With the start of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the Resilience Infrastructure and Disaster Response (RIDER) Center at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is encouraging individuals to take the necessary steps to prepare.
“We never know when a hurricane may strike,” said Eren Ozguven, associate professor of civil engineering and RIDER Center Director. “It is important for individuals and families to take some time now to think about their plans if a hurricane should hit. The more prepared you are now, the easier post-storm recovery will be.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects above-average activity for the season, which begins June 1.
The RIDER faculty and staff have created a tip sheet for the season that suggests individuals PIN3 – plan, inventory, inspect and insure. Access the downloadable PDF of the tip sheet below.
PLAN
You need to have a plan and share it. Ready.gov/plan and floridadisaster.org provide resources to help with this. Planning for evacuation, sheltering and communication are the most important. Namely, if you need to leave, where will you go, how will you get there, and how will you stay in touch with friends and family? You need a plan that includes available shelters, evacuation routes and modes of communication written out in detail. Once you have that plan, make sure your family, friends and neighbors have a copy.
INVENTORY
Check your inventory of hurricane supplies. Whether you are stuck in your home without power or you need to evacuate, do you have enough food, water, medicine and other supplies for you, your family and your pets? Hurricanesafety.org provides checklists to help you make sure you have the right items in the right amount.
INSPECTION
Ask a tree service company to inspect your property to see if it is at risk of tree damage. Inspect your windows to see if you need shutters or if you have impact resistant windows. Check if your roof has or needs hurricane straps. There are several online resources for how to prepare a property for a storm and taking these steps now can make a huge difference in the resilience of your property during a disaster.
INSURANCE
Check the status of your insurance. Your homeowner’s insurance should offer enough coverage in the event of severe damage. Your post-disaster recovery will be easier the more prepared you are.