Hurricane Season Reminder: Are You Ready?

Every year, June 1 rolls around, and hurricane season officially begins. And every year, I think most of us in South Louisiana have the same reaction. We know it’s coming, we know what can happen, and we hope this will be one of those years when we don’t have much to worry about.

We’ve been through enough storms around here to understand how quickly things can change. One day, we’re watching something develop in the Gulf, wondering whether it’ll amount to anything. A few days later, everybody’s talking about projected paths, school closures, and whether it’s time to make a grocery run.

And somehow, bottled water and bread become the hottest commodities in Acadiana.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with hoping for a quiet hurricane season. I hope for one every year. But hope isn’t much of a plan, and there are a few things worth taking care of before the next storm becomes the only thing anybody’s talking about.

Get Your Emergency Supplies Together

Most of us have at least some hurricane supplies tucked away somewhere. Maybe it’s a flashlight in the junk drawer, a few cases of water in the garage, or a box of batteries we’re pretty sure still work.

The question is whether we could actually find everything if we needed it tomorrow.

Take a little time to put together an emergency supply kit, or go through the one you’ve already got. You should have enough drinking water and nonperishable food for everyone in your household for several days. Include flashlights, batteries, portable phone chargers, a first-aid kit, medications, hygiene supplies, and anything your children or pets might need. Emergency officials generally recommend planning for at least three days of supplies, and having more on hand can be helpful if services are disrupted longer.

Don’t forget cash in smaller bills and copies of important documents stored somewhere waterproof. If the power and internet are down, the things we normally depend on might not be available.

And check those expiration dates. There’s nothing quite like discovering that your emergency food supply expired two hurricane seasons ago.

Have a Plan for Your Family

One of the hardest parts of an approaching hurricane is making decisions when you don’t know exactly what’s going to happen.

Do we stay? Do we leave? Where would we go? When should we make that decision?

Those are questions worth talking through before a storm is headed our way.

Sit down with your family and discuss what you’d do if an evacuation became necessary. Think about where you could stay, how you’d get there, and what you’d need to bring. If you have young children, elderly relatives, pets, or family members with medical needs, you’ll want to account for those things ahead of time.

I’d also encourage you to identify more than one route out of the area and make sure everyone knows how to communicate if cell service becomes unreliable.

Most importantly, pay attention to local emergency officials. If an evacuation is ordered, follow their instructions. The house and everything in it can be replaced. Your family can’t.

Let’s Talk About Generators

After a hurricane, a generator can feel like one of the greatest inventions in the history of mankind, especially when it’s August in Louisiana and the air conditioner hasn’t run in two days.

But generators also come with some very real dangers.

Portable generators produce carbon monoxide, an invisible, odorless gas that can be deadly. They should never be operated inside a house, garage, or other enclosed space, even with the doors open. Keep them outdoors at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents, with the exhaust directed away from the house.

Make sure you’ve got working battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors, and never connect a portable generator directly to your home’s wiring without a properly installed transfer switch or other approved equipment.

You’ll also want to understand your generator’s capacity, use the appropriate outdoor-rated cords, and let the equipment cool before adding fuel.

If you’re considering a whole-home generator, it’s worth talking with a qualified installer well before hurricane season gets busy. Waiting until a storm is approaching usually isn’t the best time to start that conversation.

Take a Walk Around Your Yard

Here’s something that doesn’t take much time but can make a difference.

Walk around the outside of your house and look at everything that could become a problem in strong winds. Patio furniture, flowerpots, decorations, trash cans, and anything else that isn’t secured could end up somewhere you never intended.

Check your fences and gates, and pay attention to trees with damaged or overhanging limbs. If you’ve got a tree that concerns you, have a qualified professional evaluate it. That’s not a project I’d recommend tackling yourself when severe weather is approaching.

And while you’re outside, take a look at your gutters and drainage. We know how much rain these storms can bring, and you want water moving away from your home as effectively as possible.

You don’t have to wait until there’s a hurricane in the Gulf to take care of these things. In fact, that’s the whole point.

Getting your family ready is only part of the equation. Your house needs some attention, too. I’ve put together another article, Storm-Proofing 101: Simple Steps to Protect Your Home, where I walk through protecting your windows, checking your insurance coverage, documenting your belongings, and taking care of potential problems around your property before a storm arrives.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

I think one of the reasons we put hurricane preparation off is because it’s not something we particularly enjoy thinking about. Nobody wants to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon imagining what might happen if a major storm comes through.

But being prepared doesn’t mean living in fear of the next hurricane. It means doing what you can now so that, if something happens, you’ve got one less thing to worry about.

Maybe this weekend you check the batteries, organize the emergency supplies, or finally have that conversation about where your family would go if you needed to leave.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to get done.

And if you’re looking for someone to help with tree trimming, roofing, generator installation, or other work around your home, reach out. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know some really good local professionals, and I’m always happy to help connect you with someone who can get the job done.

You don’t have to be buying or selling a house to call me. Sometimes you just need to know a guy.

Here’s hoping for a quiet hurricane season. But either way, let’s be ready.

Hey Hey, it’s John Ray!