Hurricane season is upon us here in Miami; are you ready? Preparing your home, your vehicle, and yourself for a hurricane can be a daunting task. What items to pack during an evacuation, ways to protect your home, flooding, driving winds, all aspects you must carefully consider each and every year. In this area we’ve seen hurricanes come and go and we always think we are prepared. Keeping this in mind, and knowing you’ve been here before, below are a few additional ways you can prepare.
1. Always, and this cannot be stressed enough, have a “go-bag” ready. Modern technology usually warns us at least a day in advance a hurricanes trajectory and severity, but do you really want to rely on this? A go-bag should consist of clothes, toiletries, food items, medications, cash, phone chargers, and important paperwork. Grabbing these items in a hurry is stressful and you are bound to forget something. Having them sitting in a closet, ready to go, is a stress reliever. Consider purchasing military style duffle bags for such matters. They are durable, waterproof, and usually have arm straps so you can carry them like a backpack.
2. Secure your home with hurricane rated components. This means installing hurricane straps on the rafters, clips for the shingles, and additional shoring for your garage door. Also, pre-cut 5/8” exterior grade plywood to your door and window sizes. Having the wood cut and labeled will ensure you get them up quickly and efficiently. Install the plywood with duplex-nails. Duplex-nails will allow for easy removal upon your return.
3. Realizing that not every hurricane will have you evacuating; consider installing a generator. A generator can power your whole home, or just essential items like kitchen appliances and the ever-important home entertainment system. Such a purchase can save you time and money in the long run. More importantly, you will be able to return to your home quickly. Consult with a Miami electrician to learn about installing a generator in your home.
4. Lastly, learn your community’s evacuation route. As you know, Miami’s population is rather dense; evacuating with such a high number of people will be chaotic at best. Knowing how to get from point A to point B (and possibly some short cuts along the way) can save you hours in traffic.
As a Miami resident, hurricanes are just a part of life. Depending on how well you prepare can mean all the difference in surviving comfortably and returning to your home quickly.