HurricaneHurricanes suck. So do earthquakes, tornadoes, tidal waves, and all sorts of other natural disasters. But, 'tis the season for hurricanes and it seems Tropical Storm Alex is turning into Hurricane Alex. Thankfully for us it is moving away from the U.S. mainland and has avoided the Gulf of Mexico and, more importantly, the area of the BP oil spill disaster. 

The storm is on its way to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and is expected to become a hurricane within the next 48 hours. Now that's no way to start a holiday weekend! 

But I guess they don't celebrate Independence Day in Mexico, right? Still ... no one wants a nasty storm coming through their town. I was in Miami for Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and I wouldn't recommend bunking in the area where the eye of the storm might pass!

Here are a few things you need to do when you know a hurricane is coming.

  1. Heed the warnings and make sure to pay attention to where the storm is traveling. A lot of people think they can just ride a hurricane out at home and end up getting trapped, hurt, or worse. Take evacuation orders seriously ... if not for yourself then for the people you are responsible for!
  2. Secure your property. If you must stay at home (or before you leave), make sure to batten down the hatches. FEMA is quick to point out that tape on the windows isn't going to stop them from blowing in. Make sure you get yourself some plywood! Most importantly, stay indoors and away from windows and doors!
  3. Battery-powered items are key. If I didn't have a battery-powered radio during Hurricane Andrew, I would have felt completely cut off from society. Make sure you have a good amount of batteries in your house for flashlights and radios.

Have you been through any major disasters? Any other advice to share?

 

Image via NASA Goddard Photo and Video/Flickr