Getting Prepared for a Hurricane

Getting Prepared for a Hurricane

As we are in the midst of the 2022 hurricane season, it is important to be prepared. This is not only to protect yourself but your family and the first responders, too. Although the 2022 hurricane season has been off to a slow start in the Atlantic, we still have a long way to go until the end of hurricane season on November 30. 

Liam Kenny, a senior who is passionate about weather and interns weekly for  Ed  Piotrowski, shares his insight, 

“ Hurricanes can destroy homes, flood neighborhoods, and above all, hurt or even kill humans. Preparing for a hurricane (knowing where to go and having extra supplies on hand) can save lives! Never wait until the storm hits. Prepare before!”

A hurricane can bring a great amount of stress and panic to a community. However, it can be easier with some pre-hurricane planning. The first thing you should know is your hurricane zone. Knowing your zone can help you create a plan for how to react in the case of a hurricane or an evacuation.  This information is easily found on the South Carolina Emergency Management website (https://www.scemd.org/prepare/know-your-zone/).  If you are in an evacuation zone, Horry County has emergency shelters for overnight stays and food to help families.  (https://www.horrycounty.org/Departments/Emergency-Management/Hurricanes/Shelters).

If you are not in an emergency evacuation zone, your next step should be to prepare to shelter in place. This can include stocking up on non-perishable food items and ensuring your family has enough water. Also, it is important to plan ahead for any electricity loss in the event of a hurricane. Tips for loss of electricity include meal planning, obtaining a weather radio to keep up with the news, flashlights, batteries, board games and creating activities to do without power.  Lists and resources on preparing for what you will need to shelter in place can easily be found on this website: (https://www.weather.gov/owlie/emergencysupplieskit).

Even if you are planning on evacuating, it is still important to protect your home while you are gone. This means unplugging all electronics in the house to prevent an electrical surge. It is also important to clean out rain gutters to help with the flow of rain. If your house is around any trees or bushes, make sure they are trimmed down to protect against high wind speed. A fallen tree can cause major destruction to the structure of your house.  It is highly recommended to board up windows to protect your home from debris. Websites such as FEMA are great resources for information to protect your home: (https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/tips-prepare-your-home-hurricane-season)

“I live a mile from the beach and have stayed in my home for the past three hurricanes. I  board up my windows, stock up on water, flashlights and snacks. I don’t really get anxiety during hurricanes, but it does help when I can escape into a good book during the stormy weather!” comments Ann Twigg, one of our English teachers.

Hurricanes can be scary without a proper plan in place, and everyone needs to be safe.  Planning for a  hurricane can give you peace of mind by having everything in order before the event of a hurricane. This will create less panic and guarantee everything you need will be in stock. This will save you from last-minute preparations and shopping from bare shelves. It is always better to be over-prepared and not need it than to be under-prepared and in need.