Hurricane Season: What should I know?

Hurricane Season: What should I know? By Gary E. Shelton, CRP Director {PLEASE NOTE: With the introduction of our newer initiatives from the Christian Readiness Project (CRP), we also are adding a regular blog to our website. It will issue at least once or twice a week depending upon schedules of other events. It may also have comments on different schedules about real-time events. So, please look here often, and, THANK YOU for reading.} When you live anywhere near a hurricane-prone region, safety and household protection cannot be a last-minute scramble. It must be a major, ongoing part of how you steward your home and protect your family. There are times to stand firm in your home, and there are times when the only wise choice is to temporarily pack up and leave. A major hurricane is definitely one of those times when you must be ready to move. Having written and safely stored information ready to use the moment a watch is issued can change everything. If you carefully review, prepare, and use these six crucial pieces of wisdom, you will face the uncertainty of a deadly storm with far less stress and much greater safety. 1. Know Your Specific Evacuation Zone Do not rely on general city or county news reports when a storm is coming. You need to look up and memorize your precise evacuation zone ahead of time. These are usually designated by letters like Zone A, Zone B, or Zone C. Local authorities base mandatory evacuation orders strictly on these specific zones. They look at your local elevation and how vulnerable your neighborhood is to dangerous, rising ocean storm surges. If an official order is issued for your specific zone, leaving immediately is the only safe option. Because of this, knowing your evacuation routes and your final destination is extremely important. It is always better to leave early than to wait until the main highways are completely jammed with panicked traffic. Look at it this way: it is far better to leave early and have the hurricane miss you completely than to foolishly stay behind and get blown away with your home. 2. Standard Insurance Does Not Cover Floods One of the most costly misconceptions a homeowner can have is believing that a standard insurance policy covers water damage from rising storm waters. It absolutely does not. The reality is that you must have a completely separate flood insurance policy, which is typically managed through the National Flood Insurance Program. The timing on this is critical. These policies almost always have a strict 30-day waiting period before they take effect. You cannot buy flood coverage at the last minute when a storm is already tracked toward your neighborhood. 3. Understand Watch vs. Warning When you are tracking severe tropical weather alerts, timing and understanding the terminology are everything. A Hurricane Watch means a hurricane is possible in your area. This is typically issued 48 hours before the expected arrival of dangerous tropical-storm-force winds. A watch is your clear cue to fuel up your vehicles, double-check your household supplies, and prepare to secure your physical structure. A Hurricane Warning means a hurricane is officially expected in your area. This is issued 36 hours ahead of the tropical-storm-force winds. At this stage, your final storm preparations must be rushed to completion. You must be packed and ready to hit your evacuation route immediately if ordered to do so. 4. The One-Gallon-Per-Person Daily Rule Water utility infrastructure is usually the very first thing to fail during a major storm, and getting the water turned back on can take weeks. Your emergency kit must stock a minimum of one gallon of clean water per person, and per pet, for every single day. While a three-day supply is the absolute baseline for immediate survival, emergency managers heavily recommend preparing a 7 to 14-day supply of water for the prolonged aftermath of severe coastal storms. 5. Generator Safety Saves Lives It is a heartbreaking fact that more casualties often occur in the days after a hurricane makes landfall than during the actual storm itself. Very frequently, these injuries and deaths are caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators. The rule here is absolute: never, under any circumstances, run a portable generator indoors, inside a garage, or anywhere near open windows, doors, or home vents. Keep the unit completely outdoors, entirely dry, and at least 20 feet away from your house. Additionally, make sure your home is equipped with working, battery-backed carbon monoxide detectors. 6. Document Your Property Before June Filing an insurance claim in a disaster area is significantly faster and easier if you have clear, undeniable proof of your home's pre-storm condition. Before the official season begins in June, take your phone and record detailed photos and videos of every single room, your roof, your home's exterior siding, and all high-value items. Store these digital files safely alongside digital copies of your critical legal, financial, and medical paperwork in a secure, cloud-based drive or right inside your waterproof family go-bag. A Final Word of Encouragement Preparing your household for a hurricane is not about living in a state of fear. It is about wisdom, foresight, and clear-headed leadership. By getting these six areas settled in writing today, you take the panic out of the storm. You can make wise decisions, keep your family out of harm's way, and trust the Lord to guide your steps through the weather ahead. PREPARATION GOAL: Evacuation Route Simple Action Step: Look up your specific zone letter today and map out two different driving routes to a safe destination. PREPARATION GOAL: Flood Policy Simple Action Step: Call your insurance agent before the season starts to verify your flood coverage and check the 30-day waiting period. PREPARATION GOAL: Property Video Simple Action Step: Walk through your home this weekend and take a complete video of your property for your secure digital files.