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In preparation for hurricane, the National Hurricane Center may issue a watch or a warning depending on the storm's threat. A hurricane watch is only issued if there is a chance that an area may experience hurricane-force conditions within 48 hours. A hurricane warning is only issued if there is a chance that an area may experience hurricane-force conditions within 36 hours.

The Red Cross recommends these steps should be taken during a watch:

1. Fill your car with gasoline. This is important because gasoline stations could be closed later or might run out of supplies. There also could be long lines later to get gas even if it is available.
2. Stock up on prescription medications. Stores and pharmacies may be closed after the storm.
3. Check your disaster supply kit
4. Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting. Doing this will help preserve perishable goods if there is a power outage.

Long Term Hurricane Preparation

Hurricanes can be deadly, but fortunately with preparation you can minimize the risk to you and your family and your home and personal property. Because one cannot plan for the exact location of where a storm will make landfall or for how severe the storm's effects will be, it is better to be prepared early, before any storm becomes threatening.

There are five steps of hurricane preparedness that should be taken should a hurricane form and threaten the U.S.

1. Create a disaster plan – Your family disaster plan should include a variety of items ranging from an "out of town" contact to pet preparedness. There are many good online resources for building a disaster plan.
2. Assemble a disaster supply kit – In the event that you are not evacuating, you will need ample food, water and supplies to last out the storm and at a minimum 3 days after the storm.
3. Create a to-go kit – In case you need to leave with little notice, this kit will contain vital supplies and records.
4. Secure your home – Take protective measures such as installing shutters and removing debris to reduce the risk of injury and minimize damage in a hurricane
5. Create an insurance archive / inventory – Make a record of your possessions and take photographs of your home for insurance purposes in case of loss or damage. A free online insurance archive is available at Insurance Vault, and we recommend that everyone create an insurance archive. You can also use sites like Flickr and Picasa to store images at no cost.

Preparing your home

The Red Cross recommends the following long term hurricane preparations be made:

1. Fix loose rain gutters and downspouts. Clean them if they are clogged. If the hurricane produces a long period of rain taking these actions will help prevent water damage to your house.
2. Strengthen garage doors. If Hurricane winds penetrate your garage door, they can lift your roof and your house can be destroyed.
3. Install permanent hurricane shutters. If you don't have shutters and a storm is approaching by plywood to board up windows and doors. Do not tape windows because it does not prevent them from breaking.
4. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Trees can be made more wind-resistant by removing distressed or damaged limbs. Those limbs can be turned into projectiles by hurricane winds hitting your house or those of your neighbors.

Don't forget your pet

Pets should be part of your Hurricane plan. Make sure you assemble the things your pets will need like pet food, leashes, and medicine. It is also a good idea to bring current photos of your pet in the event that your pet becomes lost. You should be sure that one image shows you in the photo with your pet as proof of ownership.

More Preparedness Information

More information on hurricane preparedness is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Hurricane Center, the Small Business Administration, the American Red Cross and many states provide important hurricane preparedness information on their web sites.

Web Links:

www.fema.gov
www.nhc.noaa.gov
www.redcross.org
www.sba.gov