Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to hurricane-force winds. Anchor the mobile home with over-the- top, or frame, ties. When a storm threatens, do what you can to secure your home, then take refuge with friends or relatives or at a public shelter.
Before you leave, take the following precautions:
- Pack breakables in boxes and put them on the floor.
- Remove mirrors and tape them. Wrap mirrors and lamps in blankets and place them in the bathtub or shower.
- Install hurricane shutters or precut plywood on all windows.
- Shut off utilities and disconnect electricity, sewer and water lines. Shut off propane tanks and leave them outside after anchoring them securely.
- Store awnings, folding furniture, trashcans and other loose outdoor objects.
Make Plans for Your Pets
In planning for the hurricane season, do not forget your pets. If you evacuate your home, do not leave pets behind.
The Humane Society of the United States urges pet owners to make arrangements to evacuate their animals.
Be sure you have up-to-date identification tags, a pet carrier and a leash for them. Assemble a disaster kit that you can provide to whomever assumes care of your pet during a disaster.
Most emergency shelters will not accept pets. In the event of evacuation, make alternative arrangements for pets, such as with family friends, veterinarians or kennels in safe locations. Send medicine, food, feeding information and other supplies with them.
Planning Could Save Your Business
If a hurricane is threatening the area where your business is located, you can take actions ahead of time that will save damage and lost productivity.
Clear out areas with extensive glass frontage as much as possible. If you have shutters, use them; otherwise, use precut plywood to board up doors and windows.
Remove outdoor hanging signs.
Bring inside or secure any objects that might become airborne and cause damage in strong winds.
Secure showcases. Use plywood to protect glass showcases or, if possible, turn the glass side toward an inside wall.
Store as much merchandise as high as possible off the floor, especially goods that could be in short supply after the storm.
Move merchandise that cannot be stored away from glass and cover it with tarpulins or heavy plastic.
Secure all goods in warehouses off the floor, and place sandbags in spaces where water could enter. Remove papers from lower drawers of desks and file cabinets and place them in plastic bags or containers on top of the cabinets.
Turn off water heaters, stoves, pilot lights and other burners.
Danger: Flash Floods
Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are automobile related.
Water weighs 62.4 lbs. per cubic foot and typically flows downstream at 6 to 12 mph.
When a vehicle stalls in water, the water's momentum is transferred to the car. For each foot water rises, 500 lbs. of lateral force are applied to the car.
But the biggest factor is buoyancy. For each foot that water rises up the side of the car, the car displaces 1500 lbs. of water. In effect, the car weighs 1500 lbs. less for each foot water rises.
Two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.
