Five Things You Need to do Before the Next Big Storm

Hurricane season is upon us and it’s only a matter of time before the next big one hits. Some of this may seem obvious; I see you rolling your eyes. But watch the clips we’ve posted for our documentary film The Last House Standing. People often live with the feeling, “It won’t happen to me.” Many of them lost everything. Now is the time to get prepared, so if the storm is going to affect you, you’ll be ready.

     Step 1: Do all you can to make certain your home is as durable as possible. Find out how your roof is attached and if hurricane staples are in place. Make certain you have shatterproof windows if possible.  If you don’t want to replace your windows, consider installing hurricane shutters. Make certain your garage door is resilient since that is often one of the weakest points in a home.

     Step 2: Review your home insurance policy. Make sure you are adequately covered for a hurricane. Document all valuables within your home that insurance could replace and take photographs. Save these photographs to some form of digital storage. If your computer gets lost or destroyed, you will want to have backups of your documentation.

     Step 3: Take an inventory of sentimental objects. Prioritize the ones that can easily travel and make note of them so you know what to grab when it comes time to evacuate. These objects should be easy enough to pack or store in your car (some examples include artwork, family photo books, old yearbooks, backup hard drives, etc.).

     Step 4: Familiarize yourself with the evacuation routes and have a plan in place. Know where you are going to go. And if you have family nearby, plan to stay with them if possible. If not, familiarize yourself with the nearest city that is far enough inland. Have a route in mind as well as a backup route in case of road closures. Knowing the route you are going to take makes the stressful process of evacuation easier.

     Step 5: Have a “Go Bag" packed and ready with essentials. Fill your “Go Bag" with things like a basic first aid kit (easily bought at the pharmacy or your nearest outdoor supply store), a toothbrush, toothpaste, razors, soaps and shampoos, a few pairs of underwear, deodorant, and any other toiletries or essentials you can think of. Having this all prepared spares you the added stress of having to scramble and pack once the evacuation order comes in.

The Last House Standing will be released in 2020. For updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The time to make sure you are living in a safe home is now. Disaster eventually finds vulnerable places to destroy.