The 20th century was the decade of coal, as we used this natural resource to power our economies and become a fully industrialized society. Unfortunately, the burning of fossil fuels has led to climate change across the globe, with our days getting warmer and the ice caps melting.
On top of this, we have seen more dramatic weather conditions with many areas experiencing more storms and increased rainfall. Well, now hurricane season is nearly upon us, it is that time of year when we have to think about securing our properties and making sure that our loved ones stay safe and sound, as each year the hurricanes seem to get stronger and become more frequent.
To ensure that you are all safe, we are now going to take a look at how to prepare for hurricane season.3
Secure Your Property
The first thing you need to do is to hurricane proof your property so that you and your family are safe inside. All windows should be boarded up so that there is no danger of flying glass coming into your home, and anything that is moving in the garden should either be tied down or brought indoors.
The last thing you want is garden furniture battering against your house damaging it. Doors should be reinforced and any air gaps in your property should be filled to keep drafts to a minimum.
If you have any trees near your house then overhanging branches should be cut down, and if you live in a low lying area it is worth investing in a sump pump in case of flooding.
Buy a Generator
When storms hit, they arrive rapidly and with brute force, and they are often accompanied by a month’s worth of rain in a few hours. The upshot of this is that you are likely to lose power very quickly and it is likely it will take many days, if not weeks, for the authorities to repair the damaged grid and reconnect you to it.
The best way to safeguard against this is to invest in a power generator so that you have a ready supply of electricity. There are many different models on the market so it is worth reading a Generator blog in order to find the right model for your needs.
The last thing you want is to be unable to keep warm or feed your family during a hurricane, so do the sensible thing and invest in a generator.
Stock Emergency Supplies
When storms hit, nobody has any idea how long the effects will last for. Local infrastructure can be destroyed and flooding can be so severe that you cannot leave your house. In this scenario, it is important that you have all the supplies that you will need to survive for several weeks.
Freshwater is the most important thing as you cannot live without it, and second to this is non-perishable foods such as tins and dried pulses which provide great nutrition yet will also last for many years.
Food and drink aren’t all that we need, it is also important to make sure you have a full first aid kit in case of any injuries, and all necessary prescription drugs, as it is unlikely the emergency services will be able to reach you during a hurricane.
Insurance
Insurance may not be at the top of your list of priorities when a hurricane is heading your way, but it should definitely not be forgotten as the financial effects of storm damage can be crippling.
Before any storm arrives, call your insurers and double-check that you are fully covered for any eventualities. Insurers often change the terms and conditions of your policies to suit themselves, so it really is crucial to have them clarify exactly what is covered before any storm arrives, and if there are uninsured items, you should consider purchasing extra cover.
There may well be an excess involved, and it may pay to have this removed especially if the storm heading your way looks particularly severe, as you do not want to be paying the first part of a hefty repair bill.
As we have discovered it is extremely important that you are well prepared for an oncoming hurricane. Your house should be boarded up to prevent any damage from flying glass and make sure that you have plenty of provisions as you could be stuck in your home for several weeks.
A backup power generator is vital so that you can keep warm and can cook food, and make sure that your insurance is up to date as you don’t want any nasty surprises that could leave you out of pocket!
