Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
For buildings subject to moist salty air, especially ocean-front homes, inspect your
existing hurricane clips and Simpson Strong Ties for corrosion, and replace or up-
grade as necessary. Old hurricane clips that are mostly rusted through will do little to
hold down the roof of your home in ferocious hurricane winds!
• Inspect the home's foundation for resistance to erosion from floodwaters, and take
erosion control measures if you suspect that the foundation might be endangered by
floodwaters. Remember, if your foundation fails, your whole house goes down!
• Keep trees and palm fronds well trimmed, and your property free of clutter and loose
debris. Remember, a branch, board, or other loose debris can become a lethal weapon
when driven by 100-plus mph winds!
• Review your insurance papers and read the fine print. Floods are not covered by most
homeowner's policies unless you have a specific clause or policy for flood insurance.
Many Hurricane Katrina victims found out the hard way that their insurance policies
were inadequate!
When a Hurricane Is Closing In . . .
When it looks like a hurricane is headed for your area, here is a checklist of items that should
be attended to:
Make sure your car is filled with gasoline and your grab-and-go kits are packed.
Make sure that rain gutters are clean and windows covered.
Fill all available tubs, basins, and containers with potable drinking water.
Turn refrigerators and freezers to lowest settings in anticipation of power failure. If power fails, eat
refrigerated and frozen foods first before moving on to canned and dry foods.
Stay tuned to radio and TV. Also a NOAA weather radio if you have one.
Unless planning to weather the storm in your home, evacuate early before roads are jammed. Stay
flexible, not rigid! Storms do not always behave according to what the weatherman predicts, so you
may need to change plans on a moment's notice.
Store lawn furniture and loose yard items in a secure location, before they become lethal projectiles!
Some people throw lawn furniture into their swimming pools to be retrieved after the storm passes.
Let friends and family know your evacuation plans and out-of-town contacts.
Ifyouhave aswimming pool,chlorine-shock yourpooltoprotect against contamination fromdebris
and flood waters.
For insurance purposes, take “before” pictures of your home and key possessions.
The Aftermath
