Hurricane Preparedness
Storm Watch - What Does It Mean?
Hurricane season begins 1st June and continues through 30th November. Hurricanes are tropical cyclones in which winds reach a constant speed of at least 74 mph and may gust to 200 mph. Their heavy bands of spiral clouds may cover an area several hundred miles in diameter and generate torrential rains and tornadoes. The "eye", or middle of the hurricane is deceptively calm, almost free of clouds, with light winds and warm temperatures.
Other Terms
- Tropical wave disturbance
- A cluster of clouds and/or thunderstorms without organised circulation
- Tropical depression
- An organised, tropical, low pressure system with sustained winds less than 39 mph
- Tropical storm
- An organised system of strong thunderstorms with defined circulation and sustained winds 39-73 mph. Tropical storms can quickly develop into hurricanes. Storms are named when they reach tropical storm strength.
- Hurricane
- An intense tropical weather system with well defined circulation and sustained wind speed of 74 mph or greater.
- Hurricane watch
- Hurricane conditions are possible within 24 - 36 hours.
- Hurricane warning
- Hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours or less.
Before a hurricane threatens
Prepare Your Home
- Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed during Hurricane Season (June-November). Do NOT trim trees after a Hurricane Watch or Warning has been announced as trimmings could become dangerous missiles.
- If you have storm shutters, make sure they are in working order and fit properly. If you do not have shutters, have them installed or lay in a supply of plywood to use as shuttering.
- NOTE. Taping windows will not protect your home, although the tape may keep some of the glass from flying into the house when the window is smashed.
Review Your Insurance
- It is advisable to secure your insurance policy in advance, no application for insurance will be accepted, or coverage increased, once a Hurricane Watch has been issued for the Bahamas.
- Speak to your agent and ask these key questions
- Do I have replacement cost coverage on all property, including contents?
- What are the deductibles? (Usually 2% of the Sum Insured).
- Are there any exclusions?
- Does the policy cover flood, wind and storm damage?
- If the dwelling is rendered uninhabitable by a hurricane, does the policy cover relocation or temporary housing?
- Take photos of your house, inside and out, for documentation of its condition and contents.
- Make a list of all your important belongings.
Emergency Equipment And Supplies
- Purchase and set aside hurricane supplies - See below for a detailed listing.
- Check the working condition of all emergency equipment such as generators, flash lights, battery-powered radios, etc.
Protect Your Business
- Make backup plans NOW by identifying and protecting vital records, such as:-
- Computer software
- Accounts receivable records
- Client records
- Other important personnel and administrative documents.
Protect Your Boat
- Develop a plan well in advance
- You can store a small boat with a trailer in a warehouse or a garage.
- If you leave your boat outside, attach the trailer tongue to a firm spot in the ground, deflate the tires, and lash the boat to the trailer. Place boards between the axle and the frame to prevent damage to the trailer springs.
- If your boat is in a marina check with the dockmaster for any special requirements.
- Your insurance policy should include adequate coverage for damage that your boat may cause to other property.
- Inventory all vessel equipment and keep a copy in a safe place off the boat.
- Identify safe harbours and take a test run to one NOW, checking route conditions and travel time.
- DO NOT, under any circumstances, plan to "ride out" the storm on your boat.
When A Hurricane Threatens
Inside Your Home
- Establish a "Safe Room". This should be an interior room, free of windows, or a room with a small window, such as a bathroom. Make sure your safe room has a clear pathway to an exit.
- Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting.
- Turn off your gas at the bottle.
- Freeze water in plastic jugs and use them to fill empty spaces in your refrigerator and freezer to help keep food cool.
- Prepare an emergency water supply for bathing and sanitary purposes by storing water in clean air-tight containers, including your water heater and washing machine.
- Store valuables and personal papers in water-tight containers and store these in the highest possible spot in your home.
Outside Your Home
- Put up your shutters or install pre-cut plywood over all windows and glass doors.
- Close all windows (Remember to open one on the lee-side during the storm).
- DO NOT drain your swimming pool
- Add extra chlorine to prevent contamination.
- Turn off electricity to pool equipment.
- Bring inside all objects that can be blown away, including garbage cans, TV antennas, satellite dishes, lawn furniture, garden tools and potted plants. Anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
- If you don't have a garage or carport, park your car as close to the house as possible away from trees.
- Fill your car's gas tank early, after a hurricane gasoline may not be available due to power outages.
Supplies Checklist
Have a two week-supply of the following
- Water (One gallon per person per day)
- Non-perishable foods: canned meat, fish, fruit and vegetables
- Bread in moisture proof packaging, cookies, candy, dried fruit
- Canned soups, juices
- Powdered milk or single serve drinks
- Cereal bars, peanut butter and jelly
- Instant coffee and/or tea
- Flashlight (one per person) and extra batteries
- Portable battery-powered lantern
- Battery operated or wind-up radio or TV
- Portable cooler and ice
- Weatherproof matches
- Butane lighter
Cooking Equipment
- Sterno
- Portable camp stove or grill and extra fuel
- Stove fuel or charcoal, lighter fluid
- Manuel can opener
- Disposable eating utensils
- Plates and cups
- Napkins and paper towels
- Aluminium foil
- Oven mitts Medical and emergency supplies
- First aid kit including pain reliever, antibiotic cream, antacids
- Prescriptions (one month's supply)
- Mosquito repellent
- Mosquito net
- Sun screen (45 SPF recommended)
- ABC rated fire extinguisher
- Cash
- Bleach or water purification tablets
Medical And Emergency Supplies
- First aid kit including pain reliever, antibiotic cream, antacids
- Prescriptions (one month's supply)
- Mosquito repellent
- Mosquito net
- Sun screen (45 SPF recommended)
- ABC rated fire extinguisher
- Cash
- Bleach or water purification tablets
Documents
- Water and fireproof container for document storage
- Photocopies of prescriptions
- Photo identification
- Medical history and information
- Backup disks of your home computer files
- Camera and film
Babies
- Disposable diapers (month's supply)
- Formula, food and medication
Other Necessities
- Tools: hammer, wrenches, screwdrivers, nails, saw, tree saw
- Trash bags (lots of them)
- Cleaning supplies
- Plastic drop cloth
- Masking or duct tape (for packaging purposes)
- outdoor extension cord
- spray paint ? Documents
- Water and fireproof container for document storage
- Photocopies of prescriptions
- Photo identification
- Medical history and information
- Backup disks of your home computer files
- Camera and film
Personal Supplies
- Toilet paper
- Entertainment: book, magazines, card games, etc
- Soap and detergent
- Toiletries
- Rain ponchos and work gloves
- Extra glasses or contact lenses Babies
- Disposable diapers (month's supply)
- Formula, food and medication
During The Storm
Do remember to open a window or door on the lee-side if the house to relieve pressure in the house.
After The Storm
Do
- Keep an ear on your radio in case storm returns, or another threatens
- Stay away from ALL downed power lines. Even if power is off in your neighborhood, the lines may still be "live".
- Call the police or utility company immediately to report downed lines or broken water mains
- Take picture of your home, then make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Save receipts for all transactions (This is so you can present evidence to insurer, all of whom like to see evidence).
Don't
- Don't drink untreated water (See note below).
- Don't call any emergency number except for a life-threatening situation.
- Don't walk around without shoes or allow children to play in standing water.
- Don't run a generator indoors, even in the garage.
- Don't connect a generator to your house wiring, unless the house wiring has been checked by a competent electrician and the mains power has been isolated.
It is best to use stored or bottled water for cooking, drinking and your pets, store it in a cool dark place.
If you are suspicious of your water supply please take the following precautions:-
- 1 Remove particles by straining the water through a paper towel, cloth or coffee filter
- 2 Purify the water by doing one of the following (both, if possible)
- Boil at a rolling rate for at least three minutes.
- Add 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 or 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite as the active ingredient, to one gallon of water. Let stand for 30 minutes. If water smells slightly of bleach, it is safe for use. If not, repeat the process. If the water still does not smell of bleach, discard it and find another source of water.
