How To Be Prepared For The Next Hurricane

Hurricane season always brings the Gulf Coast surprises. With that said, Daphne, Alabama, is no stranger to the destruction and damage that can be caused by even the most feeble hurricanes. Whether you’re a Gulf Coast native or this is your first year living along the coast, there are always ways to better prepare yourself for the next hurricane. A good strategy for hurricane season is rooted in preparation. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of crucial tips to consider when preparation time comes. 

Sign up for local warnings and alerts. 

Before hurricane season even hits, be sure to sign up through a device for local warnings and weather alerts. The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by government authorized alerting authorities through your phone carrier. Aware by weatherUSA is an up-to-date weather alert service that delivers tropical alerts, weather watches, warnings and other advisories as they are issued by agencies. If you have The Weather Channel app on your phone, you can enable notifications to alert you of weather forecasts, warnings or any impending emergency weather-related situation. Alerts received at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. Along with signing up for warnings and alerts, hotlines like your local 2-1-1 can provide useful information about current locations of post-disaster assistance, transportation, open shelters and more. When you’re signed up for warnings and alerts, important information can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm's way. 

Prepare to evacuate. 

Evacuating from your home is never a fun time. Unfortunately, sometimes it can be the only option to ensure the safety of you and those around you. Having an emergency evacuation plan can be a pivotal moment during a hurricane and can save you a lot of time and headache. Decide where you want to evacuate to, whether that be with a friend, family member or to a town or city that’s not in the path of the hurricane, finding somewhere safe and out of harm’s way is a priority. Be sure to have necessities, supplies and items you’ll need for your evacuation. These items can include non-perishable foods, cash, medical supplies, legal documents and anything you feel is important and needs to be taken with you. Along with making sure you have what you need, map out local evacuation routes to know where to go when you need to go. Including alternate routes in your preparations can be key in a case where your regular route is blocked or flooded. 

Prepare your property. 

Preparing your property is an integral step in your preparation journey for the next hurricane to come. Start with the outside of your property and begin to find a space in your home for where the items you want to be stored should go. The items you will want to bring inside before a hurricane will be any patio furniture, bikes, toys, potted plants or any item you feel necessary to bring inside. Neglecting this step can result in damage to your items or your poverty due to strong winds and heavy rain from the hurricane. Along with bringing inside your personal items, you should remove anything that is set in front of a window or door inside of your home. This is to prevent damage to your items inside your home if a window or door is broken or breached. If

you live inside a house, you may want to consider purchasing plywood or storm shutters to place over your windows to avoid damage. 

Stock emergency supplies. 

A hurricane can bring disaster in every area that’s affected. That’s why it’s important to have the supplies you need on hand so you don’t have to worry about retrieving or buying what you need immediately after a crisis storm happens. Roads may be blocked or flooded, your vehicle may be damaged or blocked in and in the worst-case scenario, you may be injured and are not able to retrieve medical supplies. When these instances occur, having emergency supplies can be crucial to keeping good health or survival. Some items to have in during preparation can include non-perishable foods, water, cash, medical supplies, toiletries, portable radio, sleeping bags, flashlights, batteries, candles, matches and more. 

Hurricane season can be a frightening time if you live in an area heavily affected by hurricanes. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be when you ensure a plan is in place and proper preparations are set. Bay Breeze Apartment Homes understands the severity of hurricane season and is committed to keeping our residents safe during hurricane season and any season. Contact us at (251) 621-9150 or visit our website at www.baybreezeapartmenthomes.com.