Riding the Storm Out
The annual hurricane season began June 1st, but for us here in the Houston area, the majority of our hurricanes come in the time from July 1st to September 30th. So, yes, after reading my bloq from last month, you heeded all the warnings and took advantage on stocking up on supplies. The storm appeared to be going to another part of the world and then, guess what, you woke up one morning and found out that over night, the hurricane had changed course and it was steamrolling right to your area. You hear that all roadways are jammed packed. It makes no sense to get out there and join in the frenzy. You decide to ride out the storm. Now what?
Is your home sturdy enough to withstand a strong wind? While winds decrease as the hurricane comes on shore, our area is close enough to the Gulf to experience 100+ mph winds. It is. Check. Is your home in a flood prone area or would it take a severe rainstorm to cause flood water to enter your home? Not prone to flooding. Check. Are cell phones charged? Yes. Check. Remember, don't use your phone except for urgent calling. It frees up the system, plus you have a full battery should power go down. Power may go out well in advance of the storm's arrival. You may be wise to shower and groom before power goes out and certainly it will.
Okay, you're set. As winds pick up, stay in the middle of your home and if a big tree is on one side of your home, avoid that side except for short trips there. Once you make the decision to ride out the storm, there's no changing the plan. You are there. Stay abreast of the water level in your street. Should your home begin to flood, stay in an elevated area, but DO NOT climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped there.
Should the eye of the hurricane pass over your home, the weather will calm down to little or no wind and rain. DO NOT be fooled into thinking that the storm is over. You can use these valuable moments to do emergency repairs outside, but keep in mind the time is limited. Do not drive! All businesses are closed. Trust me on this. You’re not missing a thing. Also, when the eye has moved on, the winds will return however, this time form the opposite direction.
Every storm is different. Every storm has its own personality. Some have a fast forward speed, while others take their time moving along. Some have high winds while others drop copious amounts of rainfall.
If you have a NOAA weather radio, the local channel is 162.400 MHz. KTRH 740 AM is a great source for news and weather reports during a storm.
Again, these two months of articles are just an introduction into hurricane safety. I encourage you to seek out more sources well in advance of the arrival of any hurricane conditions. By this time next month, we should be in the peak of the hurricane season.
Until then, stay safe,
Brian Havran