10 Hurricane Survival Tips

1. Buy self-powered radios and flashlights

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When a hurricane strikes the power is bound to go off at any time. So you do not want to be reliant on torches because you do not know when the electricity will come back on again so that you can recharge them. Definitely get self-powered flashlights and radios so that you can stay safer without worrying about battery or charge.

2. Stay up to date with reports

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There should be reports coming before the hurricane, during, and after. All of these are so important to listen to. The news before the hurricane can let you know how severe it will be, and during the hurricane, you can find out how bad things are and whether you need to stay locked down in your home.

3. Fill all your bottles with drinking water

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When the power goes off, the water is soon to follow. So you're going to need to stock up on drinking water. Before the hurricane hits, fill all of your plastic bottles and containers with water so that you do not run out of drinkable water during the hurricane because you could be without water for days!

4. Create an emergency meeting plan

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If a hurricane hits and your house isn't safe to stay in then you should know who you are meeting up with and when. The chances are that you are going to want to meet a friend or family member to evacuate and stay with during the hurricane. Don't leave this until the last moment to organize.

5. Trim any trees surrounding your home

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If there are any trees around your home or surrounding area that have any hanging branches or loose branches you should definitely make sure that these are cut or trimmed before a hurricane hits to prevent them from being blown into your house and causing extra damage.

6. Board up your windows

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Taping your windows will not stop a hurricane from smashing the glass but boarding them up can massively reduce the likelihood that they will smash because it acts as a buffer against the impact of the hurricane. This way you can try to defend your windows and home from such an impact.

7. Put any household chemicals on high shelves

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When a hurricane hits, it often brings flooding too. If the water enters your house full of chemicals that mix together it could be super dangerous. For this reason, it's important to store them somewhere safe and out of the way. Put them on a high shelf somewhere that they won't fall.

8. Make sure your pets have ID tags

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No matter how much you look out for your pet, they can get lost during hurricanes. Cats for example in particular will they and run away at the sign that something is wrong. They may be so spooked that they run and they could get disorientated so having a pet tag means when they are found they can be traced back to you!

9. Have an evacuation plan

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Have a plan in place that you can follow if or when a hurricane happens. This way, as soon as you know a hurricane is coming, you know exactly what to do. Perhaps you will meet up with your family and stay in an allocated house that seems safest from hurricanes.

10. Create an emergency kit

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An emergency kit can contain some emergency rations, medical supplies, and hydration capsules, for example, as well as a small tool that could help you in an emergency. Having one of these in your house in preparation for a natural disaster or hurricane could seriously help you out.

11. Secure your home

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Secure your home as much as possible because any cracks or breakages are going to be exacerbated when a hurricane hits. In fact, if your house isn't secure it could be the difference between staying intact throughout a hurricane or being severely damaged!

12. Have a fire extinguisher in your home

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Hurricanes can lead to all kinds of disasters, such as house fires from electrical components. Having a fire extinguisher is something that could save you in the event of a fire which does happen quite frequently during hurricanes. This way you can stop the fire as soon as it starts.

13. Remove any loose items from around your home

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Do not keep your garden furniture or any loose items around your house. Not only will they be broken after a hurricane hits, but when they lift with the force of a hurricane and hit something else it can mean that it then causes more major breakages to your home or neighborhood!

14. Keep a full tank of gas

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You need to be ready to go if you are planning on escaping before a hurricane. And even if you stay at home, you never know when you will need the car in the emergency of a hurricane. And, you do not want your escape plan to be ruined because you do not have enough gas in your tank!

15. Keep your devices charged

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It's the same idea with your devices, for example, your phone. Don't leave it on half charge before a hurricane because you never know when the power will cut out and when could be the last time you can charge it. If the power is off for days you may then not be able to contact anybody!

16. Evacuate early, don't wait

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When it comes to a hurricane, you cannot wait until you think you need to evacuate because it could be too late to travel and you could get stuck in hours of traffic and physically unable to get out of the area. These decisions and actions have to be proactive, decide, and move before they come.

17. Move any valuables or electronics to a higher floor or shelf

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If you have valuables that you deeply care about and that you need to stay intact, make sure that they are not on the lower ground of the house or that they are loose anywhere. They could get lost forever. If you have a safe, make sure the valuables are locked inside!

18. If the hurricane has arrived, stay indoors

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Whatever you do when a hurricane hits, do not leave your house. Don't go outside to check what is happening and what's going on, stay indoors because it's impossible to say whether it is safe until you know that the hurricane and the aftereffects have definitely stopped.

19. Stay away from windows

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When you're indoors, make sure that you move well away from the windows. They could smash or objects could fly through the windows that could hit you and cause injury or even fatality. Stay safely away from the windows and either in the middle of a room or an area without any!

20. Move to higher ground if you live near a body of water

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If there are any lakes or rivers nearby then you may need to move to higher ground. A hurricane could mean that the water will forcefully enter your home which can be super dangerous. If you are near a body of water you need to evacuate somewhere more safe.

21. Use flashlights, not candles

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Candles are not safe during a hurricane because the hazards of fire are very likely at this time. Use a flashlight instead that has no link to an electricity port and no open flame to ensure that you are not carrying around a fire hazard during a hurricane!

22. Stay off the roads

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You also need to stay off the roads during a hurricane. A car has very little protection in comparison to the damage that a hurricane can cause. The roads may also have blockages across them from fallen trees or water from flooding. Stay off the roads as far as it's possible to do so.

23. Know your routes to emergency shelters

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You never know when you'll need to find your nearest emergency shelter. Even if you think your house is safe in the event of a hurricane, make sure you get to know which the nearest hurricane emergency shelter is to you, just in case you should come to need it!

24. Stock up on food

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Don't stick up on perishable food, but do stock up on tins and packets of foods that can be used if you do not have access to food. The electricity may be out, so take into consideration what doesn't need to be heated so that you can manage to eat during the hurricane!

25. Have some cash ready

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Your card may not work at machines for a few days until the power has been put back on. You do not know when you may need to buy something or order a taxi to get somewhere. Whatever the situation may be, make sure that you have cash at the ready in case you need to pay for something.

26. Have a stock of batteries

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Don't rely on your charge to last you. Make sure that you have appliances that can be powered by battery as a backup. For example, a flashlight that can take batteries. And stick up on batteries first so that you do not run out of a way to power your devices!

27. Create a safe room that is ready to use

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If you can, the best thing you can do is to create a healthy safe space in your home - if your home is positioned in a safe area (away from water as we mentioned). In this case, you could have a room that you could lock down in until the hurricane has passed and it could contain everything you need.

28. Avoid using electrical appliances

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During a hurricane it can be unsafe to use electrical appliances, so try and refrain from doing so as far as it is possible. Electric-powered devices during hurricanes are a huge fire hazard. So as much as you can, avoid using any electricity, especially if it's not necessary.

29. Fill the bathtub with water

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You may not be able to wash your hands bathe or even flush the toilet while the water stops working in the area. So have a supply of water and fill up your bath and sinks so that you can still wash yourself and your pots for example. Otherwise, you will soon run out of water, and the rest of the water you have you may need to drink.

30. Don't use your cell phone unless it's necessary

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Don't use your cell phone during a hurricane unless it's for something important, such as to find out about people's safety or let people know you're safe for example. You need to keep your charge as high as possible in case you need it to call the emergency services or make a crucial call!