How to Survive After the Hurricane

After the hurricane is over civil authorities and local emergency management will provide you with detailed instruction as to when you are able to return home. There are many things to consider when returning. You will have to be able to maintain a safe household for children and family under less than desirable circumstances. But the general rule is that the sooner you return home to clean up the faster everyone recovers.

Water is one of the greatest dangers. The still water can be filled with posionous snakes or electricity but will for certain be filled with disease. Once you have secured your home the most important priority you will have is to find clean safe water to drink.

No matter what condition your home is in your first priority is to make certain the area is safe. Your second priority is to find clean safe water.

When you return first check on your hurricane Buddy. Chances are either you or your buddy will need to access services like MRE(s) or water. It is better if you divide accesses those services so you can work on clean up duties. There is a lot to do to clean up and maintaining your own health and that of your families is paramount to survival.

Tensions will be running high so try and remain calm. This is easier said then done when there is no airconditioning, your home is a disaster and you are living on meals ready to eat or (MRE).

Only use fresh water to drink and clean eating utensils. Disease is everywhere so be vigilant against disease washing frequently.

Again links I am not able to provide you through Hubpages. I recommend you buy before Season and you maintain the policies. I have three recommendation and you can insure you home items for up to $50,000. I recommend Geico, All State and Travelers. You can google "renter's insurance" and one of three aforementioned names and get a quote on line.

It is important to take pictures of the damages if you have a disposable camera available especially if there is mold involved.

Before you enter your home walk the perimeter. Leave your children locked in the car. Make certain there are no downed power lines and survey the debris. Watch the power lines and don’t stand in water. Water conducts electricity so if you stand in a puddle and there is a power line down you can be electrocuted. I get my digital camera out and I take pictures of the home from the outside. This is of value to the insurance companies.

Use the digital Camera again and take pictures of any and all damage inside your house as well.

Whether it is rental or insurance or homeowner's insurance you will still need to document the damages.

Once you have completely survey the outside and removed all hazards, I would enter the premises. Be prepared if you have evacuated and your power is out, your refrigerator will stink. When evacuating it is best to toss all you food out because once you lose power it rots in the refrigerator. But it is a catch 22. By the time evacuations are called for trash collection ends. It is a while before trash collection begins again. You don’t want to leave a trash can out full of rotted food for raccons to get into. What works best for me since I have been through all of these storms is to toss out the things I know are really perishable like meat and dairy products. During a hurricane you can not saftly use a generator unless your are really experienced or you use a propane generator. So for the general reader assume you will not have power during the storm. Even if you do have a generator they usually can only run a few appliances like the refrigerator but then not the stove. After the storm you can fire up the generator after the hurricane but again it will only run limited applicanes and fuel is usually always short after a storm. Basically don’t expect to having power to anything but perhaps your laptop and the refrigerator. And then for only short periods of time. You will burn through gas rather quickly and there will not be a lot around.

Life doesn’t come back immediately so be patient. You should have hurricane supplies for a few more days. Grocery stores in really bad natural disasters usually give away their produce as they would rather give food away than watch it rot. Dry ice is valued commodity and is useful to keep your food cold for a few days without power but you are camping until power returns. Telephones; both land lines and cellular takes time as well. If you have a satellite telephone great but you would have to have clear skies and a friend with a satellite telephone to answer you.

They are controversial at best druing hurricanes but I wish to offer you the possibility of having one even if I am not able to pull those links in for you. Search any web browser for Globalstar Satellite Telephones, GMPCS satellite Telephones, or Remote Satellite Telephones. They are commerially available. It should noted I did not leave capsule open but was unable to make links with these URLs.

No brainer right. No. When civilization fails there are all kinds of things going on and it is best to stay in doors. Follow you civil leaders/Emergency Management Services and don’t break curfew. Make certain you have clean water. This is the best and safest advice I can offer.

Continue to monitor the radio and all weather reports because chances are Emergency Management will provide you with details for things you need as well as things you need to avoid, changes in curfews etc. Also keep your weather radio close at hand; chances are if you have survived one storm you aren’t through hurricane season yet. In Florida it ends in November. I have written extensively on hurricane preparedness and caring for children during hurricanes. I will provide links below..