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June 1st is upon us once again, which means it is time to be Hurricane-ready. While you cannot control what the hurricane season brings, you have all the power to prioritize your family’s safety. The Atlantic has been forecast to be extra busy this year, so here are some tips to get ahead on hurricane preparedness:

Make a Plan

A holistic plan guides what to do should your country be impacted by a hurricane or tropical storm. In a crisis, people tend to act in haste which can cause important things to be forgotten. Plan ahead to include:

1. Emergency supplies needed for your household
2. Family contacts and national emergency contacts in case you need to reach them
3. Evacuation procedures by locating the nearest shelter, what to take with you and the best route to get there considering potential road damage
4. Pets: seek advice on how to care for your pets if evacuation is required and what is needed for them

Gather Emergency Supplies 

Keeping your family as safe as possible requires having adequate food, water, medicine, and other supplies to function during and after a hurricane. At a minimum, here is a list of what is needed during and after a hurricane:

1. Water: one gallon per person for several days to cover both consumption and sanitation. Ensure that drinking water is stored in clean bottles and kept covered to avoid contamination. 
2. Food: non-perishable items that are easy to prepare should be purchased. A 3-day supply in evacuation and 2-week supply for the home is recommended
3. A 7-day supply of medicine of both prescription and non prescription medicines 
4. A first aid kit
5. Sanitation and personal hygiene items such as feminine items, moist towelettes, garbage bags
6. Extra cash because ATM services are likely to be disrupted
7. Extra fuel for the car and generators 
8. A battery operated radio and extra batteries for all battery operated devices
9. Chargers for all electronic devices
10. Copies of important documents such as – prescriptions and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, passports, insurance policies. These should be stored on a water proof area and can be in both physical and digital copies. 
11. Multi purpose tools, wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
12. A sleeping bag and/or warm blankets for each person
13. Baby items: infant formula, diapers, bottles wipes
14. Pet food and water
15. Fire extinguisher
16. Matches in a waterproof container
17. Change of clothes and sturdy shoes should evacuation be required

Emergency supplies needed for evacuation should already be packed in a “go kit” to avoid any delays in leaving home. The COVID-19 pandemic means that your supplies must give special consideration to: hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, bar and liquid soaps, disinfectant wipes and a minimum of 2 face masks per person. Keep abreast of the protocols within Emergency shelters. 

Prepare Your Home: In the midst of stocking up on essential items, do not lose track of the importance of  home preparation. When it comes to the home, you must hope for the best, but prepare for the worst:

Update home inventory, photos and insurance policies: Be informed about your insurance policy and what it covers in the event your home is destroyed. Take photos of your home before a hurricane watch or warning. 

Trim trees around the house: Trees with multiple trunks are especially dangerous as they grow and should be removed before the hurricane season. Trim branches which can come in contact with the building during the hurricane. Dispose of branches properly to avoid them being picked up by strong winds.

Inspect the condition of your roof: Having a professional inspect your roof can inform you weather additional measures need to be sought to reinforce the roof

Inspect the condition of your shutters: Many persons who may have invested in window treatments like rollshutters do not use them regularly, and our professionals at Talius can inspect them to make sure they are fully functional.

Invest in Storm Protection Solutions for the hurricane season: At Talius, we offer the best storm protection solutions that integrate with your home’s appeal seamlessly. Rollshutters remain trusted for their strength and durability, however, our Accordion Shutters, Hurricane Fabric, and more are also available.

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