The Perfect Storm: Staying Prepared for Hurricane Season

9/12/2019 (Permalink)

Hurricane Dorian at the coast of the United States

Amidst the madness of Hurricane Dorian barreling the coast of Florida and the eastern seaboard, residents of St. Augustine prepped their livelihood for an upcoming natural disaster all the while filling their fridge with alcohol, the pantry with snack food, and charging their devices in case of an outage. Even though St. John’s County was subject only to light flooding and we can breathe a sigh of relief, hurricane season is by no means over. We must remain vigilant and continue preparations for the upcoming storms that may occur throughout September and October.

Expect the Unexpected

Dorian isn’t the first hurricane to grow in size at an astonishing rate. Throughout the week, meteorologists were stunned at the continuous changes of the storm’s nature and path. The forecast had changed at least five times throughout its forecast. Dorian’s eye was expected to hit Florida in some way, shape, or form until it shocked the country by landing stationary on top of the Bahamas at Category 5 strength. After a day of havoc and destruction, Dorian slowly grazed the Florida east coast, only causing erosion and minor water damage for most of the state. Even as a weaker storm, it impacted North Carolina more with extensive power outages. The outer bands of hurricanes can cause impressive wind guests. While meteorologists and analysts have the best technology and knowledge to identify and report hurricanes, the weather is still unpredictable. Have your home prepared even if the weather report predicts the storm won’t directly hit your residence.

Better Safe than Sorry

Floridians like to joke about the lack of danger present in hurricanes based on its category. While it’s all in good fun, we still know the risks any storm can pose. Florida has been damaged by hurricanes for generations and we know even a category 1 can pose a serious risk of intense winds and potential flood damage. Any powerful storm can cause a leak in your home or debris to crash through a window. While you may not have to board up your homes for every hurricane that strikes your area, it’s important to be aware of the dangers from any category-size cyclone. Here are some tips to help you and your family prepare before the rush. 

• Purchase your supplies ahead of time to beat the last-minute crowd
• Focus on individual gallons of water as opposed to packaged water bottles
• Make sure there is a flashlight in every major room of your home including bathrooms. 
• Fill sandbags and cover them with tarps to prevent excess rain from soaking the sand
• Make sure your devices are fully charged and make sure there is a way to keep track of the storm. There are apps that have free tv channels and radio broadcasts

After the Storm

In the event that your residence or business was subjected to flooding or there is a water leak, don’t panic. Take a deep breath. Make sure the area is safe to traverse. If there is something of value that hasn’t been damaged by water, check the surrounding area for safe passage before attempting to retrieve it. Call your local SERVPRO at 904-429-4457. We’ll be there for you every step of the way to bring your home or business back to normal. Remember to stay prepared and be safe out there during Storm Season 2019.