A hurricane is a severe storm, that forms in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico or in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes need warm tropical oceans, moisture and light winds above them. If the right conditions last long enough, a hurricane can produce violent winds, incredible waves, torrential rains and floods.
Hurricanes rotate in a counterclockwise direction around an "eye." Hurricanes have winds at least 74 miles per hour. There are on average six Atlantic hurricanes each year; over a 3-year period, approximately five hurricanes strike the United States coastline from Texas to Maine.
When hurricanes move onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars. The heavy waves are called a storm surge. Storm surge is very dangerous and a major reason why you MUST stay away from the ocean during a hurricane warning or hurricane.With hurricanes being as powerful as they are, it is not surprising that upon landfall they cause damage and destruction. Even when the hurricane has yet to make landfall, its effects can be dangerous. However, most of the damage caused to man and nature occur as a hurricane makes landfall. Strong Winds, Flooding, Storm Surge, Tornadoes, Rip Tides.
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| | Each of the above phenomena can turn a hurricane into a home-wrecker, a nature-destroyer, and even a killer. Some tropical storms that make landfall cause damage in these ways, but very rarely do they do so in as significant a manner as do hurricanes.
Assuming you choose to remain in your home during the storm, there are a number of steps you should take to stay as safe and comfortable as possible. But you need to be aware that during hurricanes, it is not the winds that cause the majority of death and destruction, but water/flooding from tidal surge. That is why there are mandatory evacuations. Once the tidal surge hits, there is no escape!- Board up all windows to help prevent broken windows, which will also help prevent further damage to the interior of your home, and will help prevent injury from broken glass.
- Secure all outdoor furniture to reduce the amount of damage to it, and to help prevent it from being thrown against your (or someone else's) home, and causing more damage to the exterior of the home and the outdoor furniture.
- Turn off gas to prevent gas leaks from broken or damaged gas lines.
- Stock up on battery powered flashlights, candles, and have a battery powered radio.
- Stock up on bottled water, as well as non-perishable foods that can be prepared and eaten without having to be cooked. Be sure to have enough food and water to last for everyone in the home for a week, including pets. And don't forget a can opener and a clean, sharp pocket knife.
- If you have an infant on a bottle, have enough bottles on hand so that you won't have to worry about how you can wash them if there is no clean water. And be sure to either have single use sized cans of formula, or an ice chest with plenty of ice to store any opened cans of formula.
- Stock up on anti-bacterial hand wipes, gel hand cleaners and paper towels in the event there is no water for washing or bathing.
- Have a two week supply of any prescription medications, as well as personal care items (tooth brushes and paste, hygiene products, etc.).
- Have a well stocked first aid kit in the event of injuries. Disinfectants, antiseptics, antibiotic creams, bandanges, cotton balls, aspirin, Tylenol, and a thermometer are some of the basics you need.
- Make sure all vehicles have a full gas tank.
- Have several changes of clothing for each member of the household, and if you have a baby still in diapers, have a two week supply on hand.
- Select the innermost part of your home, on the ground floor, to ride out the storm, but not a basement or cellar. In the event of flooding, being in those areas of your home may make it impossible to escape. Stay away from all windows and glass doors!
- Have mattresses, blankets, pillows, etc. already in place before the storm hits.
- It would also be a good idea to purchase a bedside commode in the event the water and plumbing is rendered out of order during the storm. You can line the receptacle bucket with small garbage bags to make clean-up much easier and more sanitary. These can be purchased from any medical supply store, as well as many drug stores.
- Have a supply of books, puzzles, toys, etc. in the event the electricity is off, especially if you have children.
- You may want to purchase a portable generator, which costs about $500 for an average sized one. This is especially important if someone in the household is on oxygen or other electrical powered medical equipment; it will also keep the foods in your refrigerator/freezer from spoiling in the event of an electrical outage. But if you do use a generator, be sure to follow all instructions and safety precautions that come with it, and do not operate it indoors (carbon monoxide!).
- Fill all bath tubs with clean water; it can be used for sponge baths, flushing toilets, etc. But if there are young children or pets in the home, be sure the door is kept securely closed at all times to prevent a child or pet from falling in the tub and drowning. A young child can drown in two inches of water!
- Go over emergency instructions with everyone in the household such as everyone staying together, away from all windows, etc.
- Also, if there are several members in the household, develop an "accounting system", where everyone is accounted for at all times in the event the storm gets really intense. Since tornadoes are common during hurricanes, this system is extremely important.
- Since water/flooding caused by tidal surge is the leading cause of death and destruction in hurricanes, it is crucial to be aware of your surroundings. If you observe water coming into your house, get to an upper floor immediately.
- If you have pets that stay outside, bring them in during the storm; they deserve safety and comfort, too.
- Have enough cash on hand to last for a while in the event you can't get to the bank or an ATM.
Do not wait until the last day to purchase supplies (food, water, etc.) or you run the risk of there being very little, or even none, of the supplies left that you need. It's a good idea to stock up on all non-perishables at the beginning of hurricane season.
It would also be a good idea to have a cell phone, fully charged, with you so you will have a way to call emergency services if needed, and to contact family/friends to let them know if you are all ok. Just keep in mind, though, that the cell towers may not be working for a while, so it would be a good idea to have a back-up plan to notify family/friends.So you've followed all the preparations – you've made a plan, you've filled up your car's gas tank, you've gathered all the supplies for your disaster kit and your valuable documents are tucked away in a waterproof container. Now what? No one has told you what to do now. How do you keep yourself and your family safe when the hurricane arrives? Make sure your windows are protected and your home is secured.Check your disaster supplies kit. Make sure you have water, non-perishable food, medications and don't forget that non-electric can opener.Clean containers for cleaning water. Line the bathtub with plastic sheeting or a clean shower curtain, or caulk the drain with silicone caulking — it holds water for weeks and cleans up easily when dry. Plan on three gallons per person, per day for all uses (including flushing the toilet). During the storm. Howling winds, driving rain and the threat of tornadoes make riding out a hurricane a scary ordeal. Follow these tips for staying safe in your home during a hurricane: - Stay inside and away from windows, skylights and glass doors. Find a safe area in your home (an interior room, a closet or bathroom on the lower level).
- If flooding threatens your home, turn off electricity at the main breaker.
- If you lose power, turn off major appliances such as the air conditioner and water heater to reduce damage.
- Do not use electrical appliances, including your computer.
- Do not go outside. If the eye of the storm passes over your area, there will be a short period of calm, but at the other side of the eye, the wind speed rapidly increases to hurricane force and will come from the opposite direction. Also, do not go outside to see "what the wind feels like." It is too easy to be hit by flying debris.
- Beware of lightning. Stay away from electrical equipment. Don't use the phone or take a bath/shower during the storm.
After the storm. Typically, more deaths occur after a hurricane than during. These deaths come from people being too anxious to get outside and survey the damage where they come into contact with downed power lines or unstable trees, etc. Follow these suggestions for staying safe after the hurricane:- Remain indoors until an official "all clear" is given.
- Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires of any kind under any circumstances. Stay away from puddles with wires in/near them. Do not touch trees or other objects in contact with power lines.
- USE PHONES ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES. Call 911 only for life-threatening situations.
- Call police or utility companies immediately to report hazards such as downed power lines, broken gas or water mains, overturned gas tanks, etc.
- Watch for weakened roads, bridges, tree limbs or porches which could collapse unexpectedly.
- After power is restored, check refrigerated food for spoilage. (Spoiled food is the cause of much sickness two days to a week after the storm.)
- When reinstalling a CB, TV or satelitte antenna, check in all directions to be sure no power lines are nearby. The same goes for climbing trees to clear debris.
- Do not operate charcoal grills, propane camping stoves or generators indoors.
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