How to Prepare For a Hurricane

Hurricane season runs from June 1st until November 30th....Its quite a long span of time so it is very important to stay prepared. Even though last season was a slow one there are predicted to be 3-4 tropical storms this season. I live here in Florida in the city of Tampa and although we have not had many storms Tampa Bay as certainly been plaugued by some scares. Tampa had a Bit of a scare in 2006 with a hurricane said to be headed our way but as many Tampanians predicted it of course changed paths but just because Tampa has gotten lucky along with several other Florida cities doesnt mean that we have the same chances and should be prepared. Here are some ways that you can prepare ahead of time in case of a storm. We also invite everyone to share their stories and ideas with us on how you get prepared or maybe a situation in which you werent...

STOCK UP ON NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS
Make sure you have an emergency stock of canned food items...at the very least enough for 3 days but it is suggested to have enough for one to two weeks. Stock up on high energy foods like peanut butter or protein bars. Bagged chips or crackers are good items to keep in your stash as well.

WATER
You must always keep and emergency supply of bottled water on hand in case of a storm. If the water supply is disrupted or contaminated you will need fresh water. At least enough to last a week or so. This means about 2-5 gallons of water per person especially in the flordia heat with no AC water is very very important. Its imortant to shop early too because when a storm is headed the water at the grocery store goes very quick off the shelves. Trust Me !! Since I have lived in Tampa there have been a couple of storm scares and every season the bottled and gallon water goes quick!!

HAVE A PLAN
Make sure you have a plan of evacuation. Which route will you take to exit? If you plan to stay what do you need to prepare? Extra food, water, and you should also get a raft in case it floods. This will insure that you do not get stranded.

DONT FORGET ABOUT YOUR PETS
Your pets are family members to so please dont forget to make a plan for them too. They need food, water, and a plan to evacuate as well.

BATTERIES
Make sure all flashlights, portable radios and TVs are filled with fresh batteries and prepared with a backup supply or two, you will need to stay informed about emergency and evacuation procedures.

FILL YOUR GAS TANK
Once you hear that a storm is coming, make sure you fill your gas tank and keep in full! This way if for some reason gas is unavailable you can still evacuate the area.

These are just a few important ideas that you should consider when preparing for a Hurricane.....You can find more info at the nation weather information site. Please add your ideas and experiences..we look forward to hearing back from everyone...also visit our other website
http://tampabayonline.us/ for some great information on things to do, places to visit and nightlife!

-Katie