Important Hurricane Safety Tips

With the hurricane season rapidly approaching, and the recent occurrences of hurricanes and tornadoes still uncomfortably fresh on our minds, the time to prepare for potentially impending treacherous weather is now. The ability to minimize damage or avoid it all together is often reliant upon diligent preparation.

Hurricanes can generate floods, landslides and even tornadoes. If you find yourself in a hurricane’s path, preparation is imperative to your escaping the impending destructive forces of a tropical hurricane, and to your safe return after. Here are some important things to consider, along with some tips that could help you survive hurricane weather:

• If a vehicle is caught in a flood, serious extensive damage may or may not occur. If you live in an area that is frequented by hurricane activity and you are in the market for a used vehicle, make sure you check for flood damage. If your own vehicle becomes flooded, find out what you need to do to assess the damage and to prevent further damage.

• If a hurricane is imminent, don’t hesitate to leave as soon as possible. The unpredictability of
hurricanes can cause substantial unexpected damage in a matter of minutes. Keep a hurricane planning guide or map with you and listen to the radio. Evacuation routes are often broadcast during hurricane situations.

• Bring all of your most important documents with you including vehicle registrations, title papers, home and auto insurance papers, drivers license, credit cards, bank cards and whatever other important papers are relevant to your life. Put them in a waterproof bag or container and keep them close at hand.

• Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas before you leave. The last thing you want is to have to wait in line for gas or worse, find yourself unable to find a gas station that’s open for business.

• Bring enough supplies for several days. Include food, clean water, blankets, clothing, a good survival knife, cell phone and a working radio. A good idea is to invest in a radio and a flashlight that generate their own power via a crank handle. If you don’t have those, make sure you have a good portable radio, a strong flashlight and extra batteries. In addition, a comprehensive or even basic first-aid kit is an absolute
necessity.

• Beware of and avoid downed live wires. Driving over a live wire could mean instant electrocution. And if you find yourself parked on a live wire, or if one has fallen onto your vehicle or even if you are in close proximity, do not exit the vehicle. Do not touch any part of the interior that is metallic. Stay still and avoid contact with any part of the vehicle if you can help it. Call for help and stay put until professional help arrives and secures the wire.

• If at all possible, avoid driving down a road that is under water. If there is an underlying current, it could take control and float your vehicle. Or your vehicle could stall, leaving you in a precarious position with no control. In addition, even if you don’t get stuck in the water, the sediment and debris in the water could damage your car’s engine, electrical system, seats, carpeting and other parts that will be expensive, or impossible, to replace.

If you cannot avoid driving through the water, try to determine the depth before attempting to drive through it. Watching other vehicles drive through will help gauge the depth. Even a depth of one foot of water could capture your vehicle and cause it to float out of control. Know that there is always the threat of a road collapsing under the pressure and erosive results of standing water.

— statistic: According to the National Hurricane Center, more than 50% of all hurricane-related deaths in the last 30 years were the results of inland flooding. One in four of those deaths occurred due to drowning in a car.

If you must take the chance to drive through water, drive slowly and steadily so as not to splash water up into the undercarriage causing your vehicle to stall or impeding your braking system. If your vehicle does stall, attempting to restart it could cause irreparable engine damage. However, if attempting to re-start the vehicle is the only way to make it to safety, you may have to risk it.

If you are lucky enough to get the vehicle started, get to dry land and pump the brakes several times to help dry them out. If it won’t restart and the water is rising, it’s best to abandon the vehicle.

• If you’re driving an RV and you using gas-powered stoves or lanterns, be sure to have battery-operated carbon-monoxide and fire alarms on board. If you utilize a generator in the RV, use the transfer switch to isolate the electricity from the power grid. That will eliminate the danger of shock.

• If you’re leaving an RV behind with your home when you leave for safety, park it in a secure area not likely to be flooded. Secure any loose items and remove nearby tree branches that could come loose from high winds and damage the vehicle. Also, turn off the propane cylinder tanks, cover the regulator and empty the holding tanks. You should also cover the air conditioner and all vents. Travel trailers should be tied down.

• Plans for storing RVs, boats, trailers and all vehicles should be made well in advance of any hurricane activity.

• For boats, try to have a friend prepare your boat if you are out of town. Remove all excess gear, documents and non-secure items prior to hurricane season. Check to ensure that all openings are watertight. Shut off the fuel tanks, close all through-hull fittings and check that batteries are fully charged as you may need to run the bilge pumps during the storm.

If the boat is docked, add extra chafe protection. Double-up all lines and attach them to a high point on the pilings. A longer dock line will allow the boat to adjust to high and low storm and tidal shifts.

If the boat is anchored, don’t tie it parallel to the shore line; consider using multiple anchors. You should clear the self-bailing cockpit drains.

If the boat is in dry dock, store it higher than the expected storm and tide surges. Lash it down with heavy duty lines. You might even consider adding water to the bilge to help keep the boat stabilized. Never leave the boat on a hydro-lift or on davits. If storing on a trailer, let some air out of the tires and place blocks between the axles and the frame to keep it more secure.

Surviving hurricanes is not impossible; by following rules of common sense with due diligence to safety, you can successfully come out of it with less damage.