Written SHTF plan: Hurricane

[The Stig]

In the spirit of written SHTF plans here is my first crack at a hurricane specific plan.

I've done this in my Evernote software so it is synced to my iPad, phone and computer. This allows me to update/modify easily. I will print them out for binder of plans but I like the 21st century twist for extra access.

I have to do a few other region specific plans, and update my old general plan but will share those as I complete them.

Comments/suggestions for the plan requested, especially by those who've already dealt with hurricanes.



Fill water cans, bathtubs
Fill all gas tanks
Get cash from ATM
Emergency radio, flashlights staged in kitchen
First aid kit staged in kitchen, big bag staged with overnight bags
Any debris or outdoor furniture removed from yard
Mops, towels, blankets, buckets staged
Fire extinguishers moved to kitchen
Phones charged, iPad and myfi charged
Backpack with clothes, mess, toiletries and other needed supplies staged in case we need to leave in middle of storm
Stage tools, tarps, sealing calks/compounds for mid-storm repairs
Pet carriers staged
Park Armada in ? Location so we can get to it quickly in the middle of the storm

Hang hurricane shutters when appropriate
Assist inlaws as needed

Post storm
Assess damage - remove dangerous items as appropriate
Move generators into position as needed
Coordinate with local family to assist as needed
Begin cleanup

[izzyscout21]

Nice start for the binder, bro.

[piranha2]

I will try to find the last hurricane procedure that I wrote for the power plants and post it. In the meantime, add a flashlight for each person (to be kept on their person 24 hrs. per day) and DO NOT plan to leave in the middle of the storm. Run early or stay put. I repeat, do NOT go out into the storm. My rule is Cat 3 or better, with a direct hit, run, but YMMV. Depends on a lot of things. Food that needs little or no cooking (or a way to cook it). If no way to cook it, start using out of the freezer before the storm approaches.
Don't forget the important papers and documents, maybe even pictures, put them in a safe place.

Here is a link to a good basic info pdf on cyclones. Does not cover all the bases, but a good start.

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/hurricane/resources/TropicalCyclones11.pdf


I will repost with more.

[realist]

You know if you all would just move out here to the Left Coast you would not have to do that each year. We only have to rebuild every fifty or so years when everything comes tumbling down........

Plus you would help dilute the population of the radical left out here. I would like to see a bunch of more like minded people around here.

[piranha2]

I just left Sac last April1. Was out there for 3 years. No offense, but I prefer hurricanes.

[realist]

See you left so now the percent of Lefters just went up.

[JustAPrepper]

I wouldn't keep all the flashlights in the same area. Stage them throughout the house but be specific and consistent with their locations so everyone knows where they are. Not necessarily one in every room but definitely one in a main bathroom, maybe the floor of a main hallway and in another main room. That way if power goes out and family is scattered throughout the house they can find lighting.

Don't use candles if you don't have to. They add a lot of heat to an already hot and muggy house once the power goes out.

I bought some Solar yard lights. They don't stay outside but are a backup source of light. If you have them, put them outside so they can charge.

If you have pets, make sure they are collared. We don't keep collars on ours 24/7 but anytime a storm rolls in I collar them up with leashes handy. I also make sure I've packed food and water in their carriers.

If you have room in your freezer(s), start making your own ice and bagging it up. It will take up dead space in your freezer, keep your food colder longer and you can use it when you need it.

Turn your fridge and freezers down to their lowest settings early on to get a hard freeze on everything. I had food that was frozen solid in the bottom of my deep freeze several days after I lost power in 90°+ temps. I was able to stagger my cooking (on the grill) by using the stuff on top first as it thawed.

Turn your A/C down very low to get a good chill on the house. You'll be thankful for the extra few hours of cooler temps after the power goes down.

Get a Beach Ball. Write your name and phone number on it. During the height of the storm toss it in to the wind. Wait for someone to call you after the storm has passed to see how far the ball travelled.

And Nutter Butters. I NEVER go through a hurricane without Nutter Butters.

Oh, and every time someone on the news tells you to "Hunker Down"...you have to take a drink of your favorite adult beverage. After 30 minutes of news coverage, 20 depending on how dramatic your newscasters are :rolleyes:, you won't much care about the howling winds and battering rains. :p

[The Stig]

Justa! Great to see you around.

Yea, I didn't think about having flashlights on people/staged elsewhere. I great point about the candles. Like a dummy Yankee I would have fired one up. Also like the solar lights idea.

I don't drink but I do wonder how those of you who go through hurricanes pass the time. I'm pretty calm about most things but bad weather gets me amped up like nobody's business. I can't imagine sitting there, for 6 to 12 hours, listening to the wind and rain and just doing...well....nothing. How do you keep from every weird noise or odd creek driving you nuts? Or staring at the roof waiting for water to start dripping?

I'm thinking games for LiL Stig, cards for us, charged up ipods to drown out the noise, etc but am open to any other tips.

I won't lie, I am genuinely nervous about our first storm. I'm sure the old hands laugh at that, and I'll look back and call myself a pussy, but it does produce some anxiety.

[The Stig]

DO NOT plan to leave in the middle of the storm.

We'd only leave if the roof blew off or something catastrophic that made it unsafe to stay put happened. It would have to be something big.

Then we'd only just drive right next door where we have a mutual assistance pact. Its a straight shot across the yard to their front door.

[The Stig]

I have been told by some that putting a bead of roofing tar under the first layer of shingles that overhangs the edge of the roof can *sometimes* keep the damage down. I guess the idea is it keeps them from blowing up and allowing wind underneath.

Any truth to this?

[JustAPrepper]

Yes...I've been away a while but I saw this thread and couldn't pass it up...also I saw Sniper's post about Food Porn. I LOVE me some Food Porn so I may just have to head over that way. :p

I don't know about the roofing tar but I have a back entry door with an in-swing that is exposed/not covered. I noticed (this was before Evolver and I ever got together) that driving rains would slowly seep in. When Frances hit in 2004 I went out and caulked the hell out of the entire door. It worked but I didn't do it for Jeanne when she hit the following month and I had water four feet in to my bedroom.

There are also huge pressure differentials between the inside of your house and what's happening outside. During a hurricane, if the pressure is low enough, it will actually bow or suck your windows toward the outside, even if you have hurricane panels. It might not be a bad idea to run a bead of caulk around any doors and windows because if the pressure is low enough and the rain is significant enough, it will seep in.

Also, most people don't realize that hurricane's don't produce much thunder and lighting and very few tornadoes, all things considered. They are their own weather system and push everything else out of their way, or gobble it up. My old dog is absolutely terrified of thunderstorms but does fairly well during a hurricane because there's no thunder and lightning. He'll even go out to pee even though he hates the rain, NOT something he'll do during a thunderstorm. It's just a hell of a lot of rain and a hell of a lot of wind. As for me, I do ok. I prepare as best I can and make sure I have a safe place to go in case it all goes to hell. I put a small cooler of essentials as well as blankets and pillows in the bathroom, the safest place in my house. When the weather radio sounds and I hear something that sounds ominous I go there and wait. Other than that, I'm usually on the porch watching and listening. :)

And one more thing I thought of...make sure all your laundry is washed and dried before the storm. You can clean up a mess with dirty towels but clean clothes will be a luxury if you find yourself without power for weeks on end.

[The Stig]

Your post reminds me, I need to add putting some tape on both sides of our windows, some of which are very large and thin, to prevent cracking when they flex, to my "to-do" list.

[Stg1swret]

Not a good idea. While one would think it might help, it only lifts the edge up higher giving the wind a bit more to catch onto. The edge of the roofing shingles should over hang the gutters on your home if you have them.

[Stg1swret]

To releave any presure differentials between inside and outside the home, you can barely crack open the bottom of the windows and this will eliminate any issues with windows bowing.