Hurricane Preparation 101: How to Get Ready for Hurricane Milton and Stay Safe
As Hurricane Milton approaches the Sarasota area as a Category 3 storm, many of us are reflecting on the lessons learned from Hurricanes Debbie and Helene. The impact of back-to-back storms has left our community vulnerable, with widespread flooding and destruction from both excessive rainfall and storm surges. With Milton expected to bring even more severe weather, it’s critical to take action now to protect your family, home, and belongings.
Here’s a Comprehensive Guide on How to Prepare for A Hurricane, Especially in A Coastal Community Like Ours, Where Flooding and Wind Damage Are Significant Risks.
1. Charge Devices and Prepare Backup Power Sources
When a hurricane hits, power outages are almost guaranteed. Having charged devices can be a lifesaver. Beyond your phone, consider charging any device that provides light, such as laptops, tablets, and even old cell phones that can still be used to call 911. Don’t forget to charge external battery backups to extend the life of your devices.
Pro Tip: Glow sticks can provide temporary light—place them in a glass or jar to create a makeshift lantern.
2. Store Water for Flushing, Washing, and Drinking
Hurricanes often disrupt water supplies, so having a backup is crucial. Fill all your tubs, sinks, and even trash cans with water for non-drinking uses, like flushing toilets and washing hands. If you line your outdoor trash cans with clean trash bags and fill them with water, you can store these in your garage for later use.
Sanitation Tip: Add a small amount of bleach to the water in trash cans to sterilize it for safe use.
3. Prepare Food in Advance
Cook any perishable food you have now, before the storm hits. Foods like cooked meat, soups, and hard-boiled eggs can be stored in the freezer and will keep longer during a power outage. These items can also provide easy meals when cooking isn’t an option.
Freezer Hack: Fill Tupperware containers with water and freeze them. These frozen blocks of ice will help keep your food cold longer and provide an extra supply of water as they melt.
4. Secure Your Home and Outdoor Items
High winds can turn outdoor items into dangerous projectiles. Bring in anything that could fly around, such as patio furniture, potted plants, and garden tools. Don’t forget to secure gates, close windows tightly, and lock doors. Creating a clear environment around your home not only protects it from damage but also ensures there are no obstacles in your escape routes if you need to leave quickly.
5. Clean and Organize Your Home
Once the power goes out, your home will get uncomfortable fast, especially without air conditioning. Cleaning your environment now will make living without power more bearable. Wash all dirty clothes, bed linens, and dishes. Empty trash cans and clean cat litter boxes—anything that could produce an odor over time should be dealt with before the storm.
6. Stock Up on Essentials
Make sure you have enough supplies to last at least a few days, possibly longer:
- Non-perishable food (canned goods, snacks).
- Water (at least one gallon per person per day).
- Batteries, candles, matches, and flashlights.
- Prescription medications and over-the-counter first aid items.
- Baby wipes for easy cleaning when water is limited.
- Pet food and supplies for your furry family members.
7. Document Your Home and Belongings
Hurricane damage can be extensive, and dealing with insurance claims is much easier if you have documented evidence of your belongings. Walk through your home, room by room, and take videos or photos of everything, including the inside of drawers, closets, and cabinets. If you end up needing to file a claim, this documentation will help you recover the full value of your property.
Insurance Tip: Consider uploading these videos to a cloud service so they’re accessible even if your devices are damaged.
8. Prepare an Emergency Go-Bag
In case you need to evacuate quickly, have a small suitcase or go-bag packed and ready. Include important documents (ID, insurance policies, medical information), any essential medications, cash, snacks, and a change of clothes. If you have pets, make sure to pack food, water, and supplies for them as well. You can also keep a jug of water and some snacks in your car in case you need to evacuate on short notice.
9. Lower Temperatures in Your Home
Before the storm arrives, drop the temperature on your air conditioner and in your fridge and freezer. Lower temperatures will help keep your food fresh for longer if the power goes out. By pre-cooling your home, you’ll also make it more comfortable to live in without power for the first few days of the outage.
10. Unplug Electronics
To avoid damage from power surges, unplug all electronics before the storm hits. This includes TVs, computers, gaming consoles, and kitchen appliances. When the power comes back on, surges are common and can fry your electronics.
11. Plan for After the Storm
In the aftermath of a hurricane, clean water and supplies can be difficult to come by. You can tap into your hot water heater for extra water if needed—it can store up to 30 gallons. Also, if you’re worried about food safety, try the "coin trick": freeze a cup of water, place a coin on top, and leave it in the freezer. If you lose power, and the coin falls to the bottom of the cup, you’ll know that the food has thawed and refrozen, and it’s likely no longer safe to eat.
12. Stay Informed and Stay Safe
Lastly, make sure to check in with family and neighbors. Set up emergency backup plans, and be sure everyone knows where to go and what to do if the storm worsens. Keep pets safe and close—remember, they’re part of the family too.
