Orlando Homekeepers

A Floridians Guide to Getting Ready for a Hurricane in 1-Day
Ok, this is a family and friend affair. Everyone can take a role, even the little ones, like filling up the bathtubs with water before the storm. It’s also a great time to get everyone clean with a shower or bath before the storm hits and you fill the bathtubs with water!
Plan and prepare like you are going camping for a week. The things that you’ll need for a camping trip are exactly what you’ll need during and after the hurricane strikes. It’s also a great time to get to know your neighbors; you’ll all be in the same predicament.
Remember, the bands of a hurricane are also full of tornados. Assume that the power will go out, tree limbs will cause you problems, it will be hot, gasoline is scarce and becomes currency (remember gas pumps run on electricity), you may not have either clean or running water and your family will be a little edgy after day 3 of all this.
Very useful items to have during and after the big blow are: gasoline, a grill, extra charcoal and or propane for that grill, weather radio, a “power brick” or inverter for your car so you can plug electrical things into it (like a small coffee pot!), flashlights, candles and ingredients for a stiff drink.
1-Day Away Checklist for Hurricane Prep
• It’s a great time to have a sandwich-making contest to clear your refrigerator of perishables. My wife does miracles with mayonnaise.
• Top off your gas tanks in your car. Fill an extra 5-gallon container.
• Turn up your freezer to get items really hard. Remember, the electricity is going out.
• Get extra charcoal or propane for your grill for that “we’re cooking our freezer” party with the neighbors for day 2 after the storm.
• Book a hotel room for the family for Day 3 after the storm. You can always cancel. However about 3 days of “camping” in your hot, dark, non-electrified home is about all your darling spouse can take. Check on pet-friendliness.
• You may have to go to a shelter. Plan what you’ll do with your pet.
• Ok, who is the future engineer in the family? Their job is to check which side of the storm you’ll be on and which way the wind will be blowing against your house. Remember, it spins counter-clockwise. Board the windows on that side of your house with ¾” plywood, use masonry bits, masonry screws and a good high powered electric drill.
• Everything outside of your house needs to come inside or it becomes a potential projectile.
• Trees and limbs are a real problem. Stake down any small trees. Trim all dead branches. Trim off limbs that hang over your roof. Bring all trimmings inside, not left at the curb.
• Fill two bathtubs full of clean, cool water. One for drinking and one for flushing (water company lift stations run on electricity).
• Run the A/C hard to cool down the house, close the blinds and plan to enter/exit the house from only one door to keep it as cool as possible.
• Do some laundry now and run the dishwasher.
A Little Extra if you have a pool…
These are “tropical” storms, which mean it is hot and wet. Algae grow quickly. Watch the forecasts on how much rain your area is expected to receive; that’s the first part of the math equation you’ll have to figure on the water level of your pool.
• Who is good at math at home? Don’t completely drain your pool. While the electricity is on and your pump is still running, drain 75% of the inches of rain predicted off your pool’s water line. Remember, you’ll get some evaporation.
• After you’ve taken off the water you’ll need, turn off the pumps and the breakers to the pool equipment. You don’t want a sudden spike in everything when the electricity comes back on.
• Shock or super-chlorinate the pool. Repeat every 2-3 days while the electricity is still off.
• Keep a long hose close-by in case the rain is heavier that predicted and pool looks like it may flood. You can always syphon.
• Clear the deck of everything. Drop the deck chairs into the pool. They’ll be nice and safe there.