Just because residents don’t live near the coast doesn’t mean communities aren’t at risk for hurricane damage. A hurricane’s impact can be felt hundreds of miles inland, where rain, wind, water, and even tornadoes can cause damage, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tools, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hurricane tracker, help look at the routes of past and current storms to see if your area is at risk.
Know evacuation routes
Should you have to evacuate on short notice, it’s good practice to be aware of your area’s evacuation routes so you have a solid plan in place before the crisis hits, www.ready.gov suggests. Download the Federal Emergency Management Agency app to view a map of nearby emergency shelters. As a bonus, the app also provides real-time National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations at a time.
Fortify homes
It’s smart to plan by fortifying your home against damage that hurricanes cause by taking precautions, such as decluttering your gutters, bringing outdoor furniture inside, and building hurricane shutters. Debris damage to natural gas meters is an often overlooked risk people should be aware of, said Safeena Walji, Texas Gas Service public relations manager, in an interview with Community Impact.
“It could result in an outage to either your home or many homes in your area,” Walji said. “If there’s a potential natural gas leak, it could result in having to shut off your gas while it gets repaired.”
Texas Gas Service, which is Texas’ third-largest natural gas distribution company, recommends checking around your gas meter to make sure there aren’t any items, such as trash cans, that could be blown in by wind or flooding.
Gather supplies
During and after a hurricane, you may not have access to basic supplies for days or even weeks, so it’s best to put together an emergency kit before the storm strikes. Ready.gov recommends having the following items on hand:
One gallon of water per day, per person
At least a several-day supply of nonperishable food
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and an NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
Flashlight
First aid kit
Extra batteries
Whistle, to signal for help
Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air
Plastic sheeting and duct tape
Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties
Wrench or pliers, to turn off utilities
Manual can opener
Local maps
Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
It is important to always remember to take care of your pets.
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