Hurricane Preparedness - Isaac is Coming!

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With Hurricane Isaac headed toward the Gulf of Mexico, I wanted to remind my friends and neighbors to be safe and to be prepared for what might be coming.

Although the last predicted path has shown that it will probably not hit the Orlando area directly, we are likely to get heavy rain and winds, and maybe a tornado warning or two.

My dear friends in the Florida panhandle and other Gulf states, (Trisha, Lynsey, and others) may get hit much harder, so my thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.

With that in mind, here are some of the recommendations from FEMA to be prepared for the coming bad weather:

To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

Know your surroundings.

Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.

Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.

Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.

Make plans to secure your property:

Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.

Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.

Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.

Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.

Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.

Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.

Determine how and where to secure your boat.

Install a generator for emergencies.

If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor.

Consider building a safe room.

I hope all of you and your families are safe during the storm - and always.  Please check in with me here on the blog or on Facebook or Twitter to let me know you are safe.

For more information, check out the FEMA website.

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UPDATE:  My friend Lynsey at Moscato Mom has some exremely practical list of things to do to be prepared for a hurricane. Please head on over to her blog to read post, she has experience with hurricanes and makes a ton of sense.          

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