If you are one of the many dashing to the grocery store to get your staples before the hurricane hits Northern Virginia… Be prepared for the insanity of manic people in the store.
The sky may be hazing up and the clouds may be darkening, but this is not dooms day, people. We do not need to run through the aisles shouting that “there is more bottled water over here, man” and we don’t need to shove to get to the bar that separates your groceries from mine… we’ve already found our groceries. Calm yourself, Virginia. Calm yourself. If we can make it through two rare earthquakes in a week, I’m pretty sure we can make it through a hurricane.
I don’t know why people get so manic when they hear about being prepared for things. You, too, can be proactive when it comes to home safety. I am going to outline some wonderful things you can do to prepare yourself and your home for the hurricane situation, whether it is now, or in the future. This morning, I even sent out a Hurricane Safety sheet to my friends, colleagues and clients. I hope it will help them stay safe and weather the storm. Yes, a hurricane pun. You knew it was coming. Much like this category 3 hurricane that is headed for the East Coast as we speak.
Around the house:
- Take down your big patio umbrella- you don’t want that bad boy getting whisked away and taking the patio table with it!
- Put the patio table and chairs in storage if possible.
- Take down your wind-chimes and bird feeders if you can and bring them inside.
- Secure your shutters.
- Sandbag your drains property so that they will not flood.
Inside the house:
- Stock up on your non-perishable foods keeping in mind that the utilities might go out. Grilling may be an option!
- Purchase bottled water in case water becomes non-potable.
- Fill your bathtub with water so you can flush the toilet, etc.
Allied Barton Securities put together a great single page flier that said ” Create an emergency kit with enough supplies for
three to seven days. Include at least one gallon of water daily per person, non-perishable packaged or canned food and juices, handheld can opener, cooking tools/fuel, paper plates and plastic utensils, blankets and pillows, seasonal clothing and rain gear, a first-aid kit, medications and prescriptions, toiletries, battery operated flashlights and radio with spare batteries, and cash because banks and ATMs may not be available. Make sure your cell phone is fully charged, propane tanks are full as well as your vehicle’s gas tank.
Great links to check out for more good tips:
Hurricane preparedness tips from FEMA
More Hurricane preparedness tips from The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Note that during a hurricane, evacuate immediately if told to do so. All this being said, remaining calm is so important. This is a great way to become prepared for any situation. Even if we don’t get hit by Hurricane Irene as badly as the weather folks think we might… being proactive in any situation is a great way to stay safe.
If you have any hurricane tips or stories, let me know about them on Facebook!
