Protect Your Family and Home from Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence continues to track towards North Carolina. Are you and your family prepared for the storm? Here is what WRAL recommends you include in your hurricane “survival kit”.

Three-Day Supply Kit

• Water: 1 gallon per person per day. Fill plastic containers, such as soft-drink bottles.
• Water purification kit or bleach (use eight drops of regular bleach per gallon of water.
• Essential medications
• First-aid book and kit that includes
  • 20 emergency bandages of various sizes
  • One 5 x 9 sterile dressing
  • One roll of self-adhering elastic bandage
  • Four various-sized sterile gauze pads
  • One roll of 3-inch cohesive bandage
  • Waterless alcohol-based sanitizer and wipes
  • Medical grade non-latex gloves
  • Adhesive tape, 2-inch width
  • Anti-bacterial ointment
  • Cold pack
  • Small scissors
  • Tweezers
  • CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield
  • Non-prescription drugs (e.g., aspirin or non-aspirin pain relievers)
• Ready-to-eat, non-perishable foods, such as canned meats, granola bars, instant soup and cereals, fruits and vegetables, canned or box juices, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, bread and any special dietary items you and your family need.
• Manual can opener
• Baby supplies: formula, bottle, pacifier, soap, baby powder, clothing, blankets, baby wipes, disposable diapers, canned food and juices
• Food, water, leash and carrier for pets (If you plan to go to a shelter, remember that most do not allow pets. Make other plans for your pets.)
• Sanitary Items:
  • Large, plastic trash bags for waste and to use as tarps and rain ponchos
  • Large trash cans
  • Towelettes
  • Bar soap and liquid detergent
  • Shampoo
  • Toothpaste and toothbrushes
  • Feminine hygiene supplies
  • Toilet paper
  • Household bleach for cleaning
  •  Rubber gloves
• Blanket or sleeping bag per person
• Battery-powered, portable radio or portable TV and plenty of extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Extra pair of eyeglasses
• Extra house and car keys
• Fire extinguisher (ABC-type)
• Cash and change
• Seasonal change of clothing, including sturdy shoes

Learn more about how what to do when a hurricane approaches at WRAL.com.

Source: WRAL.com

Protecting Your Home

Not only do you need to make sure your family is protected, you also want to do everything you can to protect your home against hurricane damage.

• Guard your windows. Entry points are the weakest parts of your home during a storm. Boarding up windows and shutters with plywood reduces the likelihood of them shattering.
• Protect your property from flood damage. Hurricane Florence is supposed to bring a lot of rain with it which means flooding is very likely. Piling up sandbags, at least two feet high, at your home’s entrances, can help with flooding. If you do not have time to get sandbags, fill a heavy-duty garbage bag with water. It is also a good idea to move your vehicle to higher ground if your area is subject to flooding.
• Secure loose objects. Outdoor furniture and lawn decorations become deadly if they are swept up by the wind. Pick up or tie down anything that can become airborne. Trim your trees to reduce the chance of limbs falling on your home.
• Prepare appliances for power outages. Unplug your appliances where you can or use surge protectors.
• Create a home inventory. Knowing what is in your home is very important after the storm. Taking pictures of your items and recording serial numbers can help when you are filing an insurance claim.

For more tips on how to protect your home, visit AccuWeather.com.

Source: AccuWeather.com

We are here for you! If you have any questions about your HVAC unit before or after the storm, call us at 919-755-1957.

• Category: Tips
• Tag: hurricane, hurricane florence