Hurricane Preparedness: Are You Ready?
Hurricane season is well underway now and while it's been relatively uneventful so far, that can easily change in an instant. Today's blog from Big Bags USA® focuses on the importance of hurricane & flood preparedness and steps you can take now to be prepared if and when a hurricane is headed for your community!
While forecasters are hard at work monitoring any severe weather activity, hurricanes have a mind of their own. It's important, especially during hurricane season, that you're prepared for whatever mother nature has in mind. That means creating a hurricane plan. If a hurricane is forecast to hit either on or near your community, what will you do? How will you protect yourself and your property? In the event of an evacuation, where will you go? These are all questions that you want to ask yourself now, before a hurricane is imminent. Make sure you not only know where you're going to go, but also how you're going to get there. Familiarize yourself with the local evacuation routes and make a plan.
Whether you're forced to evacuate or not, it's important you have an emergency supply kit prepared. You never know how severe the weather may be. From power outages to flooded roadways, you may not be able to leave your house. Therefore, it's important you have plenty of bottled water, canned food and other non-perishable food items, flashlights and batteries, blankets, etc. If an evacuation is ordered, make sure you have a supply kit ready to just grab and go. This should include a first aid kit, flashlight with batteries, some food and water, a blanket, extra cash, copies of important documents, a cellphone charger and anything else you think you may need in an emergency situation.
While most importantly you want to protect yourself and your family, you also want to protect your home and property from the effects of a hurricane. There are a variety of things you can do at home to mitigate hurricane damage. Heavy, damaging winds and high flood waters are both major issues when it comes to hurricanes. Start by trimming back branches away from your home and removing any dead limbs. This will help you avoid a tree branch flying into your home and causing damage. You'll also want to make sure your gutters and downspouts are both securely fastened and free of debris. This will allow heavy rain water to flow off your roof instead of puddling up and causing roof damage. Making sure the water is properly drained away from the foundation of your house will help prevent flooding. Another way to reduce the likelihood of property damage is by retrofitting to secure and reinforce the roof, windows and doors, including the garage doors. You might also consider investing in a generator, which will come in handy in the event you're trapped in your home without any power.
Being knowledgeable about hurricanes, how they work, what type of damage they do and what the risks are for the area you live in is the first step in hurricane preparedness. Big Bags USA® is here to help you be prepared for weather events, such as hurricanes, that lead to major flooding. Our innovative flood barrier systems are designed to not only protect your property, but also to divert water off roadways and help ensure traffic safety during flooding events. For more information on how Big Bags USA® can assist with your hurricane and flood mitigation plans, give us a call at 1-800-337-0537.
1. Make a Hurricane Plan.
While forecasters are hard at work monitoring any severe weather activity, hurricanes have a mind of their own. It's important, especially during hurricane season, that you're prepared for whatever mother nature has in mind. That means creating a hurricane plan. If a hurricane is forecast to hit either on or near your community, what will you do? How will you protect yourself and your property? In the event of an evacuation, where will you go? These are all questions that you want to ask yourself now, before a hurricane is imminent. Make sure you not only know where you're going to go, but also how you're going to get there. Familiarize yourself with the local evacuation routes and make a plan.
2. Put Together an Emergency Supply Kit.
Whether you're forced to evacuate or not, it's important you have an emergency supply kit prepared. You never know how severe the weather may be. From power outages to flooded roadways, you may not be able to leave your house. Therefore, it's important you have plenty of bottled water, canned food and other non-perishable food items, flashlights and batteries, blankets, etc. If an evacuation is ordered, make sure you have a supply kit ready to just grab and go. This should include a first aid kit, flashlight with batteries, some food and water, a blanket, extra cash, copies of important documents, a cellphone charger and anything else you think you may need in an emergency situation.
3. Prepare Your Home for High Winds and Heavy Rains.
While most importantly you want to protect yourself and your family, you also want to protect your home and property from the effects of a hurricane. There are a variety of things you can do at home to mitigate hurricane damage. Heavy, damaging winds and high flood waters are both major issues when it comes to hurricanes. Start by trimming back branches away from your home and removing any dead limbs. This will help you avoid a tree branch flying into your home and causing damage. You'll also want to make sure your gutters and downspouts are both securely fastened and free of debris. This will allow heavy rain water to flow off your roof instead of puddling up and causing roof damage. Making sure the water is properly drained away from the foundation of your house will help prevent flooding. Another way to reduce the likelihood of property damage is by retrofitting to secure and reinforce the roof, windows and doors, including the garage doors. You might also consider investing in a generator, which will come in handy in the event you're trapped in your home without any power.
Being knowledgeable about hurricanes, how they work, what type of damage they do and what the risks are for the area you live in is the first step in hurricane preparedness. Big Bags USA® is here to help you be prepared for weather events, such as hurricanes, that lead to major flooding. Our innovative flood barrier systems are designed to not only protect your property, but also to divert water off roadways and help ensure traffic safety during flooding events. For more information on how Big Bags USA® can assist with your hurricane and flood mitigation plans, give us a call at 1-800-337-0537.
MADE IN THE USA ~ 100% Manufactured in Missouri ~ BUY AMERICAN
MADE IN THE USA ~ 100% Manufactured in Missouri ~ BUY AMERICAN
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment