BEWARE! Hurricane 2013 is here!

Floridians & East Coasters...tis' the season to be prepared for the WORST!!

Whether it is a Cat 1 or a Cat 4, you need to be ready for anything and everything that these destructive storms can throw at you. We have seen the media plaster the pictures of damage from past storms such as Hurricane Sandy,Katrina, Wilma, Andrew, as well as aftermath of Oklahoma tornado devastation. As a Floridian, we learn to take it as it comes, but we tend to not blink at a smaller storms. The problem with that is you cannot predict mother natures plan. As a homeowner you cannot take the risk, you are protecting not only your family, but also your investment. So ask your self...

Am I ready? 
Here are a few questions to ask yourself...

What is the plan for my family? Will we evacuate or stay home?
Are we in a flood zone? Will we HAVE to?

Evacuating? Where to? What is the best route?
           Will your pets be able to accompany us? Is a pet friendly hotels an option?

Is my home ready?
- Is my roof up-to-date & secure?
- What about storm shutters? generator?
- Yard debris free?

How is our Emergency Supply Kit? Stocked: Food? Water? Batteries? First Aid? 

Is my insurance current? What are my deductibles? 

Do I have a current inventory of my home and boat?
Pictures/Video of each room and all of the contents?

What will I do with my boat/waverunner?
On a trailer? Will it fit in my garage?
In a marina? What are the dockage policies for storms? Is there a Hurricane Club?
What does the Coast Guard dockmaster advise

What to be prepared for?
-Loss of electricity
-No roof
-Severe water damage
-No way to get money out of bank
-No credit cards
-No grocery store/ gas station
-No car- debris blocking streets
-No phones (land or cell)
-No trees
-Not recognizing surroundings
-$5 bags of ice
-lost personal belongings
-Warlike setting with military presence
-Extreme heat and no way to cool off
-Out of home possibly for weeks
-Not able to work
-Chaos!
-Devastation!

Let your smart phone help:
American Red Cross
American Red Cross: Hurricane
American Red Cross: Tornado
American Red Cross: Shelter
FEMA
FloodSmart.gov

The Anatomy of a Tornado

Tornado: tor·na·do (noun)

1.  A violently rotating column of air extending from a cumuliform cloud, such as a thunderstorm, to the ground. Twister, cyclone, whirlwind,

Tornadoes form from an intense battle of hot and cold air. There's warm, moist air below and cold, dry air above, with a thin lid of stable air between. When the warm air rushes through the lid of stable air and mixes with the cold air. An updraft and a downdraft begins and a thunderstorm forms. Air rotating on a horizontal axis gets pushed diagonally from the updraft, resulting in a tornado.

Facts:

¨ Tornadoes can happen at any time of day, any time of year

¨ Form quickly and travel in very unpredictable directions.

¨ Tornadoes are most likely to occur in the right-front quadrant of the hurricane, but are also found in the rain bands.

¨ The stronger the hurricane, the more of a risk for a tornado

¨ Preparedness is critical

¨ They may appear transparent until dust and debris are picked up or the cloud forms in the funnel.

¨ Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water (more on waterspouts in the next blog) 

Tornado Watch

Tornadoes are possible. 

Remain alert for approaching storms. 

Watch the sky and stay turned to local weather station via tv or radio.

Tornado Warning

 a tornado has been spotted or indicated by weather radar. 

Take shelter immediately

Safety Tips:  

• Stay calm 
• Stay away from windows
• Go to the low, center room 
• Hide under sturdy furniture
• Protect your head and chest, crouch, face to floor, hands behind head
• Cover yourself with blankets
• Have a supply kit located in your shelter with flash light, radio and sturdy shoes

In schools and offices: seek designated shelter in interior rooms or hallway's on ground floor, 

or lowest floor possible. Avoid auditoriums and gymnasiums.Evacuate mobile homes and vehicles! 

Seek shelter in substantial structure, ditch or culvert.