Tips For Hurricane SurvivalDr. Bones, Contributor Certainly, these storms can be severe, but they dont have to be life-threatening. Unlike tornadoes, which can pop up suddenly, hurricanes are first identified when they are hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. We can watch their development and have a good idea of how bad it might get and how much time we have to get ready. Your family has to put together an effective plan of action with regards to shelter, food, power, and other important issues. If you do, even a Category 5 storm can be just a bump in the road and not the end of the road. Unlike some disaster scenarios, you can actually outrun one of these storms if you get enough of a head start. Thats actually one of your most important decisions: Should you hit the road, Jack? Is it time to get out of Dodge? If you live on the coast or in an area that floods often, there will be rising waters (known as the storm surge) that might be enough of an issue to leave. The authorities will issue an evacuation order in many cases. If you live in pre-fabricated housing, such as a trailer, or near the coast, it might just be a good idea. Cities may no longer have plans for civil defense, but they still do for hurricane in regions at risk. Oftentimes, the municipality will assign a hurricane-resistant public building in your own community that will be designated an official shelter. In any case, this is the time to check out that bug-out bag of yours to make sure its ready to go. Although most people pack for 72 hours off the grid, that number is relatively arbitrary; be prepared to at least have a weeks supply of food and drinking water, as well as (my favorite) medical supplies. Usually, you will not be told to leave your homes (except in the cases mentioned above). As such, your planning will determine how much damage you sustain and how much risk you place yourself in. You should have an idea of what your homes weak spots are. Do you know what amount of sustained wind your structure can withstand? I do. Since South Florida was devastated by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, new homes in South Florida must have the strength to withstand 125 mph winds. Most homes, however, are made to handle 90 mph (Category 1 hurricane strength is 74 mph, but a category 2 or greater will exceed 90 mph). If the coming storm has sustained winds over that level, you may not be able to depend on the structural integrity of your home. (By the way, the most hurricane-proof building design: the Geodesic Dome) Make provisions for any animals you will be sheltering and move all outdoor furniture and potted plants either inside the house or up against the outside wall, preferably secured with chains. Dont forget to batten down the hatches (put up the hurricane shutters). One special issue for South Floridians is coconuts: They turn into cannonballs in a hurricane. Cut them off the tree before the winds come. Interestingly, the palm trees themselves, as they dont have a dense crown, seem to weather most high winds without a problem. Trees with dense crowns should be pruned to allow wind through and all dead branches removed. Indoor planning is important, as well. Communications may be out in a major storm, so have one of those NOAA weather radios and lots of fresh batteries. Turn your refrigerator/freezer down to its coldest settings, so that food wont spoil right away if the power fails. Coolers filled with ice will extend the life of some of your more perishable items. Move furniture away from any windows that arent securely shuttered. Fill up gas and propane tanks early in every hurricane season. Make sure that you know how to shut off the electricity, gas and water, if necessary, and perhaps consider getting a generator and some extra gas cans. Theres another kind of power you should be concerned about. In the aftermath of a storm, credit card verification may be down; without cash, you may have no purchasing power at all. Some items less often considered include having foot and head bolts on double entry doors, and a dead bolt with a longer bolt throw length. There are ways to increase roof uplift resistance as well, simply by using wood adhesive. See:http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/retrofit/roof.shtml. Of course, have some waterproof tarps available, in case of lost shingles, etc. The roofers are going to be pretty busy after a major storm, and might not get to you right away. In South Florida after Wilma, there were still blue tarps on roofs more than a year later. If youve hunkered down in your home during the storm, make sure that youve got books, board games, and light sources for when the power goes down. Kids (and most adults) go stir crazy when stuck inside, especially if they dont have TVs or computers in service. Heres where you will finally be thankful for those hand-held gaming devices. Take time to discuss the coming storm in advance; this will give everyone an idea of what to expect, and keep fear down to a minimum. Give the kids some responsibility, as well. Give them the opportunity to pack their own bag or select games to play. This will keep their minds busy and their nerves calm. If youre prepared, you already have a head start on any hurricane that may come your way. Get everyone on the same page with Plans A, B, and C. The storm will have come and gone shortly, get ready now and youll make sure it doesnt take you with it! You can support this information by voting on Reddit HERE This article first appeared at Doom and Bloom Dr. Bones, Joseph Alton, M.D., is a medical doctor and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He writes about medical preparedness for times of trouble, and is, along with his wife Amy Alton, a nurse-midwife, the co-author of The Doom and Bloom(tm) Survival Medicine Handbook, and well as a contributor to Survivalist, Backwoods Home, and other magazines related to survival and homesteading. Together they host the Doom and Bloom(tm) Hour radio show on the Preparedness Radio Network, as Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy. Dr. and Ms. Alton use pseudonyms so that they can be free to give medical strategies for collapse situations that sometimes are contrary to the conventional medical wisdom. linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 