If you're like us and live on the coast or in Texas, you've likely experienced the sheer power of a hurricane - we know how damaging they can be. What we also know is how to prepare for a hurricane and what to do in the wake of these super storms. We care about our customers and the wider Texan community, so we want to offer helpful advice in not just energy savings, but other aspects of life such as extreme weather.
It can be great living on the gulf coast with its many perks, but it also comes with severe weather events. This is just one of the many trade-offs. As hurricane season looms around the start of June, we hope this knowledge article offers the information you need to prepare your home, create an evacuation plan, gather emergency contacts, and repair your house when the dust settles. If you need more information or thoughtful provision of electricity across Texas, get in touch and our team will gladly help you out.
Alternatively, the Texas General Land Office has compiled a list of tips to prepare for a hurricane. They suggest subscribing to alerts and listening to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio. These resources provide up-to-date information on any threatening weather systems as they develop across Texas. However, while we still have time before hurricane season, there are more steps that can be taken in preparation.
Hurricanes are formed when hot air rises and cool air rushes down to fill the empty space created. The spherical nature of the Earth creates a cyclical motion and causes the storm to move in relatively predictable patterns in similar locations. The warm water of tropical regions, like the Gulf Coast, encourage the formation of hurricanes, meaning states like Texas have received roughly a dozen storms per year over the last 30 years.
Once wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour (mph), a storm is classified as a tropical storm. From 74 mph, the storm is called a tropical cyclone or a hurricane. Hurricanes are classified in five categories ranging in speeds from Category 1 to 5. The first category comes with wind speeds between 74 and 95 mph, while Category 5 hurricanes (of which there has been a handful in the last century) have wind speeds above 157 mph. At such speeds, trees are torn from their roots, houses from their foundations, and towns from their habitability.
The cost of these damages can range in the millions to billions for the state and community. Hurricane Harvey, for example, ripped through Texas in 2017 and cost more than $125 billion. This made it the second-costliest natural disaster in United States history, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
As the news reports an impending hurricane on the shores of Texas, make sure to tick off each of these items in preparation.
Gather supplies which cater for every member of your household or business, with specific consideration to the length of your stay in the event of a hurricane. Also, take note of how long authorities predict the hurricane will last.
We suggest gathering enough resources to last three days in your given location. These should include non-perishable foods, first-aid supplies, prescriptions, pet supplies, flashlights and batteries. Hurricanes can easily knock out power sources, so we highly advise you keep your devices charged with a portable charger on hand.
Tie down loose items that are a risk of being blown around and damaging property or people. Don't underestimate the kinds of things that need tying down - we've all seen those videos of trampolines and road signs being lifted from the ground in a hurricane. If it moves, tie it down!
Cover your windows with plywood to avoid smashed glass injuring anyone and creating a hole for weather to enter the home. If you're unsure on how to do this properly without risk of the wood detaching in the storm, contact a builder or carpenter for advice.
It's one thing to have an evacuation plan in place but it's another thing to make everyone aware of it. Once you have identified the best exit from every location in the building, print and laminate clear signs that explain the escape route.
In the event that it's too late to escape from the hurricane, agree on the safest place in your building where you can wait for the storm to pass. This is often the smallest room on your ground floor as this will provide the most structural stability in the building. The ground floor is the best option as it is grounded, removing fall risk, and has no flood risk like the basement.
If you do have time to escape your home, make sure to familiarize yourself with the best route to your local shelter, or a second residence further inland.
The last thing you need to worry about in a storm that endangers your family is your insurance. Remove one more worry from the situation by getting your insurance in order well in advance. If you thought the billions of costs to the state was overwhelming, consider how stressful it would be to receive your own bill without having paid for insurance. Make sure to compare insurance providers to get the best policy for you and double-check that it covers hurricane damage.
Once the storm has passed, assess your property for damage and contact your insurance company as soon as possible, if necessary. Keep in mind that thousands of others will be doing the same thing, so your patience will be appreciated by busy operators.
Our team is made up of passionate locals who know the effects of hurricanes all too well. This means we are more than happy to offer any advice on preparing for a hurricane in Texas as well as other extreme weather events. Stay safe y'all!
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