How to Get your Apartment Ready for Hurricane Season

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This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com

Hurricane season begins June 1st, and lasts until November 30th, with the peak between August and October. This year is predicted to be an active one: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts:

11 to 17 named storms
five to nine are projected to strengthen to hurricane status
two to four are predicted to become major hurricanes.

As long time readers know, I started this blog soon after I experienced Hurricane Ike, when I got caught up in long lines at the grocery and gas station, the day before the hurricane hit. I never want to experience that madhouse again, with wall to wall people racing against each other to grab the last case of bottled water or toilet paper.

Now is the time to get your apartment ready, before the first hurricane watch is issued.

Hurricane Watch vs Hurricane Warning

With a hurricane watch, you have a bit more time to prepare- a watch is issued when the storm is predicted to arrive within 36 hours. By the time the hurricane warning is issued, you will be fighting for supplies: hurricane warnings are issued within 24 hours of a the storm’s arrival.

Easy Steps to Prepare

Emergency Kit

Most people already have a number of supplies lying around their house. The key is to gather them up and make your kit. Include at least a week’s day supply of the following:

water (one gallon per person per day) and a way to purify water
food – Include food that is easy to prepare in case you lose power. Don’t forget comfort food such as chocolate, chips, tea and coffee; special needs foods such as baby formula and food
disposable eating utensils so you don’t need to wash dishes
lighting – plenty of flashlights, batteries, lanterns
cooking backup such as a propane stove
battery powered or crank radio
cash for when debit or credit cards are not working
clean clothes (Wash clothes before the storm hits)
hygiene and personal care items, toilet paper
trash bags
first aid, including prescriptions
pet food and supplies
entertainment that does not require electricity
basic tools in case of minor repairs, duct tape, rope, plastic tarp

If you are planning to buy a generator, set it up now, or hire an electrician to do it as it takes time to get it ready to use.

Emergency Plans

If you have leaky windows or any other maintenance issues, get your landlord to fix them now, before the problem gets worse. Also report any overgrown trees or branches that could fall on your unit so the gardeners can trim them.
Decide ahead of time what you will do in case you have to evacuate.
Plan your route out of the city.
Create your emergency texting tree and designate your out of state emergency contacts.
Make sure your cell phone is charged
Create your important documents binder
Fill up your gas tank

Financial Issues

Make sure you have renter’s insurance and review your coverage
Read your lease and find out what provisions cover hurricane damage just in case.
Make a home inventory, including photos or videotape of your possessions
Have extra cash in case you need to stay in a hotel

Don’t wait until a hurricane is coming close, that’s when shelves get emptied and everyone starts panic buying. Fortunately, hurricanes are predictable and there is still time to prepare.

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