner, especially in an area prone to flooding, make sure you have sufficient flood insurance.
  • Acquire an emergency radio that tunes into reports from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. 
  • Practice your escape plan with your family. Going through the motions now will help when the time comes for the real thing. 

During flooding 

If flooding has already started or seems to be on the way, here are four steps you can take to protect yourself and your family: 

  • Because you may need to move to higher ground on short notice, tune into emergency radio and be ready to move quickly. 
  • If you're driving and you see standing water ahead, stop. Six inches of water is enough to stall out most cars, and it may be deeper than it appears. Same thing if you're on foot. Fast moving water can carry vehicles and people off.
  • Know the difference between a flood warning and a flood watch. If the situation appears to be worsening, stop what you're doing and get to higher ground right away. 
  • If there is time to evacuate your home, turn off all of your valves, unplug appliances, and move your most expensive items to the highest possible point of your home.

After flooding 

Following flooding, take the following four actions, keeping in mind the threat may only seem to be over: 

  • Don't walk into any standing water. There could be objects in the water that you can't see, including electrical wires.
  • Continue to listen to emergency radio. You may be informed of a secondary threat of which you were not aware.
  • Keep your eyes focused on potential hazards, including broken glass, downed power lines, ruptured gas lines, and damaged structures. And keep in mind that standing floodwater could be contaminated by gas, oil, sewage, or chemicals.
  • Remain away from the area until city authorities declare that it is safe to return. 

 

Earlier I promised to reveal a way to save money while protecting yourself and your family. We're offering our bestselling solar generator – the Patriot Power Generator 1800 – and our best-selling survival food kit  –  the 3-Month Survival Food Kit – in a 'one-and-done' bundled deal. You heard me right.

A storm featuring power outages is not going to wait for you to get ready for it, so now is the time to prepare.

This generator with solar panel – which you can charge for free with the sun or with an electrical outlet – can power your fridge, freezer, and much more. Fume-free and silent, it's safe to use indoors.

In addition to this deal, easy payment plans are also available. Not to mention a 100% guaranteed money-back offer if you're not satisfied.

You can't lose with this deal on a vital piece of survival gear. But you and your family can certainly win. Here's how to get yours...   

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