Hurricanes are a big deal in the US. We might not have multiple hurricanes hitting the continent, but those that do are usually some of the strongest. Therefore, hurricane preparedness is mandatory in every household. If you want to mitigate the damages a significant hurricane can cause to your home, make sure to prepare for them.
Prepare Weeks in Advance
No one can stress this enough, but the amount of time you prepare for a hurricane can determine how much damage it can cost to your home and your family. Therefore, you need to be prepared weeks in advance, even way before they declare the hurricane’s perceived level.
Preparedness is all about prep time. The more time and money you put into your preparation, the more successful it would be. So consider having a budget for the next year dedicated primarily to natural disasters. If you’re looking for a budget, around $5,000 to $10,000 should be enough. If you don’t think that’s enough, consider getting insurance for your home.
Checklist
Here’s a checklist of items you’ll need when a hurricane hits:
- One gallon of water per person in your household.
- Non-perishable food such as canned goods for three to five days.
- First-aid kit.
- Heavy-duty flashlight and small flashlights for your children.
- Walkie-talkies.
- Extra batteries.
Make sure to budget for these items and get them weeks before the hurricane hits. It can determine your family’s survival once it does. Additionally, make sure to store these items in a heavy-duty bag to avoid contamination. You can find more of the necessities you will need for natural disasters on different government websites.
Mentally Prepare Yourself And Your Family
Your mental health is essential before a hurricane hits. You need to be calm and alert when it hits, so make sure to prepare yourself and your family for it through a couple of mental exercises. Practice breathing exercises together to alleviate anxiety. You can also do yoga to add physical activity to help attune your body and mind.
Play mind-stimulating games to ensure that you’re alert when the hurricane hits. More than anything else, get ample rest days before the hurricane’s landfall. A good night’s rest will make a difference because it’s going to be hard to get some sleep when the hurricane hits.
Prepare Your Home
Hurricanes cost billions of dollars in individual spending. So the next thing you need to do is prepare your home, so you wouldn’t need to spend as much money repairing it after. Your home is going to be the vanguard against the hurricane. So make sure to prepare it the best way you can.
Check your home’s foundations. See if there are any significant cracks on your walls. You’ll know if the damage is substantial if you can see the other side of the wall through the gap. This needs patching up immediately.
You should also check your plumbing. Test the water in your comfortable room and sinks all over your home. If the water doesn’t fully drain in five seconds, then you’re going to need plumbing services to help you out. The last thing you’d want during a hurricane is a clog since that’ll flood your home with rainwater.
Lastly, check outside your home. Check for holes on the wall, and make sure to double-check your windows and whether they are sturdy enough to handle a hurricane. Once again, check your home weeks in advance so you don’t end up making hasty repairs days before the hurricane hits.
The Aftermath
Once the inevitable happens, you’ll have to rebuild. Here’s what you need to do during the aftermath of the hurricane.
Fix Your Home Immediately
Your home will take most of the damage during a hurricane, so you must get it fixed immediately. Get repairs for water damage if your home has experienced some flooding. If you see some spots on your ceiling containing water, get it repaired immediately. This will cost more harm than good in the long run.
Fixing your home right after the weather event will ensure that you have a safe place to stay after the storm. You certainly don’t want your family to remain in an evacuation area for weeks to come.
Get Debriefing
After a hurricane, you must get some debriefing. Check the news on the internet if you have a connection. It might be best to visit your local government centers for information if not. Some mental health professionals might also be willing to give you and your family psychological first-aid. This will help if the hurricane was a traumatic experience for your family.
Getting debriefing is going to give you the breathing room you need. It can help you collect your thoughts and regroup with your family. Fundamentally, you do this after a huge hurricane has hit your home.
Hurricanes are devastating. But with enough preparation, you can reduce the damage they can do to your home and your family. Make these preparations in advance, and make sure that you prepare for the aftermath of the hurricane as well.