Hurricane Preparation list # 1

 at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days

Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel
— paper plates / plastic utensils

Blankets / Pillows, etc.

Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes

First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs

Special Items - for babies and the elderly

Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes

Flashlight / Batteries

Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio ********Recently available at Food Lion Grocery Stores*******

Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set

Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods

Keys

Toys, Books and Games

Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag
— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.

Tools - keep a set with you during the storm

Vehicle fuel tanks filled

Pet care items
— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water
— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash
 

Hurricane Preparation #2


Tools & Materials:

* Bottled water
* Non-perishable foods
* Batteries
* Prescription medications
* Blankets
* Essentials for infants
* Manual can opener
* Appropriate gas storage container
* Important documents and insurance information
* Asphalt shingle tabs
* Roofing cement
* Roofing tacks
* Hammer
* Extension ladder
* Caulking gun
* Construction adhesive
* Pry bar
* Tarp
* ½-inch, 5/8-inch or ¾-inch plywood
* Cordless screwdriver
* Wood screws, hurricane clips or masonry fasteners
* Circular saw
* Saw horses
* Tape measure
* Masonry anchors
* Several 2x4's

Thinking Ahead
Generally, the idea of a house is to provide shelter and protection for you and your family, but in truth often our homes become more important than that to us. When the extreme conditions of a hurricane threaten our homes it's easy to confuse priorities so here's a gentle reminder...It's OK to look after your home but protect yourself and your family first. If you're asked to evacuate... then evacuate. If you're staying put, think about the following. First, identify a safe room in your home. It should be on the lowest level of your home, away from windows, but with easy access to an exit. That's the next thing... have an escape plan and make sure everyone in the home knows what that plan is. Exterior doors that open outward could be blocked by tree limbs or debris so it's important to know which ones open outward and which ones open inward. When threatened by a hurricane we're reminded to stock up on bottled water, non-perishable food, batteries, prescription medications and even gas for the car, but don't forget the other items that might easily be overlooked... Like a manual can opener for example. An electric one won't do you much good if you're stuck without power. Charge up all cell phones and look into another way to recharge them if you don't have a generator. A gizmo that works on disposable alkaline batteries would certainly come in handy.

Roofing Considerations
When looking for ways to protect your home from the effects of a hurricane keep in mind that one of the most vulnerable areas to the high winds is your roof, and if it's covered with asphalt shingles like most homes – pay particular attention here. The problem with an asphalt shingled roof is that when wind gets under the shingles they tend to bend backwards. If they're old and brittle this is when they break, but even if they're not, the strong winds of a hurricane can simply peel them off the roof. Short of replacing your roof with a different material, the only real solution is to try to keep the wind from bending them back. Asphalt shingles are designed with factory applied adhesive that's supposed to keep them stuck together once they're installed, but there are a number of reasons why this doesn't always work... So if you can easily lift a shingle tab with your hand you may want to give it a little help... apply a couple globs of roofing cement under each loose tab. It'll make a big difference, but be careful not to bend the tabs back too far or you risk breaking them yourself. If you find shingles that are already damaged go ahead and replace them before the wind picks up. Finally, keep some roofing tacks and a large tarp or two handy in case you need an emergency cover up after the storm.

Of course it's not just the outer skin of shingles on a roof, but also the sheathing and framing that are vulnerable during a hurricane. If the shingles blow off the roof there will be water damage to the home, but if the uplift of the wind removes the plywood sheathing then the whole structure is compromised. Most of the time the sheathing is simply held in place with nails, but you can boost things up by running a bead of construction adhesive along both sides of the rafters or trusses where they meet the sheathing. This is a time and labor intensive job but the adhesive is pretty cheap and tests have shown that this method can increase a roof's resistance to uplift by as much as three times the conventional method of using nails alone. For tight spots apply the adhesive to the flat sides of quarter round molding and press it into the corner between the rafter and decking. Gables are another area of concern. If they fail the wind can rush through the attic and cause all kinds of damage. The good news is that the walls can be strengthened pretty easily by adding braces to make them more rigid and tie them back into the rest of the interior framing.

Protecting Windows & Doors
When people are trying to protect their homes from the effects of a hurricane one of the first things they think about if it's not the roof is the windows and doors. If you live in a hurricane prone area and are thinking well in advance you might consider replacing existing windows and doors with impact resistant ones which are designed to stop the kind of flying debris that's common in a hurricane. If you haven't planned that far ahead or new windows and doors simply aren't in your budget you can still protect the openings in your home. In fact, ordinary plywood makes a pretty effective barrier. You'll want a minimum of ½-inch plywood, although 5/8 or ¾-inch is even better. If your windows are surrounded by wood you can simply cut the plywood to cover the opening and secure it with wood screws every 12-inches or so. For brick or stucco openings you'll need to buy special clips to secure the plywood or use masonry fasteners. In either case, start early! Waiting until you're in the projected path of a storm will mean long lines and limited supplies in stores. So make your measurements, buy your materials and cut your panels well in advance while the weather is calm. That way you'll have plenty of time to make other preparations if you get the word that a storm is approaching.

Garage Door Preparation
One of the areas of the home that is often overlooked when making preparations is the garage. Let's face it unless by chance you collect classic cars, it usually isn't a priority. Unfortunately, what many homeowners don't realize is that the garage has the largest opening and is the least prepared for hurricane force winds. If the door of an attached garage fails during a hurricane it can compromise your entire house so it really doesn't matter whether you have valuables stored here or not, you want to protect this opening. If you're buying a NEW garage door look for one that's reinforced to offer this kind of protection or one that offers extra bracing that can be added to the closed door to reinforce it when a storm is expected. Reinforcing an existing door will increase the weight which means the lift springs will have to be adjusted... a job best done by a pro. But you can create your own temporary bracing with a little lumber and some hardware. Attach a 2X4 to the floor with masonry anchors and use it to provide support for two or three vertical supports which can then be connected to the wall above the door. Just make sure that the door operator is disconnected while the bracing is in place. Trying to open the door could damage it and the operator.

Preparing for a hurricane is not something we want to think about but if you do find yourself in the projected path of a hurricane – be smart, think ahead and protect yourself.