WHAT IS A HURRICANE?

Hurricanes are violent tropical storms with sustained winds of at least 74 mph. They form over warm ocean waters – usually starting as storms in the Caribbean or off the west coast of Africa. As they drift slowly westward, the warm waters of the tropics fuel them. Warm, moist air moves toward the center of the storm and spirals upward. This releases torrential rains. As updrafts suck up more water vapor, it triggers a cycle of strengthening that can be stopped only when contact is made with land or cooler water. Hurricane season is typically from June 1st to November 30th. The entire southern and eastern seaboard of the United States is at some risk for hurricanes. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 40% of hurricanes make landfall in Florida making Floridians the most at risk population to experience a deadly hurricane. Louisiana experiences the 2nd highest number of storms followed by the Carolinas. 

HURRICANE TERMS TO REMEMBER:

• Tropical Depression - an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.
• Tropical Storm - an organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph (34-63 knots).
• Hurricane - a warm-core tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or greater.
• Eye - center of a hurricane with light winds and partly cloudy to clear skies. The eye is usually around 20 miles in diameter but can range between 5 and 60 miles.
• Eye Wall - location within a hurricane where the most damaging winds and intense rainfall are found.

HURRICANE SCALE:

• Category I - 74-95 mph winds with 4-5 ft. storm surge and minimal damage
• Category II - 96-110 mph winds with 6-8 ft. storm surge and moderate damage
• Category III - 111-130 mph winds with 9-12 ft. storm surge and major damage
• Category IV - 131-155 mph winds with 13-18 ft. storm surge and severe damage
• Category V - 155+ mph winds with 18+ ft. storm surge and catastrophic damage

HURRICANE WARNINGS:

• Tropical Storm Watch - issued when tropical storm conditions may threaten a specific coastal area within 36 hours, and when the storm is not predicted to intensify to hurricane strength.
• Tropical Storm Warning - winds in the range of 39 to 73 mph can be expected to affect specific areas of a coastline within the next 24 hours.
• Hurricane Watch - a hurricane or hurricane conditions may threaten a specific coastal area within 36 hours.
• Hurricane Warning - a warning that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher associated with a hurricane are expected in a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less.

STEP 2: Assemble a Hurricane Survival Kit

WHAT IS A HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS KIT?

Modern meteorological technology tracks the development of hurricanes days, sometimes weeks in advance, allowing citizens of impacted areas time to prepare. However, panicked rushes at the store and supply shortages may impede your preparations if left too late. Your family's planning should take place before hurricane season begins. Building a Hurricane Survival Kit with emergency supplies and rations will provide a dedicated source of essentials.

Most likely, you will either shelter-in-place or evacuate in the event of a storm; thus, a Hurricane Preparedness Kit should be stored in both the home and vehicle. Each kit will contain slightly different items and should be customized to fit your family's specific needs.

HURRICANE KITS FOR THE HOME

Home Hurricane Survival Kits should contain enough supplies to support each member in your family as they shelter-in-place for at least 72-hours, preferably up to 10 days. Non-perishable emergency food and water with extended shelf-lives should comprise the base of your kit. Sufficiently stocked kits will also contain items within the following categories:

1. Emergency Shelter: thermal mylar blankets, sleeping bags, portable tents, tarps and plastic sheeting
2. Hygiene Supplies: waterless shampoo and toothpaste, comb, toilet paper, tissue paper, wipes, hand sanitizer, portable toilets, disposable bags
3. First Aid: family-sized first aid kit and extra prescription medications
4. Lighting: hand-crank/solar-powered flashlights, extra batteries, candles
5. Communication: Hand-crank/solar-powered radios with access to the NOAA weather-band emergency alert channels
6. Tools: shovels and pry bars for performing search and rescue operations, gas/water shut-off wrench. If your family evacuates to an emergency shelter, bring your home survival kit with you.

HURRICANE EVACUATION KIT FOR YOUR CAR

The Hurricane Survival Kit stored in your car must be portable. Its purpose is to provide your family with nourishment and supplies in the event you need to evacuate or shelter-in-place at a location away from home. The car kit should contain supplies from the same survival categories as your home survival kit yet must remain portable. Ideally, the kit will remain stored in the vehicle, thus including non-perishable food that stays fresh even when exposed to extreme temperatures is a must.

HURRICANE KITS FOR PETS

Don't forget about your pet's needs following a hurricane. They will be hungry, thirsty, and potentially in danger just like you. Consider including the following items in your pet's survival kit: 72-hours+ supply of food and water, bowls, thermal mylar blanket, extra leads, comfort toys, sanitation supplies (litter for cats, disposable bags), first aid items and water purification tablets.

WANT TO PURCHASE PRE-MADE HURRICANE SURVIVAL KITS?

We have you covered. Our Home and Vehicle Hurricane Survival Kits support up to 4 people for up to 72-hours. The kits include a supply of U.S. Coast Guard-approved emergency food and water certified to store safely for up to 5 years - even when exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (-22°F to 149°F, -6°C to 65°C). Quake Kare Home Hurricane Kits contain emergency shelter, sanitation, first aid, lighting, and communication supplies necessary to shelter-in-place during and after a significant storm. The waterproof and air-tight bucket container ensures your supplies will be stored safely. The kit's container has several strategic advantages. Pair it with a snap-on toilet seat for emergency sanitation or use the bucket to collect and purify water.

STEP 3: Customize your Hurricane Survival Kit

The ER™ Emergency Ready Survival Kits include all the very essential preparedness supplies to survive an emergency; however, you must not forget to also include valuable personal items that will increase your ability to survive the aftermath of a major disaster. Learn more about customizing your survival kit.

STEP 4: Maintain your emergency supplies

Diligence in inventorying and replacing expired supplies in your survival kits is a necessary and vital step of disaster preparedness. Most non-perishable canned goods have an average shelf-life of 2 years. Bottled water stores safely for up to a year only in temperature-controlled environments. If exposed to extreme temperatures, shelf-lives of canned and bottled rations diminish more rapidly. Learn more about how to maintain your emergency supplies

STEP 5: Make a Hurricane Preparedness Plan

When faced with a stressful situation, survivors of disasters may make uninformed and ignorant survival decisions. Making a plan, understanding your risks, and working through contingencies with your family will help them make smart, rational decisions during an emergency. Use the suggestions below to create your detailed preparedness plan.

1. DESIGNATE OUT OF STATE CONTACT: Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." Following a wide-spread disaster, long-distance communications have a more substantial chance of delivery vs. local communications. Texts vs. calls have an even higher success rate as your phone will store a text until it can find a signal.

   Advise your family contact to remain near a phone during and after the storm. Ensure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of your designated contact person. Complete and hand out the out-of-state Contact Cards to every member of your family. Carry them in wallets, purses, or backpacks.

   If you are separated from your loved ones during an emergency, text your out-of-state contact number. Give your contact critical information including your physical condition, location, direction, and plan to reunite. Check back regularly.

2. CREATE A PLAN TO REUNITE: Decide on where and how to unite separated family members. Practice different routes to your rendezvous location.
3. DESIGNATE RESPONSIBILITIES: Surviving a hurricane is just the beginning of your ordeal. Make a recovery plan with your family, friends, and neighbors by assigning specific responsibilities to each person. Tasks should include checking on elderly neighbors, watching young children, setting up shelters, and assessing damaged structures.
4. DEVELOP A MESSAGE DROP: Identify a secure location outside your home where family members can leave messages for each other. If you are separated and unable to remain in your home, leave a message so your family will know where to find you. Choose a discrete location for the message drop. You do not want to publicize to vandals that you are not at home.
5. IDENTIFY THE SAFEST, MOST SECURE PLACE IN YOUR HOME: If you decide to shelter-in-place during a hurricane, avoid heavy furniture, appliances, large panes of glass, shelves, and masonry veneer (such as the fireplace). These items tend to fall or break and can injure you. Identify danger spots such as windows, mirrors, hanging objects, fireplaces, and tall furniture).
6. KNOW YOUR ENVIRONMENT: Identify each exit from your house. Discover exits that would only be available to you in an emergency. Recognize open areas around your house free from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways. Understand how to shut off your home's water, gas and electricity. If you are not sure, contact your utility company.
7. CONDUCT PRACTICE DRILLS: A Hurricane Preparedness Plan is worthless if family members are not familiar with it. Practice each part of your plan with the entire family until everyone is clear on their responsibilities.

STEP 6: Take action towards Hurricane Risk Reduction