Hurricane Preparation

What is a hurricane?

Understanding hurricanes is the first step in hurricane preparation. A hurricane is a severe, rotating oceanic weather system that has maximum winds in excess of 119 km per hour or 74 mph. It is created and strengthens over tropical oceanic regions. Hurricanes are generally smaller around 500 km in diameter as compared to mid latitude storms and occur near the ocean surface, air spirals in counterclockwise direction. Due to its height, the cyclonic circulation weakens and eventually at the top of the storm it turns clockwise.

Things to do during a hurricane warning:

If a hurricane warning is issued, there are a few basic steps you need to follow as part of hurricane preparation:

Get current updates from your local news or radio channels or from weather.com. Ensure you have a battery powered radio. Keep your emergency supplies kit, sleeping bags, and blankets handy with you. Get your pets and children indoors. Inform your family's emergency contact person about your plans. Ensure your car's fuel tank is full and you have extra cash in hand. Bring loose objects near your house inside. Secure all windows with ply or shutters. Place all records and valuables in a waterproof container and place it at the highest point in your house.

How do you get ready for an evacuation?

As part of hurricane preparation, local authorities might ask you to evacuate. In that case you need to follow certain procedures:

Turn off water taps, switch off and unplug all electrical appliances. Switch off the main fuse. Pack your family's emergency supplies kit, sleeping bags, and blankets. Bring photocopies of important documents like insurance policies and photos of your home's contents. Lock doors and windows before leaving. Evacuate as per routes advised to avoid crowded roads or flooded and washed away roads and bridges.

What to do if you aren't told to evacuate?

If you are not advised to evacuate, hopefully you should have had ample time get supplies as part of hurricane preparation.

Here are some tips you also may want to consider: Stay at home. Leave the roads for those who have been advised to evacuate. Clean the bathtub using bleach and fill it with water for cleaning and washing. Set the temperature of the fridge to maximum and close it. If advised by local authorities turn off utilities like water and power.

During a hurricane if you can't get out, stay inside your house, away from doors and windows and take shelter under something sturdy like a staircase or large piece of furniture.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a great source to keep updated during a hurricane threat. (NOAA)