With a great sigh of relief and well wishes to our neighbors in North and South Carolina, the residents of Melbourne, FL watched as hurricane Florence rained down the Eastern Coast. We know what it feels like to hunker down and hope for the best. We know what it feels like to face mandatory evacuations and wonder what will be left of our homes, our livelihoods, when and if we return. This year, we have been fortunate here on the Space Coast, but hurricane season does not end until November 30th. Are you prepared? Are you new to the area and have yet to compile a hurricane preparedness kit just in case? Brevard County is home for us here at A Mother’s Touch Movers. We have had the honor of assisting so many of you with your Melbourne, FL moves from residential and office relocations to assistance moving into an assisted living facility, our team of experienced moves has had the opportunity to serve so many of you. As part of our continued mission to serve the people of Brevard, we would like to take this opportunity to shed some light on the steps you need to take to prepare yourself in the event of a hurricane. Safety first, always.
Preparedness is key during this time of year. If a storm should head our way, stores will sell out quickly. One of the best things you can do is have a supply of non-perishable items on hand before danger strikes. The National Hurricane Survival Initiative suggests that every person in your family have at least one gallon of water per day. For example, if you are a family of four this will equate to 12 gallons at the least for three days. The same is true for food items. Make sure you have enough non-perishable items to cover your entire family for at least three days. Obtaining the proper amounts of food and water are just the first steps. At a bare minimum, the National Hurricane Center suggests you will also need:
- Flashlight and batteries
- First Aid Kit and any daily medications you take
- Battery operated weather radio
- Chargers and backups
- Whistle to alert someone
- Maps
- Plastic garbage bags (for trash and personal waste management)
- Dust mask (to protect yourself from contaminated air)
- Plastic sheeting and tape (to create a shelter-in-place)
Depending on your personal needs, you may need to create an emergency kit containing things such as contacts solution, pet care needs, baby formula and diapers, sleeping bags, etc. You know the items you need on a daily basis so be sure to account for them during while you create a preparedness kit.
Creating a personalized kit for hurricane season is a wise decision because it will ensure that when the time comes, you are ready. You will also need to take steps to secure your home and gather important documents. Do what you can now to free you from the worries of having to take care of it later. You’ve got this!
