Those living in the Sunshine State know it’s not all sunshine all the time — and sometimes, when it rains, it pours.
Protecting yourself, your family, and your Boynton Beach property is essential if a natural disaster strikes, and it’s best to know what to do before the storm is approaching.
Yes! Let’s delve into some of the consequences of bad weather that residents of Boynton Beach may be faced with and how to cope with each:
Hurricanes
When a tropical cyclone has sustained winds of 74 mph or more, we call this a hurricane. The time of year known as “Hurricane Season” stretches from June 1 to November 30, but hurricanes can also occur at other times.
Preparation
Below are some steps to take in anticipation of a hurricane:
Make a Plan: Document emergency cell phone numbers, prepare an emergency supply kit, and locate the nearest shelter and different ways to get there. Don’t forget your pets when making your plan.
Gather Emergency Supplies: This includes emergency food and water, medicine, power sources including flashlights (with extra batteries), personal and safety items, important documents, and a fire extinguisher.
Review Insurance Policies: Many policies won’t cover flood damage, so consider opening a flood insurance policy.
Prepare Your Vehicle: This includes moving vehicles under cover or into your garage, filling the gas tank, and keeping an emergency kit in your car.
Prepare Your Home: Clear your yard of anything that could cause damage, cover doors and windows, and be ready to shut power off if disaster strikes. Fill clean water containers with drinking water if you lose your water supply, and check your carbon monoxide detector battery.
Keep an Eye Out for Evacuation Orders: If authorities issue an order to evacuate your home, do so. Bring the essentials, unplug appliances, and turn off gas, water, and electricity.
Prepare to Stay Home if Not Evacuating: If you won’t be evacuating, put your emergency supply kit somewhere easily accessible, listen for hurricane updates, stay inside and away from windows, and leave for a shelter or neighbor’s home if necessary.
During
Follow Official Guidance: Always follow the protocol provided by local authorities. If you’re told to evacuate, it’s important to do so.
Stay in a Safe Spot: Wait out the storm somewhere safe and far from doors and windows – a closet, interior space, or downstairs bathroom.
Listen for Updates: Use a radio in case the utilities go down. You can use a battery-operated or hand-crank radio to listen to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration station for instructions and updates.
Stay Inside: Wait for explicit confirmation that it’s safe to go outside before leaving.
Go to Higher Ground: If floods become dangerous, go to your home’s highest level – but not the attic.
Tornadoes
A tornado is a violently rotating column that extends to the ground from a thunderstorm — and their high winds can cause building and vehicle destruction, with potentially deadly debris.
Preparation
Here are a few ways to make sure you’re prepared in the event of a tornado:
Understand the Signs: This includes a cloud of debris approaching, a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud, or a loud roar that sounds like a freight train.
Stay Informed: Sign up for the warning system in your community. You can also sign up for the EAS (Emergency Alert System) and receive emergency alerts through NOAA Weather Radio. Pay attention to weather reports.
Identify a Shelter That’s Safe and Practice Going to It: This could be a safe room built with FEMA criteria or a storm shelter built up to ICC 500 standards. If that’s not possible, your next best option is an interior, small, windowless room in the basement on a sturdy building’s lowest level.
Include Your Pet in Your Plan: Make sure plans are made for your furry friends.
Prepare to Shelter in Place or Stay Home Long-Term: In case you won’t be able to leave home for some time, make sure you have all of the necessary emergency supplies, non-perishable foods, medication, medical supplies, water, and cleaning supplies.
During
Go To a Safe Location: Go to the place you identified in advance as being safe.
Stay Informed: Watch out for updates from the Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerts. They may provide current information regarding the tornado and instructions to follow.
Stay Safe: Cover your head or neck using your arms and place items on and around you to protect yourself.
Don’t Try to Outrun It: Don’t try to use a vehicle to outrun the tornado. If you’re outdoors or in a car and can’t get to a building, cover your neck and head with your arms and cover your body with a blanket or coat.
Flooding
Flooding happens when there’s an overflow of water over normally-dry land.
Flooding can cause damage even with a few inches of water. In addition, floods kill more people annually than lightning, hurricanes, or tornadoes.
Preparation
Here are a few things you should do to make sure you’re ready if a flood occurs:
Secure Your Home: Ensure your home is secure and safe by sealing all doors and windows. Consider investing in waterproofing solutions for your home.
Make an Emergency Plan: This includes safe exits, meeting places, and evacuation plans.
Prepare an Emergency Kit: Include essential items like water, medicine, food, a first aid kit, and flashlights with extra batteries.
Take Inventory of Your Belongings: You’ll want a list of your belongings to describe damaged and lost items after the flood if you want your insurance to reimburse you.
Protect Essential Documents: You can place them in watertight bags or containers and store them somewhere safe.
Clear Gutters: Keeping your gutters clear allows water to fall away from your home, which helps avoid pooling.
During
Keep Informed: Use local news service, the National Weather Service, and more to stay in the know about updates on the flood, boil water notices, or other advisories.
Follow Protocol: If evacuation orders are issued, follow them.
Shut off Electrical and Utility Lines and Disconnect Your Appliances: Keep these disconnected until you’re sure it’s safe.
Move to Higher Ground: If possible, get somewhere higher to avoid dangerous flood conditions. Bring any valuables to the upper floors with you to keep them safe.
Stay Calm: It’s essential to stay calm and act rationally.
Power Outages
Power outages can happen when you least expect it, but there are things you can do in advance.
Preparation
Ensure you’re ready in case a power outage strikes:
Make a Plan: Plan when and how you will safely evacuate if necessary. Ensure you have gas in your car in case you need to leave.
Take Inventory on What Relies on Electricity: For any essential items, come up with a backup plan to power these things, such as batteries, a portable charger, or a power bank.
Know Medical Needs: Talk to your doctor or medical provider about a plan for your essential medical devices and refrigerated medicines in the event of a power outage.
Food Storage: Have enough water and non-perishable food available for your household.
Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Have carbon monoxide detectors with a battery backup on every level of your property in central locations.
During
Monitor Alerts: Stay informed of local weather reports or notifications.
Keep Freezers and Refrigerators Closed: Monitor temperatures using a thermometer and throw away food if the temperature reaches 40 degrees or more.
Leave If Needed: If your home is too cold or too hot, or you have essential medical devices that need power, you may need to evacuate your home.
Use Appliances Safely: Disconnect or turn off appliances, equipment, and electronics — power can come back with momentary spikes or surges, resulting in damage. Don’t use an oven or gas stovetop to heat your home.
Contact Your Support Network: Stay in touch with people to let them know if you’re okay or if you need help.
How to Prepare for Natural Disasters in Boynton Beach
You never know when a natural disaster might strike. A weather event that starts as a hurricane can lead to further troubles like tornadoes, flooding, and power outages.
Make sure you’re prepared if the worst happens.
Make a Disaster Plan
Ensure that your entire household is on the same page, and don’t forget to include your pets in the preparations.
Build an Emergency Supplies Kit
Create an emergency supplies kit so you have it when you need it. Include the essentials, such as food, water, medicine, medical supplies, flashlights, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Natural Disaster Is Boynton Beach Most at Risk For?
Many of the disasters Boynton Beach experiences go hand in hand — for example, a hurricane can result in tornadoes, flooding, and power outages. For this reason, it’s best to be prepared for any natural disaster by having a plan and making sure you have the necessary supplies.
Suffering From Natural Disaster Damage in Boynton Beach? ADU Can Help
Often, natural disasters can leave damage in their wake for people to recover from.
Contact All Dry USA today if you’ve suffered interior damage from a natural disaster in Boynton Beach. Our experts are available 24/7 to help you remedy the damage before it worsens.
CALL US NOW!