Are You Prepared For A Hurricane? - Team Lally: Hawaii Real Estate

From June 1st to November 30th is hurricane season for Hawai’i. A season of powerful storms that can be life-threatening as well as cause serious property-threatening hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes. Here is some helpful information as you plan before and after hurricanes.

Hurricane Kit

Make sure your hurricane kit includes:

Flashlights & extra bulbs
Battery-operated radio
Battery-operated lanterns
Batteries (in different sizes!)
Matches
First aid kit
Duct tape
Rain gear

Gas powered stove
Plastic garbage bags
Fire extinguisher
Fill your car’s gas tank.
Toilet paper
Clean clothes
Extra blankets
Extra cash

FOOD AND WATER

Pack non-perishable food for each person for 3-7 days.

Bottled water (1 gallon/person/day)
Bottled juice
Two coolers:
One for drinks & one for food

Canned foods
Manual can opener
Dry pet food

MEDICAL NEEDS

Medic-alert tags
Insect-repellent sprays
Feminine hygiene items
Sunscreen
Soap
First aid kit
Prescription medication

Over-the-counter medication
Children’s medicine
Bandages
Adhesive tape
Antiseptic solution
Thermometer
Tweezers

PREPARE YOUR PET

Your pet will need more than a bag of food in a storm.

Water for your pet for 3-7 days
Non-perishable food
Crate/carrier/tank
Leash (non-extendable)
Collar and/or harness
Favorite Toy
Blanket or pillow
Clean litter box

Updated shots and medical records
Microchip with up-to-date contant info
Any medications
Calming aids
Tags
Puppy training pads
Heartworm preventatives
Rain gear

PREPARE YOUR HOME

You might want to consider doing the following before the storm.

Clear your yard of any chairs, grills, basketball hoops. Remember anything that isn’t secured to ground may take flight with extreme winds.
Secure your windows with hurricane shutters or boarding with plywood.
Tape your windows to keep glass together incase the window break. (owner discretion)
Make a checklist of all your belongings.
Check your insurance policy to make sure your covered.
If you have gutters on your home, make sure they are cleaned.
Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting. Keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting. Keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.

Learn more.

Hurricane Shelters

If you feel like your home is not hurricane ready, make yourself familiar with hurricane shelters on Oahu, Kauai, Mauai, Hawaii, Lanai, and Molokai.

What To Do During A Hurricane?

Howling winds, driving rain and the threat of flooding make riding out a hurricane a scary ordeal. Follow these tips for staying safe in your home during a hurricane:

Stay inside and away from windows, skylights and glass doors. Find a safe area in your home (an interior room, a closet or bathroom on the lower level).
If flooding threatens your home, turn off electricity at the main breaker.
If you lose power, turn off major appliances such as the air conditioner and water heater to reduce damage.
Do not use electrical appliances, including your computer.
Do not go outside. If the eye of the storm passes over your area, there will be a short period of calm, but at the other side of the eye, the wind speed rapidly increases to hurricane force and will come from the opposite direction. Also, do not go outside to see “what the wind feels like.” It is too easy to be hit by flying debris.
Beware of lightning. Stay away from electrical equipment. Don’t use the phone or take a bath/shower during the storm.
Keep your radio tuned into weather stations to be updated with the storm.

Photo Credit: Mark Lewis