For all of you Floridians, yes hurricane season is back. Here in South Florida, we've been lucky enough to have mostly sunny skies and good waves for the past decade and have not had to endure a catastrophic hurricane since Hurricane Wilma, 11 years ago. Though many of us were caught offguard with the development of the category for Hurricane Matthew, we must better prepare ourselves for the possible round two of his wrath in the following week. Below, is a checklist of preparation tasks that all of us MUST do to ensure the safety and security of our so called "Sunshine" state:
1. Fill up your gas tanks before it's too late:
Do yourself a favor and fill up your gas tanks when the storm is still developing. At the sight of tropical storm and hurricane warnings, it will be very difficult to find a gas station with a viable gas source. In the case of an emergency, it will not be possible to evacuate with an empty tank of gas.
2. WATER, WATER, WATER!:
It is imperative to buy water at the first sightings of a storm. If you lose power, you will be unable to replenish and quench your thirst from the tap. Bottled water is a necessity during a hurricane because the electricity could be out for days. Better stock up to be safe than sorry.
3. Purchase nonperishable foods:
In the likelihood of losing power, make sure to purchase canned goods, snacks and anything that does not require refrigeration or that can spoil. If you get hungry, ordering in will not be an option so you better prepare!
4. Put up hurricane shudders or plywood to protect your home:
As I prepare for Hurricane Matthew, I noticed that many are underestimating the storm and are doing away with their hurricane protection. This blows my mind due to the fact that winds can blow over a hundred miles per hour. If you have shudders, stop being lazy and put them up so you do not have to worry about the aftermath of the storm. If you do not own shudders, place plywood on windows to better protect yourself.
The most important thing during a hurricane is to stay safe! Keep your loved ones away from windows and remain together. Unity is a necessity during Hurricane Matthew, so good luck South Florida!
