Hurricane Safety

Probably if you are in hurricane range, you already know a thing or two about what to do if a hurricane is imminent.  If you don't live in hurricane range, you might not have any clue what to do and you might be thinking, "So what?"  But the thing is, you never know where you (or loved ones) might live in the future, or what set of emergency circumstances you may be in, and having a handy set of hurricane survival skills for reference just might save your life.  So, why not?

Hurricanes are among the most costly of catastrophes.  If a hurricane approaches, you will need to prepare you and your family both physically and mentally.  Fortunately with hurricanes (unlike, say, earthquakes?), we're given a small window of prep time when we can see what's coming but it isn't here yet.  However, you definitely don't want to put off your preparations until the last minute or you are very likely to be caught without adequate preparation.

1. Prepare Yourself
You'll need to have an emergency disaster kit already prepared, if you don't already.  If you've waited until the last minute, some of these items may be very difficult to find or you may not be able to find them at all.  The best plan is to have your disaster kit already prepared long in advance so you only need to put forth minimal effort to keep it current.  Your emergency disaster kit should include important documents, first aid, food and water, clothes, prescriptions, etc.  See this page for a thorough and descriptive checklist to guide you.  You'll want to keep everything packed for portability - like in backpacks, or a large trash can - in case of evacuation.  Make sure your food and water are rotated frequently as well as clothing for changing sizes and seasons.

2. Prepare Your Home
You can't hold back hurricane winds, but you can take steps to minimize the damage.  Your home stands a greater chance of resisting damage if it has a sturdy build that follows up-to-date codes for strength in natural disasters.  Doors, garages, and windows can be boarded to prevent wind damage, but again, don't wait until the last minute unless you want to stand in long lines at the store for wood.  Trees and bushes can be trimmed.  Sandbags can be placed around your home to prevent water damage.  Of course, even with the best preparations sometimes the damage is extensive.  Insurance can be purchased long in advance to help cover costs of damages.  Take a look inside and around your home for irreplaceable items and make plans to move them or keep them safe.  Anchor what you can.  In any case, it would be wise to prepare yourself mentally for the worst outcome but continue to hope for the best.  Devastating circumstances can often be made more bearable if we can look around us with a sense of gratitude and count what blessings are still ours.  This is always easier said than done in the face of an emergency, but one can start with being grateful to be alive and breathing.

3. Make Your Plan
Do you stay or go?  Emergency reports will let you know if you are in a flood zone or storm surge zone.  If so, GO!  Same if you are in a mobile or very old home.  And don't wait until the end (traffic will be BAD).  Unplug all appliances, shut off the main water, and electricity to your home.  If indicated by emergency officials, shut off your main gas valve.  Find a friend or family member you can stay with out of the hurricane's reach, or book a hotel.  Plan for your pets as well.  If you make the choice to stay in your home, the safest areas will be in the interior, away from large windows.  Keep a radio and your disaster kit on hand.  Move valuables and documents to your home's highest level.  Keep doors and windows shut throughout the hurricane.  Turn your fridge and freezer to their coldest settings so food will stay good longer.  Prepare a plan for evacuation, just in case.  Whether you are staying or going, make sure you have an emergency contact outside the storm's reach who you can notify what your plans are.

Long-term Food Storage Guidelines

Hopefully you already have a 72-hour supply of emergency food you can grab and take with you at a moment's notice.  But it's also a wise idea to keep an ample supply of long-term food and water on hand for your family in case of extended emergencies.  First, you need to be aware of and follow several guidelines.  Don't get yourself in such a food-storing frenzy that you do it incorrectly and waste your efforts.  If stored improperly, food can quickly spoil or make you very sick.

• Store foods you like that you use often.  Being familiar with the foods you store will help you use them better and are more likely to be eaten by your family.  Plus if you use them regularly, they will be easy to rotate so your stored food won't spoil.  Label all foods with a purchase date so you can see how old they are in the future.  Place newer items behind older ones on home shelves and make it a habit of practicing the "first in = first out" rule so that you continually use older items first.  (As a personal note, my husband just recently built us some new storage shelves at a slight angle so that canned goods automatically roll into place.  New cans are placed at the back and cans for current use are taken from the front so the whole group continually rotates the older forward.  It is a simple yet incredibly handy adjustment you can make to some of your own storage shelves for easy rotation.)  Foods have the best taste and nutrition if you follow the "best if used by" date; however, food can still be useful and sustaining even after that.
• Foods recommended to be rotated every 6 months:
• Powdered Milk in boxes
• Potatoes
• Dried fruits (in metal containers)
• Dry crackers (in metal containers)
• Water from home storage containers
• Foods recommended to be rotated every year (though personally, I've eaten several of these things beyond a year and they were just fine):
• Peanut Butter
• Jams and Jellies
• Canned Fruits, Vegetables, and Juices
• Canned Condensed Soups
• Cereals or Instant Oatmeal
• Canned Nuts
• Candy
• Vitamin C
• Home-canned food
• Commercially Prepared Water
• Foods that last "indefinitely" with proper storage and good storage conditions:
• Salt
• Baking Powder
• Bouillon 
• Vegetable Oils
• Wheat
• White Rice
• Soybeans
• Dried Corn
• Dried Pasta
• Powdered Milk in nitrogen-packed cans
• Honey

• Many milled grains (flour, cereal, cornmeal, etc.) or foods high in natural oils (nuts, seeds, brown rice, etc.) deteriorate faster than other foods, though I have yet to find a source that says exactly how much.  If you choose to store them (like I have), make sure you rotate them often to make use of the full nutritional benefit.  Other foods that should be rotated frequently include canned foods with a high acid content

• Some emergency supply places offer great options for long shelf-life foods.  Many companies offer dehydrated or freeze dried foods that can last for up to 25 years.  Some offer quick and nutritious meals that only need water to be ready to eat (you'll want to store extra water in that case).  However, if you are unfamiliar with the food or unlikely to actually put it to use, look into other options.  Grocery stores that offer bulk foods is a great option.  When stored correctly, items like oats, pinto beans, and sugar can have a shelf-life over 30 years. 

• The best foods are ones that don't require refrigeration, cooking, or special preparation.  Look for nutrient-rich foods with high calories to keep your body systems energized.  Stay away from foods that are very salty (they'll make you thirsty), and look for foods high in water content.  And don't forget to store vitamins!

• Good containers for storing foods include foil laminate/mylar pouches made of polyethylene terephthalate (non-toxic, food-grade plastic that helps keep out oxygen and moisture), glass jars with tight, screw-on lids (of course cleaned and sterilized before using), or plastic food containers with the letters "PET" or "PETE" next to the recycle symbol at the bottom (made of the same plastic in laminate pouches).  All containers should be cleaned and sterilized and have an air-tight seal.  Avoid paper or foam lid seals and instead opt for plastic.  Foods in boxes or bags that can go stale can also be doubled wrapped and sealed tightly in plastic containers to keep them fresher longer.

• Keep foods in a cool (40-70 degrees), dark area away from pipes or appliances that create heat or moisture.  Moisture, oxygen, and heat will spoil foods quickly.  A storage room in your basement would be great, or under the stairs, in a closet, or even under your bed!  Be creative if you need to.

• Once you've got your 72-hour food supply ready, build up to a 3-week, then 3-month, then even longer supply for your family.  This could mean half of the day's typical calories per family member for rationing (though better would be to plan for the full day's normal calories, just so you are prepared), plus 1 gallon of water per person per day (more according to individual circumstances, and don't forget bleach for purifying).  If your means are limited, start by buying one or two extra items every time you shop, like an extra bag of beans or can of fruit.  For reference, the minimum recommended amounts of food for one adult for one year are:
• 300 lbs. grains (wheat, pasta, rice, oats, etc.)
• 74 lbs. dairy (powdered milk, evaporated milk, freeze-dried cheese, etc.)
• 60 lbs. legumes (beans, peas, lentils, etc.)
• 60 lbs. sugars (honey, brown sugar, white sugar, jam, drink mixes, etc.)
• 13 lbs. oils (vegetable oil, olive oil, coconut oil, peanut butter, etc.)
• Baking essentials (baking powder, baking soda, yeast, salt, vinegar, etc.)

• Oxygen absorbers can be purchased at many emergency supply stores.  When added to food storage, they will extend the shelf-life of your food by eliminating oxygen (a food spoiler) in the closed container.  Super handy to have.

Another great way to build up an emergency food supply is to grow a garden!  Not only that, but it is a very satisfying skill to obtain.  By growing a home garden you can take advantage of the abundance of a fall harvest to boost your stores.  An old saying goes, "Eat what you can, and can what you can't!"  Canning is a great way to store food for a later use, or even just during the winter when harvests have passed.  Canning has many of its own guidelines, however, so make sure you talk with someone with experience or seek a dependable resource (many cities have them for free).

In general, humans can survive for quite a while on limited food rations.  Water...not so much.  Of course, children, the elderly, ill, or pregnant women have different nutritious needs that need to be considered.  The best advice is to reduce your activity as much as possible, try to maintain an even body temperature, and stay hydrated.