05-11-2015, 12:17 PM
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.
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.