Hurricane Preparedness in Fairhope, Alabama:
What You Need to Have and How to Prepare Your Home
In Fairhope, Alabama, and along the Eastern Shore, hurricane season is a reality we all need to be ready for. Preparation isn’t just about gathering supplies — it’s also about making sure your home is equipped to handle whatever the storm brings. There are two key factors in hurricane preparedness: being stocked up with essential supplies and having your home properly secured.
In this post, we’ll break down what you need in your emergency kit, share some handy hurricane hacks, and then transition into how to make sure your home is storm-ready.
Your Emergency Prep Kit – MUST‒HAVE Items & Handy Hacks!
When a hurricane is approaching, being well-prepared with the right supplies is crucial. But beyond the basics, there are a few smart hacks that can make your storm prep even more effective. Below is a comprehensive list of must-have items for your emergency kit, plus some handy hacks to ensure you’re fully ready for the storm.
MUST‒HAVE Items:
- Water: You’ll need at least one gallon per person per day for at least three days. Make sure you have enough for both drinking and hygiene.
- Non-perishable Food: Stock up on canned goods, peanut butter, protein bars, and snacks that don’t require refrigeration. Include a manual can opener!
- Flashlights & Batteries: Power outages are common during storms, so make sure you have flashlights and extra batteries ready. First-Aid Kit: A well-stocked first-aid kit with bandages, antiseptics, and pain relievers is essential, along with any necessary prescription medications.
- Important Documents: Keep vital documents like insurance papers, passports, and birth certificates in a waterproof bag or container.
- Blankets & Extra Clothing: Pack blankets, warm clothing, and shoes in case you need to evacuate or shelter in place for an extended time.
- Personal Hygiene Items: Don’t forget toilet paper, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, trash bags, and any feminine hygiene products you might need.
- Backup Power: If possible, have a generator ready, or at the very least, a portable charger for your phone. Make sure the generator is tested and in working order before the storm hits. Cash: Power outages can impact ATMs and credit card machines, so have some cash on hand.
Handy Hurricane Prepration Hacks:
- Fill Your Bathtubs & Sinks with Water:If there’s a risk that water services might be interrupted or contaminated, fill your bathtubs and sinks with water before the storm. This water can be used for flushing toilets, cleaning, and even drinking in a pinch.
- Freeze Water Bottles for Drinking and Cooling:Freeze water bottles ahead of time. They’ll help keep your freezer cold longer during a power outage, and once they melt, you’ll have additional drinking water on hand.
- Store Electronics in the Dishwasher:In the event of potential flooding, store your small electronics (like laptops, hard drives, and important documents) in your dishwasher. Dishwashers are sealed to keep water in, so they also work to keep water out!
- Use Ziplock Bags for Important Items:Put your most important items, like medications, keys, wallets, and other valuables, in ziplock bags. This keeps them dry and easy to access if you need to evacuate quickly.
- Unplug Appliances to Avoid Surge Damage:Storm surges and power outages can wreak havoc on electronics. Unplug your appliances ahead of time to avoid surge damage. Even with surge protectors, it’s safer to unplug completely.
- Pre-Freeze Food and Ice:Turn your fridge and freezer to the coldest settings a day before the storm hits. This ensures your food stays colder for longer in case the power goes out. Freezing water bottles can also create ice packs that help keep the freezer cold.
- Fill Your Car with Gas: Fill up your gas tank well before the storm. Gas stations often run out of fuel in the days leading up to a hurricane, and having a full tank can be critical if you need to evacuate.
Preparing Your Home for the Storm
Securing your home from a hurricane is just as important as having the right supplies. A few simple steps now can make a big difference when the storm hits. Here's a checklist to help you prep your home for the season.
Home Preparation Checklist:
- Inspect and Secure Your Roof Check for Loose Shingles: Look for any loose or missing shingles that could become hazards or cause leaks. Seal Vents and Chimneys: Apply roof sealant around vulnerable areas like chimneys and vents to prevent leaks.
- Secure Windows and Doors Install Storm Shutters or Plywood: Protect your windows with storm shutters or pre-cut plywood. Reinforce Garage Doors: Strengthen garage doors with additional bracing or use a garage door hurricane kit.
- Clear Gutters and Drains Remove Debris: Clear out leaves and other debris from gutters to prevent water backup.
- Test Drainage: Use a garden hose to test your gutters to ensure water flows away from your home’s foundation.
- Trim Trees and Remove Debris Trim Overhanging Branches: Cut back any tree branches that hang over your home or are close to windows.
- Remove Loose Yard Items: Secure or store outdoor furniture, grills, and potted plants to prevent them from becoming projectiles.
- Seal Cracks and Gaps Check Windows and Doors for Gaps: Use caulk or weather stripping to seal any gaps that might let water in.
- Inspect Foundation and Walls: Apply waterproof sealant to any cracks in your home’s foundation.
- Elevate Appliances and Furniture in Flood-Prone Areas: Raise Appliances: Use cinder blocks to lift appliances like your water heater, washer, and dryer if your home is prone to flooding. Move Furniture: Move valuable furniture and electronics to higher floors or raise them off the ground.
- Test Backup Generator Test and Refuel: Make sure your generator works properly and is filled with fuel if not on natural gas.
- Surge Protection: Use surge protectors to prevent damage when your generator kicks in.
Pro Tips:
- Install a Backup Battery for Your sump pump or grinder pump (if you have one you won't regret this).
- Photograph Your Home for Insurance Purposes Take photos of your home’s exterior and interior before the storm. This will make it easier to file insurance claims if damage occurs.
- Check Local Shelters and Evacuation Routes Know the nearest shelters and be familiar with evacuation routes in case you need to leave your home. Have a printed map in case GPS is unavailable.
Conclusion
Preparation isn’t just about what you have on hand—it’s also about making sure your home is storm-ready. By following these tips and using the handy hacks, you can protect your home and loved ones when hurricane season comes around.
If you need help securing your home or with any preparation tasks, Fairhope Fix is here to provide expert handyman services to ensure you’re ready before the next storm hits. Stay safe and prepared, Fairhope!
Read below for Hurricane Evacuation Tips:
Open for Pro Hurricane Evacuation Tips
Turn Off Your Main Breaker: Before evacuating, turn off the main breaker in your home’s electrical panel to prevent electrical fires when power is restored.
Shut Off Water Supply: Turn off the water at the main valve to avoid flooding or water damage from potential broken pipes during the storm.
Turn Off Gas: If you have gas appliances, turn off the gas at the main valve to prevent leaks or explosions.
Unplug Electronics: Unplug all electronics and appliances to protect them from potential power surges when power is restored.
Move Valuables to Higher Ground: Place important items like valuables, documents, and electronics on higher floors or in elevated areas to protect them from flooding.
Lock Windows and Doors: Secure all windows and doors before leaving to prevent damage or intruders during your absence.
Check Evacuation Routes: Know your evacuation routes ahead of time, and keep a printed map handy in case GPS is unavailable.
Take Photos of Your Home: Take pictures of the exterior and interior of your home for insurance purposes in case of damage.
Pack an Emergency Bag: Have a “go bag” ready with essentials like clothes, medications, toiletries, chargers, and important documents. Don’t forget pet supplies if you have pets.
Let Someone Know Your Plans: Inform a friend or family member about your evacuation route and where you plan to go.
Freeze a Cup of Water with a Coin on Top: Before evacuating, freeze a cup of water and place a coin on top. When you return, if the coin is at the bottom of the cup, it indicates that your freezer lost power long enough for the food to thaw and refreeze, meaning the food may no longer be safe to eat.
Text, Don’t Call: During emergencies, cellular networks often become overloaded. Texting uses less bandwidth and is more likely to get through than making phone calls.
Make a Digital Backup of Important Documents: Before evacuating, take digital photos or scans of important documents like insurance policies, birth certificates, and property deeds. Save them to the cloud or on a secure USB drive that you take with you.
Protect Irreplaceable Items in a Safe Place: Place irreplaceable items such as family heirlooms, photo albums, and keepsakes in waterproof, fireproof safes or boxes, and store them in a secure, elevated place.
Turn Your Refrigerator to the Coldest Setting: Set your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting before evacuating. This can help preserve food for longer if the power goes out.
Create a Pet Evacuation Plan: Make sure you know which shelters, hotels, or relatives will allow pets. Have a pet “go bag” ready with food, water, medication, and comfort items for your pets.
Bring Portable Chargers or Power Banks: Charge all your electronic devices and bring portable power banks to ensure you can keep your phone and other essential electronics running while on the road.
Leave Internal Doors Open: Before evacuating, leave interior doors open. This can reduce pressure on your house’s structure if it faces extreme winds or changes in pressure during the storm.
Label and Photograph Your Belongings: Take a photo inventory of your valuable belongings, label them with descriptions, and save it digitally. This can be critical for insurance claims after the storm.
Back Your Car Into the Driveway: Back your vehicle into your driveway with a full tank of gas before the storm. This allows for a quick exit and ensures easy access to the road in case of debris.
Carry Cash and Small Bills: In the event of a long-term power outage, credit card machines may not work, and ATMs might be down. Carrying cash in small bills ensures you can make purchases for essentials.
