How do you protect yourself from a hurricane? A question that can haunt anyone living in a hurricane-prone area.

Even when there has been significant progress in the forecasting methods, it is mandatory for people living in a hurricane-prone area to have a basic understanding of storms and respective conditions.

What is a Hurricane?

Hurricane is a tropical cyclone variant that usually forms over tropical or subtropical waters. During a hurricane, massive storms form over Warm Ocean and moves towards the land.

Hurricane can:

• Cause havoc around 100 miles on land
• Be more dangerous than a tornado
• Be more active in September
• Happen along the US coast, especially any Atlantic or Pacific Ocean territories

The following is a list of precautionary steps that you can adopt when it comes to protecting yourself from a hurricane.

When a warning is issued

1. Plan an escape route

2. Leave the low lying areas

3. Secure any outdoor household objects

4. Use storm shutters for windows

5. Stock food and water supply for at least a week

6. Keep an eye out for any emergency evacuation or warning via radio and television

7. Do not overlook the possibility of a flash flood, especially when it rains heavily and continuously

8. Identify a windowless room within your house to stay safe and move all the essentials to that room

9. Create an evacuation plan with shelter locations and identify the escape routes. Familiarizing yourself with this route days before the hurricane is expected

10. Consider the special needs of each member in your family, including medications and stock them in abundance

11. Store away important documents in addition to converting them to digital copies

12. Bring any light and loose possessions within your backyard indoors to prevent them from being projectiles

13. Make sure that you charge your mobile phone and power banks

14. Keep an eye out for electrical appliances within your house and turn them off or on as per the expected requirement. For instance, you can try disconnecting the washing machine and grinder from the power supply. On the flip side, you might want to run your refrigerators in the coldest setting available so that even if there is a power failure the stocked food lasts longer

15. Decide on a communication plan in case of emergencies and communicate that with your family members and friends in advance. For instance, texting might be an ideal option in case of a power failure opposed to calling as the phone lines can be overloaded

16. Text run your vehicle and do run a hardware checkup in addition to filling the gas tank to the brim

During the storm

• Remain indoors and in the designated secure room

• Avoid using telephones and candles

• Keep monitoring any relevant news via radio or television

• If an evacuation is requested, do it at the earliest

• If trapped in flooding building, avoid trying to swim your way out. Instead, move to a higher level and wait for rescue to arrive

• Do not attempt to drive or walk when the flooding level is above knee

Hurricanes can be inevitable for people living in coastal areas. Foresee all the possibility and have a hurricane disaster plan tested and ready. Act smart and quick to ensure the safety of your family.