What To Do: Four Ways To Survive A Hurricane

[Global Rescue]

Advice on preparation, evacuation & sheltering

Hurricane Harvey brought rain, wind and destruction to Houston in late August. Less than a week after Harvey dissipated in the Texas skies, Hurricane Irma grew into the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, causing massive problems in the Caribbean islands as it barrels in on the U.S. mainland.

Mid-September is the usual peak of the hurricane season, which lasts until Nov. 30. The storms may not have the visual drama of natural disasters like tornadoes and wildfires, but they can bring incredible devastation. Local infrastructure, homes, and even lives are in danger when a serious hurricane makes landfall.

If you live anywhere near the Atlantic Coast, this is the time of year when a weather report can go from helping you decide whether to wear a jacket to helping you decide if you need to evacuate your home.

Global Rescue security operations personnel and crisis response teams study and analyze disasters and disaster response every day. Their decades of experience give them unsurpassed expertise when it comes to preparing for disaster and managing the aftermath. Here are some of their recommendations for what to do when a hurricane is bearing down on you.

1. If an evacuation order is announced, follow it. Many lives are lost in hurricanes simply because proper warnings are not heeded. If your local government makes an evacuation order, and you are able, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to follow it. Possessions, even homes, are replaceable. You are not.
2. If you have to evacuate, know how to get out safely.
   • Have a plan – know your evacuation routes and your destination (shelter, pre-booked hotel, family or friends, etc.).
   • Make sure your vehicle is in good working order, has a full gas tank, and a working spare tire and jack. Do not store extra fuel in containers you are taking with you.
   • Pack a survival kit that includes food, water, flashlights with batteries, extra medications, and toiletries. Roadways will be congested and shelters may be full, so it is possible that you will need to spend the night in your car.
   • Keep mobile devices charging during the trip and limit data usage, as mobile networks can become overwhelmed. Let friends or family know of your travel plans and communicate your progress. Short SMS messages will be the easiest to send and receive.

1. If you are sheltering in place, be prepared.
   • Have an emergency kit with flashlights and batteries, first aid kit, matches or lighters, candles, a battery-operated AM/FM radio, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, fire extinguisher, a week’s worth of non-perishable foods and personal drinking water, any personal supplies such as toiletries, medications and extra glasses/contacts, etc.
   • Inform someone of your decision to stay and your location.
   • Fill all vehicle and generator fuel tanks, but do not store fuel or run a generator inside of your living quarters.
   • Fill sinks and bathtubs with water in order to flush toilets and wash clothing following the storm.
   • Credit/debit card networks could fail during the storm, so keep enough cash (in small denominations) on hand to fill fuel tanks or buy food and water following the storm.
   • Pack a small “go-bag” that is easily carried, such as a small backpack, in case you are forced to leave quickly. Carry a change of clothes, toiletries, extra medications, and important personal documents and identifications. Use zip-locking plastic bags to keep things dry.
   • If you do have to move, wear thick-soled, closed-toed shoes and rugged/lightweight clothing. Only move during the storm if absolutely necessary.
   • Continue to monitor local AM/FM band emergency systems throughout the storm.

1. If your local airport closes before you evacuate, you’re not completely out of luck.
   • Option one is to stay at the airport. If the airport will allow you to stay, this can be a very good option because there are usually emergency supplies, food and water, and a generator. Also, in extreme cases, the airport will be the central location for many relief and rescue efforts following the storm.
   • The second option is to stay in a hotel. Finding a hotel away from the coast and on high ground is best, and there are specific laws in place in the US to protect travelers from price gouging in these situations.
   • A third option is to procure a vehicle and move inland along designated evacuation routes. If there are no designated routes, stay on main roads as you move inland. If no hotels are available, local shelters may be set up for people moving inland and can be a good option.

 

[sierraone]

The best choice is to leave until it is over as mentioned as the second choice.

 

[ScottG]

Been there. Going somewhere else is the best survival strategy. There is nothing you can do to stop any loss of property. Leave and celebrate your still alive. When it's over go and start the clean up. There will be too many lost lives by people without a lot of options. The ones that have options but don't leave are the ones that baffle me.