Gearing up for hurricanes is something Bermudians are used to. And with hurricanes becoming stronger each year it’s something we have to take more seriously. Gone are the days when we could just eat all the ice cream and light a candle and the hurricane would be done in a day. Winds are stronger, storms last longer and the power stays off for far more than we want it.
Before:
Stock up! We always think we have these things right up until the moment we need them. A hurricane is the worst time to realize you’ve got no batteries and your roof is leaking. Make sure you’ve got these when it counts:
- Buckets – useful for a number of situations, buckets can help with flushing toilets, washing, and simply collecting water.
- Plastic tarp – for roof/window repairs and tools and to cover anything too heavy to bring indoors.
- Propane cookers – not just for camping anymore but also great for heating up food when you’re tired of cereal.
- Hand crank radio – keep in touch with the outside world without worrying about batteries
- Head and foot bolts – Perfect on doors for extra protection and to ensure they don’t fly open.
- 2 coolers—one for food, one for ice
- Flashlights – the bigger the better to light up a large space and make sure you have a couple smaller ones per person to walk around with.
- Plenty of batteries – you can’t have enough! Stock up on a variety and even grab a solar or battery powered charger for your smart phones.
During:
Be smart and ride out the storm in a safe way. Determine the best place in your home to go during a hurricane. Use an area in the home without windows that will be safe from the damage of winds.
Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed, it will keep the food colder longer if power is shut off.
After:
Although a hurricane is gone there are a lot of things to do after it’s finished. Don’t assume once the rain is done that it’s okay to go out. Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads. There will be plenty of debris, fallen lines, and damage so be safe.
Walk carefully around the outside your home and check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage before entering. Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage for insurance purposes.
Find everything you need at Standard Hardware along with the knowledge about what to do, how to use them, and what you’ll need to ride out the storm.
