The Truth Behind 12 Common Hurricane Myths
Hurricane season is almost here and Big Bags USA® wants to help you be prepared! Hurricane season runs from June to November. Just like any other weather system, tropical storms and hurricanes are unpredictable. While there are tools to track patterns and estimate possible outcomes each year, it's important to be prepared for anything that may come your way this hurricane season.
With that being said, there's a lot of information out there revolving around hurricanes, from how they work to what kind of damage they can do to how people should prepare. Big Bags USA® is here to shed some light on a few of these common hurricane myths:
One of the biggest dangers revolving around emergency situations is the lack of education. You should never underestimate a storm. While Category 5 hurricanes are said to be "stronger" in terms of wind speed, it doesn't necessarily mean they will cause more damage. Wind speeds are not the worst part of a storm, but rather water from storm surge and flooding, is more dangerous. In fact, some of the most destructive storms throughout history had lower wind speeds, but lots of flooding.
While people directly on the coastline may have a higher risk of storm damage, those living inland are not "safe" from the storm. Storms may first hit on the coast, but they can linger for days, dropping tons of rain inland. Strong winds, heavy rain, tornadoes, and inland flooding can spread hundreds of miles from the coast. Flooding, in particular, can happen anywhere, and it's important that people, both on the coast and inland, are aware of how flooding could affect them. Help your community be prepared by talking to your local officials about adding Big Bags USA® flood barriers to their hurricane and flood mitigation plans.
While you might be able to avoid getting caught in flood waters on the top floor, it's not a "safe place" during a hurricane. Wind speed increases with height and it's possible for windows to get busted out by those strong winds. In addition, rising water can make rescue nearly impossible. The best thing you can do is evacuate the area before the storm hits.
Even the smallest of hurricanes can be the most dangerous. The strength is determined by the wind speed. The amount of clouds surrounding a hurricane does not relate directly to the strength.
While storm surge is dangerous, more people are affected by inland flooding and flash floods. This is mainly due to the fact that they underestimate the power of moving water.
The type of storm doesn't determine the amount of rain that will accompany it. The amount of rain will depend on how fast the storm is moving and how much moisture it is holding.
Under no circumstances should you open a window during a hurricane. Not only will it create an opening for debris to fly into your home, but it will not relieve pressure. In fact, it will allow more air to enter your home faster, which could possibly cause your house to inflate like a balloon.
Unfortunately, your body weight isn't going to hold up when placed against the strong winds of a hurricane. All you're really doing by leaning on a window or door, is putting yourself in more danger. Instead, you should stay away from windows and doors, close all internal doors and brace all the exterior ones, and take refuge in a small interior room or hallway on the lowest level.
Tape isn't going to protect your windows in the event of a major hurricane. The time you would spend taping up your windows would be better spent installing storm shutters or boarding up your windows.
Whether it's tied down or not, a mobile home is not the place to be during a hurricane. Even if the frame is tied down, they're not as strong a regular home built from the ground up. If you live in a mobile home and a storm is approaching, it's best to just evacuate, whether an official evacuation has been ordered or not.
While this may work as a last resort, your bathtubs and sinks probably aren't the most sanitary places for holding drinking water. Instead, you should stock up on bottled water when a storm is headed your way. Save the bathtub and sink water to use for washing clothes, flushing toilets, etc.
While your homeowners policy may have coverage for the wind damage, most standard policies don't include coverage for flooding. A separate flood insurance policy is needed to cover any damages caused by flood waters. In addition, do you know how much coverage you get with your homeowners policy? When was the last time you had it updated? It's important that you ensure you have an adequate coverage amount to cover the replacement cost of both your home and its contents.
When it comes to flooding, whether its due to storm surge or heavy rains, Big Bags USA® is your solution. Our protective barrier systems are undeniably the fastest deployed flood barrier on the market! The Big Bags USA® flood control systems can handle the highest demands at a fraction of the costs normally associated with rapid deployed systems. Contact Big Bags USA® at 800-337-0537 to learn more about how we can help you with all your flood preparation and flood mitigation needs!
Hurricane Myths
With that being said, there's a lot of information out there revolving around hurricanes, from how they work to what kind of damage they can do to how people should prepare. Big Bags USA® is here to shed some light on a few of these common hurricane myths:
1. Tropical Storms and Category 1 Hurricanes are "No Big Deal."
One of the biggest dangers revolving around emergency situations is the lack of education. You should never underestimate a storm. While Category 5 hurricanes are said to be "stronger" in terms of wind speed, it doesn't necessarily mean they will cause more damage. Wind speeds are not the worst part of a storm, but rather water from storm surge and flooding, is more dangerous. In fact, some of the most destructive storms throughout history had lower wind speeds, but lots of flooding.
2. If You Live Inland, You Don't Need to Worry About Storms.
While people directly on the coastline may have a higher risk of storm damage, those living inland are not "safe" from the storm. Storms may first hit on the coast, but they can linger for days, dropping tons of rain inland. Strong winds, heavy rain, tornadoes, and inland flooding can spread hundreds of miles from the coast. Flooding, in particular, can happen anywhere, and it's important that people, both on the coast and inland, are aware of how flooding could affect them. Help your community be prepared by talking to your local officials about adding Big Bags USA® flood barriers to their hurricane and flood mitigation plans.
3. You're Safer on the Top Floor.
While you might be able to avoid getting caught in flood waters on the top floor, it's not a "safe place" during a hurricane. Wind speed increases with height and it's possible for windows to get busted out by those strong winds. In addition, rising water can make rescue nearly impossible. The best thing you can do is evacuate the area before the storm hits.
4. The Size of a Hurricane Determines It's Strength.
Even the smallest of hurricanes can be the most dangerous. The strength is determined by the wind speed. The amount of clouds surrounding a hurricane does not relate directly to the strength.
5. Storm Surge is the Deadliest Aspect of a Hurricane.
While storm surge is dangerous, more people are affected by inland flooding and flash floods. This is mainly due to the fact that they underestimate the power of moving water.
6. Hurricanes Bring More Rain Than Tropical Storms.
The type of storm doesn't determine the amount of rain that will accompany it. The amount of rain will depend on how fast the storm is moving and how much moisture it is holding.
7. Cracking a Window During a Hurricane Will Keep Your House from Exploding.
Under no circumstances should you open a window during a hurricane. Not only will it create an opening for debris to fly into your home, but it will not relieve pressure. In fact, it will allow more air to enter your home faster, which could possibly cause your house to inflate like a balloon.
8. Leaning Against Windows and Doors will Keep Them from Blowing Inward.
Unfortunately, your body weight isn't going to hold up when placed against the strong winds of a hurricane. All you're really doing by leaning on a window or door, is putting yourself in more danger. Instead, you should stay away from windows and doors, close all internal doors and brace all the exterior ones, and take refuge in a small interior room or hallway on the lowest level.
9. Taping Your Windows Will Protect Them from the Hurricane.
Tape isn't going to protect your windows in the event of a major hurricane. The time you would spend taping up your windows would be better spent installing storm shutters or boarding up your windows.
10. A Tied-Down Mobile Home is Safe During a Hurricane.
Whether it's tied down or not, a mobile home is not the place to be during a hurricane. Even if the frame is tied down, they're not as strong a regular home built from the ground up. If you live in a mobile home and a storm is approaching, it's best to just evacuate, whether an official evacuation has been ordered or not.
11. Fill Your Bathtub So You Have Drinking Water.
While this may work as a last resort, your bathtubs and sinks probably aren't the most sanitary places for holding drinking water. Instead, you should stock up on bottled water when a storm is headed your way. Save the bathtub and sink water to use for washing clothes, flushing toilets, etc.
12. My Homeowners Insurance will Cover Damages from a Hurricane.
While your homeowners policy may have coverage for the wind damage, most standard policies don't include coverage for flooding. A separate flood insurance policy is needed to cover any damages caused by flood waters. In addition, do you know how much coverage you get with your homeowners policy? When was the last time you had it updated? It's important that you ensure you have an adequate coverage amount to cover the replacement cost of both your home and its contents.
When it comes to flooding, whether its due to storm surge or heavy rains, Big Bags USA® is your solution. Our protective barrier systems are undeniably the fastest deployed flood barrier on the market! The Big Bags USA® flood control systems can handle the highest demands at a fraction of the costs normally associated with rapid deployed systems. Contact Big Bags USA® at 800-337-0537 to learn more about how we can help you with all your flood preparation and flood mitigation needs!
If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.
If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.
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