Preparing for a Hurricane

Hurricane Preparedness – Be Ready for the Worst

For people living in the Caribbean, Gulf Coast, and East Coast regions of the United States hurricanes are a fact of life.  

Hurricane Maria Aerial View

With Hurricanes Harvey, Florence, Irma, and Maria in everyone’s recent memory, preparedness is paramount. If you live in an area where hurricanes occur, it’s crucial to plan ahead and take action before hurricane season begins.  The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. 

When Maria occurred in Puerto Rico, many people were ill-prepared or were still recovering from Irma. Supplies were scarce, grocery store shelves were empty and finding water and gasoline were nearly impossible a few days before Maria struck and for a week or two after the devastation.  

In most locations people are told to prepare for at least three days worth of water/food. In Puerto Rico, and after two hurricanes within two weeks of one another, people are now being told to stock up for at least 3 weeks. 

With that in mind, we’ve put together this compendium of what you need to know and do to be ready.

Hurricane Categories and Tropical Storms 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a hurricane, also known as a tropical cyclone, is a storm that forms over the ocean and attains maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph.  

The term “tropical storm” refers to the same storm system but with maximum winds reaching between 39 and 74 mph. Any less than 39 mph and it is classified as a tropical depression. 

Knowing the difference between these categories can help you determine how seriously it might affect your area, and what steps to take to prepare. 

Hurricanes, based on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, are classified into five categories based on their wind speed, ranging from Class 1, with winds of 74-95mph, to Class 5, with winds of over 157 mph. For a thorough description of how each category can cause damage to different types of structures, read the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale Extensive Table. 

INFORMATION ON PREPARING FOR A HURRICANE 

BEFORE THE STORM 

  1. Keep a list of emergency contacts: police, fire, hospitals, local TV/radio stations. Know where the nearest hospital is. Know the evacuation routes where you live. 
  2. Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. 
  3. Keep a basic disaster supplies kit and survival tools that includes the following:  
    • Food: dried, canned, and non-perishable foods are best. Military rations (MREs) are also recommended
    • Water: at least 1 gallon, per person or pet, per day
    • Water filter
    • Water treatment tablets: Here are some good options for water treatment tablets.
    • Prescription medication
    • First aid kit: To include bandages, gauze, painkillers, triangular bandages, splint, adhesive tape, first aid manual, soap, disinfectant, antibiotic wipes, scissors, safety pins, thermometer, mouthpiece for CPR
    • Garbage bags: for lining coolers/garbage cans to save clean water
    • Food and water for pets
    • Medical records
    • Change of clothes for each family member
    • Solar or hand-crank radio
    • Cash
    • Spare batteries
    • Solar lights: Here are some good solar light options. 
    • Matches, Lighter
    • Books/games for kids
    • Can opener
    • Local map
    • Gasoline
    • Portable Gas Stove
    • Whistle 
  4. It is recommended to have at least one gallon of water, per person or pet, per day. Store water in a cool, dark place. 
  5. It is recommended to have food and water supplies for at least 10 days. In Puerto Rico, the government is recommending that people have enough food to last 3 weeks. 
  6. If you own animals, have a plan for how you will take care of them. Know where the nearest veterinarian is located. 
  7. Talk to your children about hurricanes. Explain to your child what could happen in the event of a hurricane, using simple, age-appropriate words. The trauma of not knowing where friends and family are and if they’re okay can be scarring to young children, especially after witnessing a powerful force of nature. It can help to explain prior to the weather event that you may not be able to contact friends or family for some time. 

WHEN A STORM IS COMING 

1) Evacuate if instructed to do so. 

2) If a hurricane is forecast, secure everything that might be blown around or torn loose. Flying objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture can injure people and damage property. 

  • Remove items from patios or balconies;
  • Secure storm shutters. Board up windows if there are no storm shutters;
  • Declutter gutters and drains. Install check valves in plumbing to prevent backups. 

3) If you cannot evacuate, use garbage bags to line garbage cans and fill them with clean water. Water service may be unavailable for days, weeks, or months. This water can be used to shower and flush toilets. 

4) Line and fill other containers such as bathtubs and coolers with clean water. 

5) Find the nearest emergency shelter and consider waiting out the storm there if you feel that your house may not survive the storm. Look up to see if any FEMA safe rooms exist near you. 

DURING THE STORM 

  1. Stay inside, away from doors and windows. Keep pets inside as well. 
  2. If the eye of the hurricane passes over, there will be a lull in the wind lasting from two or three minutes to half an hour. Stay in a safe place. 
  3. Listen for reports from authorities on your portable radio. 
  4. Keep routines. Children experience comfort from rituals and routines, like a story before bedtime or special words spoken at mealtimes. If at all possible, keep these routines, even if you’re in temporary housing or eating fast food. 

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY 

Once the storm ends, it is often only the beginning of the journey for the communities that have been impacted. In some cases, it may be weeks or months before electricity and water services are restored. 

In the meanwhile, finding safe drinking water is one of the greatest challenges posed for individuals and families. Outbreaks of infections linked to water exposure are common- leptospirosis, E. Coli, giardia, and other parasites will likely be present in any areas that experienced flooding.  

Furthermore, direct support in the form of state or federal aid may take time to arrive, which means that communities will have to support one another in the meantime.  

Together Puerto Rico’s mission focuses heavily on distribution of water filters because we know that water is our most precious and vital resource. Below you can find information on water treatment. 

STAYING SAFE AFTER THE STORM 

1) Drink water that you know is not contaminated first.  

If necessary, suspicious water, such as cloudy water from regular faucets or water from streams or ponds, can be used after it has been treated. If water treatment is not possible, put off drinking suspicious water as long as possible, but do not become dehydrated. 

2) Water treatment methods: 

Boiling is the safest method of treating water. In a large pot or kettle, bring water to a rolling boil for one full minute, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate.

Filtration is the next best method to ensure water health and safety.

You can also use household liquid bleach to kill microorganisms. Use only regular household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 to 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented bleaches, color safe bleaches or bleaches with added cleaners. Add 16 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon of water, stir and let stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight bleach odor. If it doesn’t, then repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes. If it still does not smell of chlorine, discard it and find another source of water.

3) Never ration drinking water unless ordered to do so by authorities.  

Drink the amount you need today and try to find more for tomorrow. Minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool. 

4) Do not drink carbonated or caffeinated beverages instead of drinking water.  

Caffeinated drinks and alcohol dehydrate the body, which increases the need for drinking water. 

 5) Follow all curfews issued by local authorities. 

6) Only use generators outdoors and away from windows. 

7) Watch your child for changes in behavior, sleeping patterns, or eating habits. 

 Children may be afraid or anxious for a while after the hurricane. If you think they are extremely afraid, anxious or suffering post traumatically, seek professional help. 

THE EFFECT OF HURRICANES ON COMMUNITIES

In addition to the immediate damage to roads, infrastructure, businesses, and government facilities, longer-term damage to communities takes the form of economic disruption and population loss. For example, following Hurricane Maria, tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans left the island, dramatically changing the territory’s makeup.  

Part of the reason for this exodus was that most of the island did not have electricity for weeks, many for months, and some did not have access to water. Apartment buildings with no generators are unable to pump water to apartments; therefore, many people did not have water. 

Cases of stress related conditions such as PTSD are rampant among survivors of natural disasters and suicide rates went up dramatically. There is also the real danger of looting and lawlessness.  

Children especially may have a hard time dealing with trauma in the aftermath of a storm. According to the Department of Homeland Security, babies who have experienced trauma will cry more; teenagers may become more withdrawn or more prone to dangerous or risky behaviors. Preschool kids often get separation anxiety and may later “reenact the incident or the disaster over and over again.” School-age children may want to talk about the event continually and become intensely preoccupied with its minor details. It is a good idea to talk to children before a hurricane to let them know what is happening, and keep them informed during the storm as well. Because they respond to the energy of adults in the household, try as much as possible to remain calm. 

It is recommended that if you or anyone you know is experiencing PTSD that you seek professional help immediately. 

Economically, people’s livelihoods may be wiped away, leading to a loss of income. Many other businesses are forced to close due to a lack of customers in the years following a hurricane. The recovery from a tropical storm is truly a marathon and not a sprint.  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

 

 

 

 

 

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