Preparing For a Hurricane

News of an impending hurricane, or tropical cyclone, can send a community into panic mode, with people rushing to stores to gather hurricane supplies and swarming gas stations to ensure they have enough gas to weather the storm.

Preparing in advance for hurricane season - by stocking up on storm supplies and establishing a hurricane plan - can lessen the stress that is associated with dangerous hurricane weather. It will also give you more time to make last-minute preparations to your home.

If a hurricane is projected to hit your area, remain calm and focused and evaluate your hurricane checklist.

Here are some safety concerns to consider as a hurricane approaches:

• Survey your yard for any loose objects, such as planters, tools or tree branches that could become "missiles" in high winds.
• Remove all loose limbs from your trees and make sure the branches are properly disposed of.
• Install specialized hurricane shutters or invest in 5/8" thick marine plywood that can quickly be nailed over all windows. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) warns that placing tape on windows will not prevent them from breaking.
• Turn off and unplug all electrical appliances as the storm approaches.

To view more examples of our work, visit the Sample Content section of our website. And to learn more about hurricanes and storm survival, read our sample article.