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Today I was doing the belated "monthly" maintenance on the generator, making sure fresh gas hit the carb, checking oil, running electricity off it and making sure the starter battery was fully charged. All per the owner's manual. Then it dawned on me that the Atlantic "hurricane season" starts in 7 days and our Pacific season "officially" starts on June 1.
So what do YOU do to get prepared for hurricane season?
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The Atlantic just kicked up their first named storm of the season.
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To answer your question what do i do to get ready for hurricane season.
I make sure any loose objects like lawn furniture is secured away and things like that. Plus stock up on supplies and propane, things like that. I actually built wooden storm windows so I can shut them off during mean storms. I have had the glass rattle so hard with literal sideways rain it will come right through your seals. I have been through several hurricanes over the past 34 years, not fun. There have been some pretty bad storms too. I remember one time it rained for four months straight non-stop. The flood to get to my cabin was up to my knees. So, it is a good idea to get ready, thanks for reminding us [  ]
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After last seasons issues, I have had some tree guys out in the last couple weeks, removing any trees that are suspect as to sturdiness. Not wanting to go thru that again. Also cut plywood to fit over all of the louvered windows. I used stainless steel screw in studs and pre-drilled the plywood so it can slide right on, secured by stainless steel wing-nuts. Will take just a couple minutes per window now to install when a storm is imminent. Going to paint the plywood to match the house too, not so much for looks but to keep the plywood in good shape for several seasons.
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Also if you have leftover gas from last season, the Sta-bil is wearing off. Time to put it in your car and get fresh gas for the genny.
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"Going to paint the plywood to match the house too, not so much for looks but to keep the plywood in good shape for several seasons."
Take that a step further and paint it to look like there are windows with stuff and people inside and the thieves will think you're home and loot the next place.
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I go through my hurricane kit and make sure it is up to date and nothing expired, or needs changing (like medications).
At this time of year, will rotate propane tanks so 2 of 3 always totally full.
Update solar lighting options. This year adding solar cell phone charger.
Trim trim trim landscaping back....
Seriously it is almost too late to get everything done when it gets to the point that a storm is approaching in a few days. so do it now.
As for the plywood option, we only do the important windows (we could spend 2 days just doing ply). Otherwise we open them completely up as storm approaches. (My husband's tornado alley upbringing but dont know if it matters.)
In the two-three day window - I take anything breakable down from where it is and make my laundry basket nests for that stuff. And yet I always miss something like my pony tail palm in a pot during Iselle. But hey it survived even after the big crash.
Also get pet carriers ready if you have pets. Some people want their pet with them as we did nestled in with us through the storm and some animals are better contained. Better to be ready and not use than not be ready.
Also time to go through 5 day go bag (i used to do it for 3 days but expanded it to 5 after Iselle.) Even though we did not evacuate, it was easier to take bag outside and use rather than try to find things in the dark at night and trying to conserve lighting. And 5 days of clean clothes that you dont even have to think about. It's right there.
Already have your shopping last for the second to last day ready. The last minute items that you cant do now. (beer, ice, snacks, etc). I also freeze 2-3 nights worth of meals that can be heated up in a big pot if needed as we have one large propane burner (also doubles as Superbowl party wing frying pot). (did have a BBQ too).
The last day now that all the preps are done - sit back and have a cold drink and watch the crazy people at walmart fighting over the last case of water on the news.
Water - # of people x at least a gal x at least 5 days. (mine is 10 gals). I also freeze 2 liter bottles for ice ahead of time so I count those as part of my water inventory.
ETA - grind few days worth of coffee.(we didnt but did raid the ground coffee at my SIL's house.) This was the biggest plus the morning after Iselle. A hot cup of coffee with a french press with water boiled on the propane cooker!!! My day can be a disaster but if I have a hot cup of coffee first thing life is good!
Mandatory items - brand new never been used trash can, duct tape, tarp, and batteries, batteries, batteries.
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Great advice, however the experts say never leave your windows open during a hurricane. That is an old wives tale. FEMA recommends against it, NOAA recommends against it, MYTHBUSTERS busted the myth, if you google it there are a lot of explanations on why there are no positive outcomes of leaving your windows open and only negative ones. The best advice is to board them up.
They also advise against taping windows. To use enough tape for it to actually be effective one household would have to buy an entire store's inventory of duct tape. Just for the one house. And afterwards it would take so long removing the tape you'd get frustrated, give up, and have the windows replaced.
ETA: When Iselle was approaching about 3 days prior all the generators in Hilo were sold out. So were all the gas cans. Then went the water, and also all the 5 gallon water jugs. Flashlights sold out but batteries were available. After Iselle it was tough to find a chain saw. I didn't look but I'm guessing coolers were hard to find too.
When the hurricane is coming its also a good idea to fill the bathtubs with water so you can use a bucket to flush toilets.
Fortunately we live in an era where we have several days notice for things like hurricanes. But remember a big tsunami or medium sized earthquake will have the same effects but with little or no warning. Living where we do, you should be prepared to have food/fuel/power/water cut off at ANY time for extended times. All of Hilo's fuel intake and storage facilities are in the tsunami inundation zone. And we all know how a few downed power lines can leave the entire island without power for a long time. I was amazed at how ill-prepared people were during Iselle KNOWING IT WAS COMING FOR A WEEK. People were without food, water, and ice as soon as the storm hit. I know many of them fell into the "needy" category but it seemed like most of them really fell into the "ill prepared" category.
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In addition to the above, if you have a chainsaw, buy a couple of replacement chain to "quick change", rather than sharpen, then sharpen chains when finished for the day of cutting. Good way to "stay out of your head" after dinner, at least for me. Minimum 5 gallons of gas for saws and genny, so if power is out, so are the gas stations. Have some cash stashed as ATM's will be down as well.
Pack some warm blankets in your vehicle, in case of evacuation and you end up in some parking lot riding it out.
Also check all flashlights to make sure they work. If you used them during Iselle, then put them away, the batteries have probably gone kaput to the point of corrosion inside your flashlight, and therefore need a good cleaning to work, and maybe buy a replacement bulb. A propane powered Coleman camp lantern works great to light up the evac room.
Protein, or energy bars are good to have as well to eat while you are working to keep the energy flow going till end of day supper, or if somewhere you can't cook.
Hope this helps as well!
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We refreshed our food supply (have used the post offices food drive as a reminder to rotate OUT the stock & replace with new fresh emergency food
ONE BIG REMINDER: for ANYONE with pets, if you are evacuated you will have to have pet carriers for your pets to be allowed into the shelters. Last August I witnessed people being turned away from the hurricane shelter because they did not have pet carriers (these can be cages, airport carriers, they even did have some soft carriers, BUT one cat in a soft carriers did rip it apart when the storm hit & the cat was loose until the wonderful volunteers were able to trap it in a restroom....so I would make sure that your carrier can contain you pet!)
And remember to have a grab n go bag for your pet(s) (ours is with the carriers...)
There were soo many lost animals after the storm, even if you do not evacuate, please remember to contain even your outside critters if you can... a storm can blast them away!
And today the report is to expect that this will be a very el Nino influenced year... so expect the un-expected!
ADD: I found a box of Cheerios to be a great thing at the shelter...helped quiet down a worried, over sugared young lady & gave her a comfort food that was fun to play with....
based on this, also watch the sugar/salt in your emergency food... you will have little to do in a close confined area...nice slow munching food with a good all around nutrition is better than quick energy bars...
luckily I also had a big bag of carrots & made a lot of carrot sticks before the evacuation call...
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