* Stock up on water. It’s recommended that you store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day. You may also want to buy iodine tablets to clean drinking water in a pinch.
* Gather non-perishables such as canned food, cereal, bread, peanut butter and other food and snack items that don’t require cooking or refrigeration.
* Caulk windows, door jams and other entry points like vents or cable access.
* Install impact-resistant storm shutters.
* Make sure you have emergency and evacuation plans in place before the storm hits. Communicate these plans to everyone at your house. Find out where the nearest storm shelter is located.
* Remove debris from gutters to allow proper drainage during a hurricane. Make sure they’re free of leaves and other debris so that heavy rains can flow easily through them.
* Elevate your belongings off the floor preferably in watertight containers. Broken windows can increase your risk of water damage to your home and belongings. Water entry through unprotected windows can be minimized by using quality storm shutters.
* Prepare your house properly. Clear your yard of lawn furniture or anything else that could be turned into dangerous airborne missiles when the storm winds pick up. Cover your windows and doors using impact resistant storm shutters and stay away from windows and doors during the storm.
DON’T . . .
* Leave loose items outside. Make sure your patio furniture, grills, lawn mowers, bikes, potted plants and all other items are stored properly.
* Don’t ignore storm warnings. If authorities issue an evacuation warning, act fast. Even the most well-built homes aren’t hurricane-proof. If a hurricane is strong enough, and a storm surge is predicted, authorities may issue a mandatory evacuation order in some areas to keep residents safe. Please take these warnings seriously so as not to put you and your family in danger.
* Don’t drink non-bottled or untreated water if there is significant flooding in your area. Flood waters are often filled with bacteria and can contaminate the local water supply. Don’t drink tap water and don’t drink any water exposed to flood water unless your local authorities have deemed it safe to drink.
* Avoid using plywood to protect your windows. If not properly secured to windows, the wood can be torn off during a storm creating significant impact damage to nearby structures. It’s best to invest in quality impact-resistant storm shutters that are reliable and built to code.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Prepare for a hurricane sooner rather than later. Call us today at 954-474-3557 or 1-888-474-3555 to speak to one of our shutter experts who will help you find the best storm shutters for your home and budget, or visit our website HurricaneShuttersFlorida.com to use our Online Pricing Tool. Be safe out there! Hurricanes are no joke! Take steps now to safeguard your family and your home. Make hurricane preparedness a priority, and visit HurricaneShuttersFlorida.com today!