Hurricane Season

Like it or not, hurricane season happens every year, so you might as well prepare and hope it isn’t necessary.

1.  Talk to kids ahead of time about what a hurricane is:

This page has lessons plans and information appropriate for a variety of ages.

It is a great time to learn about maps, geography, and weather.

Helping others is always a way to bring comfort.  If you are in an impacted area taking water, thank yous and snacks to the FPL trucks that will probably be on your street soon is am impactful activity with children.

2.  Prepare your home:

Unless you have impact windows, get those shutters in place well before its gets windy. If you need a professional to help install them make sure you have that lined up asap.

Have your rainboots handy.

Prepare food from your fridge and freezer that would need electricity.  For example – boil eggs.  Clean any fruits or veg.  Cook any meats.

Turn your AC down.

If you have pets make sure you have a plan for what they need.

Precharge any devices like phone, flashlight, etc and get batteries for others.

If you have a pool know that you can use a bucket of pool water to refill your toilet so it will flush.  If not shop your recycle bin for containers to fill and leave next to the toilet (bleach containers, wine bottles -no judgement ha)

If you are leaving your home – freeze a cup of water then place a coin on top so you can tell if everything in your freezer dethawsd if power was lost.

Scan in all important documents and upload them to dropbox or similar.  Then put them in a watertight container for safe keeping.

We actually made this handy solar oven for fun and I imagine it could come in handy without electricity.

If you have a generator make sure you have gas and read the directions carefully.  Generators are to be operated outdoors ONLY.

3.  Stock Up:

I try to have items on hand that will not go bad but will get used regardless.  Here are a few of our musts:

Bottled water is important but the plastic waste- aghhh..  Don’t be afraid to fill up all of your existing water bottles, pitchers etc.

Snacks.  

Flashlights with good batteries. We love this one because it can be solar or hand crank, great for kiddos.

We also make sure to get batteries, candles, make PB&J and freeze them, prepare precooked veggie dogs, etc.

3.  Should we stay or should we go:

If you are told to evacuate, please do so.  You don’t want to end up needing assistance that would put more people in harms way.

This is Palm Beach county map – find your zone so you can keep up on evacuation information.

4.  Make it a “hurication”:

This depends on the storm trajectory greatly and if you are traveling by air or land.  Here are some of our go to options.

Be safe friends!