SolveYourProblem Article Series: Hurricanes
Hurricane Facts, Tips and Safety Protocols

Hurricane Season Breakpoints To Watch For

During hurricane season it is important to keep an eye on the breakpoints that might determine which course of action to take to remain safe and healthy, and to ensure that your family and loved ones are also safe. If you live in an area that is prone to hurricane activity, you may already be familiar with the changing face of the news, the attention that is being paid to the swirling clouds off the coast, and the warnings that are frequently given. Yet do you know what breakpoints you really need to keep an eye on? Do you and your family have an agreed upon plan of action? If you are uncertain, here are some suggestions that will help to keep everyone safe.

The first such breakpoint, of course, is marked by the official beginning of hurricane season. Usually, this date falls on June 1st, and the season itself lasts through the end of November. Thus, when June 1st arrives, have a family meeting and review the family evacuation plan you hopefully put in effect last year. Review if for content – does the safe shelter that everyone is supposed to meet at still exist – and also see if your life situations have changed to such an extent that perhaps a new plan needs to be written. For example, you might have moved, the safe house might be too far away, or you might have a new family member. The first day of June is the first breakpoint in a hopefully uneventful season.

This is also the day when you will want to dust off your survival kit and take a look at its content. If you have been pilfering your survival kit for batteries or the flashlight, or maybe just the crackers you kept there, now is the time to restock it. Remember, you will need an adequate supply of food, drinking water, batteries; a battery operated radio as well as a flashlight. Once again, review your family situation. If you have a new baby or maybe a pet, you will need to add appropriate food for her or him!

July 1st is the next breakpoint. You might have seen some tropical storms developing that probably dissipated rather quickly. Consider your home and landscaping. Are they meeting the standards set forth by the disaster authorities and will they be able to withstand some of the lower category hurricanes? Take a look around the house and make sure you have enough plywood on hand to secure windows and doors.

When the news reports that a tropical storm is forming and might turn into a hurricane, you are looking at the next breakpoint. Do not take these warnings lightly, but instead follow the news closely to ensure that you are aware when a tropical storm may actually become a danger to be reckoned with. This is not the time to simply take this warnings lightly, but instead you will want to also reinforce that your family is to take the warnings serious, especially if a hurricane hits when you are not all together.

Once a hurricane makes landfall, you are looking at another breakpoint. Listen to the weather radio intently and make sure that you are aware if an evacuation order is in place. If so, do not hesitate but get out now while you still can do so comfortably and with a minimum of headache. If you wait too long, the odds are good that rainfall will have caused nearby bodies of water to flood, and your escape route might actually be cut off due to flooding. This might have disastrous consequences to you and your family, so do not put off the evacuation! Take your pets with you, and have all your survival gear on hand. Notify a family friend in a different state or city of where you are going and what your plan is. You family should also know how to get a hold of that friend who may act as a message board away from home.

Emergencies and disasters can happen anytime, anywhere without warning. Protect yourself and your family. Click to see valuable emergency preparedness supplies and information. Be ready. Be prepared. I love this website. It's my SolveYourProblem recommendation.

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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2007

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