A hurricane
is a type of tropical cyclone that can cause torrential rains, high winds,
storm surges, and flooding for 2 weeks or more over open water and can follow a
path across the entire length of the eastern seaboard, its coastal areas, and
barrier islands.
According to
the National Hurricane Center, a hurricane is primarily defined by its wind
speeds, which must be 74 mph or greater (anything less, and the cyclone is
classified as a tropical storm).
While we all
hope for hurricanes to take a wayward spin back into the sea and wreak their
havoc far from the presence of humans, the fact of the matter is that
hurricanes are bound to make landfall sooner or later.
1- Stay
Inside & Away From Windows
Even if it
looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message
that the hurricane is over. Sometimes, weather gets calm in the middle of a
storm but then quickly gets bad again.
- Close all
interior doors, secure and brace external doors.
- Keep
curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be
the eye of the storm—winds will pick up again.
- Take
refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.
- Lie on the
floor under a table or another sturdy object.
2- Be Ready
to Turn Off Main Energy Sources
If any water
is coming into your home from the outside, whether it’s through a broken window
or another source, turn off your home’s main power source immediately. The water
could surge the power and turn into an electrical fire.
3- Have on
hand: fire extinguisher, emergency/first aid kit, prescription medicines,
flashlight/batteries, blankets/sleeping bags, cooking/eating utensils, canned
foods, water bottles, jumper cables, paper maps, GPS, toilet paper, toiletries,
rain gear.
4- Be ready
to leave
If emergency
authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go
to a shelter or a neighbor’s house.
Read more: 5 techniques to overcome the feeling of death anxiety
5- At last, you have to know that the safest place to be during a hurricane is as far away from it as possible. That could be an evacuation shelter or any non-evacuated zone.
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