Early Season Preparation
The best time to prepare for a hurricane is before hurricane season begins. Add these early preparation tasks to your spring “To-Do” list while the weather is nice and supplies are plentiful.
Tasks:
Conduct a walk around of your property and complete minor repairs to avoid major problems during a storm, such as:
- Trim back or remove low hanging limbs
- Remove dead or dying trees
- Secure loose rain gutters and downspouts that are susceptible to wind damage
- Improve seals around windows
- Have a licensed contractor repair known roof leaks or replace missing shingles
- Clean gutters and clear clogs that could limit water flow in the event of torrential rain
- Take photos or video of the inside and outside of your home. This could become invaluable in the event of a major catastrophe
Stock Up on Supplies:
When a storm is imminent, supplies can be hard to come by. However, purchasing items early in the season can put you at ease. Some states even offer tax free holidays on the purchase of emergency preparedness supplies. Even if your state does not, you can still take advantage of sale opportunities to purchase:
- Mitigation materials to keep on hand such as tarps, nails, plywood, and garage door reinforcement kits
- Batteries, generators, flashlights, fans, phone chargers, first aid kits, water containers, coolers and weather radios
- Non-perishable items that will stay preserved for several months, such as canned goods, crackers, rice, pasta, etc.
- A current local map for evacuation route planning: don’t rely on GPS or your cell phone , as internet coverage may be unreliable immediately before or after a storm.
- Personal hygiene products
- An adequate supply of prescription medications: Some insurance policies will allow for up to a 90-day supply.
