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Storm Preparation Tips

July 7, 2005
With Hurricane Dennis heading for the Gulf of Mexico, homeowners in Florida and along the Gulf Coast should be preparing for the storm. Silver Lake Publishing editorial director James Walsh offered some pointers to viewers of CBS-TV’s The Early Show.

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He told co-anchor Julie Chen that it’s important to look around the house for loose “quasi-structural” items like handrails and planking in carports, patios or decks.

"The real wildcard when a storm hits is not the water -— which is fairly predictable in how it will come. It’s the wind. When strong winds come in a storm, they sometimes will rip loose these poorly built structures and toss the pieces of wood or pieces of metal like missiles around the property. And that’s what does a lot of the unpredictable damage," Walsh said.

He then offered these tips on preparing for a hurricane:

Preparing Your House

1. Look for loose parts of structures (patios, porches, fences, etc.) outside of your house. If you can shake them with your hand, secure them or remove them.

2. Check for any loose electrical wiring or shaky gas connections, inside and outside. Repair them, if you can; call a contractor if you can't.

3. Fasten shelves and hanging units inside your house; place heavier items on lower shelves.
4. Make sure pictures, mirrors and other items are hanging away from beds or couches. If they're nearby, take them down.

5. Make sure your water heater is strapped to wall studs or another solid base.

Preparing Your Family

1. Store a three-day supply of water (one gallon -— two quarts for drinking, two quarts for food prep and cleaning -— for each member of your household, including pets)

2. Store a three-day supply of basic dry food —- crackers, snack bars, dried fruit, and dried meat -— so that each member of your household (including pets) can eat something every 4 to 6 hours

3. Keep one battery-powered radio or TV for the household and at least two extra sets of batteries for this device

4. Keep one battery-powered flashlight for each member of your household

5. Establish at least two escape routes from your neighborhood, and, in case you're separated during an evacuation, go over them with everyone in your household

6. Establish a safe contact (often a relative or friend) outside of your immediate area that household members can contact or where you can meet in case of separation. In the wake of natural disaster, long distance communication often is easier than local.

According to Walsh, “That safe contact is key, especially for larger households. It’s important to have someone who can act like a touchstone. So family members can let each other know that they’re okay…or where they are.”

He also notes that, “With insurance companies increasing deductibles and lowering their maximum coverage limits -— not to mention government agencies like FEMA getting more stingy about the money they make available -— an ounce of prevention has never been more valuable.”

Walsh's firm publishes The Personal Security Handbook, which contains more information about family preparedness. In the book, the authors admit that many disaster preparation steps can seem like simple common sense when considered individually. Their effectiveness comes from being used together, systematically.

Silver Lake Publishing is an independent press specializing in books on personal finance, consumer protection and popular economics.

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