Houston Hurricane Survival Tips
With all of this unexpected rain we’ve been getting lately in our little Houston area I thought now would be a great time to post a few helpful tips on preparing for hurricane season! Even if you’re not expecting to get any significant damage to your home, it’s always better to be more prepared than not. Hurricane season lasts from June 1st-November 30th.
To begin preparing, you should put together an emergency kit full of non-perishable, essential items and make a family communication plan in case of an emergency. Tip: use a large plastic storage bin with a lid to store all emergency items- it’s durable and will be easy to transport.
Ensure that you have a battery powered radio on hand along with extra replacement batteries. This will be useful if your power goes out during the storm and you need to listen to the radio for further storm updates/evacuation instructions.
Learn your 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 if necessary by knowing the elevation level of your home and whether the land is flood-prone. Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
Weather-proof your home by securing all windows, cleaning out rain gutters and spouts, and trimming surrounding trees and shrubs. Also, plan on bringing in any lawn furniture or decorations unless you have a way to safely secure them outside.
If you have children in school, make sure that you know the school’s storm emergency procedures and that you talk to your kids about your family’s plan in case of an emergency.
If you own a boat, determine how and where to secure it. The safest place for a boat during a hurricane is on land- preferably in a garage or storage unit.
Consider installing a generator for emergencies.
Refer to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Ready.gov/hurricanes for comprehensive information on hurricane preparedness at home and in your community.
