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Storms & Disasters Life-saving
Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricanes give days of warning — use them. The water (storm surge and flooding), not the wind, kills most people.
What to do
- 1Know your evacuation zone and route before the season starts.
- 2When told to evacuate, leave early — roads gridlock and bridges close.
- 3If sheltering: fill the bathtub and containers with water, charge everything, and move to an interior room away from windows.
- 4Turn the fridge/freezer to coldest and keep doors shut.
- 5After: avoid floodwater (it hides debris, sewage, and live wires); watch for carbon-monoxide from generators.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Riding out a surge zone to 'protect the house'
- Running a generator in a garage or near windows (CO kills)
- Driving through flooded roads — 'Turn around, don't drown'
Good to know
- Photograph your home and documents for insurance before the storm.
- Freeze water bottles ahead — they keep the freezer cold and become drinking water.
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