Hurricane season with symbol sign against a stormy background and copy space. Dirty and angled sign adds to the drama.

The best time to prepare your personal emergency plan and make sure it is up to date is before you need it. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some easy ways to be prepared for the next hurricane:

The first step to being prepared for a Hurricane is to know the common terms used in forecasts. A “Watch” means that a hurricane or tropical storm are possible. A “Warning” means that the storm is expected. Hurricane warnings usually are issued 36 hours in advance of tropical storm force winds.

The eye of the storm is a clear, sometimes well-defined center of the storm. While there are calmer conditions in the eye, this doesn’t mean the storm is over. The area surrounding the eye is where some of the most severe weather is with the highest wind speed and largest precipitation.

Rain bands come off the storm and produce severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain, wind, and even tornadoes. A storm surge is the result of ocean water swelling as a result of the storm. This causes quick floods on the coast and even sometimes further inland.

Once you understand the terms, the next step is to prepare your home and an evacuation plan. We’ll cover evacuation plans later.

Preparing your home can be done in three steps:

ONE: Create your hurricane kit (plan for at least 3 days)

• Non-perishable food
• Water
• First-aid kit (including prescription medications)
• Personal hygiene items and sanitation items
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Battery operated radio with extra batteries
• Waterproof container with cash and important documents
• Manual can opener
• Lighter or Matches
• Books, magazines, games
• Special needs: Pet supplies, baby supplies
• Cooler & ice packs

TWO: Secure your home.

• Cover all of your windows with either hurricane shutters or wood. Tape does not prevent the window from breaking
• Secure straps or clips to fasten your roof to the structure of your home
• Trip all trees and shrubs and clear rain gutters
• Reinforce garage doors
• Bring in outdoor furniture, garbage cans, decorations…in other words, if it’s not tied down, bring it in!

THREE: Prepare for power outages.

• Make sure your gas tank is full far in advance of an approaching storm. Make sure you have enough for cars and generators well in advance: otherwise, the gas station may run out before you get yours
• Have extra cash on hand in case ATMs don’t work
• Charge your cell phone, have backup chargers charged, and limit cell phone use after power is out
• Cover up windows on the inside in order to reduce the need for Air Conditioning
• Fill your bathtub and large containers for washing and flushing only
• Follow this guide for food safety: https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage
• Follow this guide if your power goes out: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/index.html

Finally, remember the cycle of a hurricane: Approach, Arrival, and Aftermath. We advise you follow this guide and listen to the officials for directions. Remember to plan ahead for evacuation, and if you’re advised you need to go: follow the plan!

How to evacuate:

• Plan how you will leave and where you will go.
• Check which shelter spaces are available for the year. Be warned: Covid-19 might have changed your community’s plans!
• If you evacuate to a community shelter, follow the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People over 2 years old should use a cloth facial covering. Be sure you bring face coverings, soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, or even household cleaning supplies. Also, be sure to maintain at least 6 feet between you and those not in your immediate family.
• Identify several places you could go in an emergency, just in case space in shelters are limited.If you have a pet, make sure your evacuation plan includes them. Most public shelters only allow service pets.
• Take your pets.
• Be familiar with alternate routes away from your area.
• Come up with a plan in case your family gets separated.
• Prepare a bag with supplies: snacks, cleaning supplies, games, etc.
• If you have a car, make sure there’s a full tank of gas if evacuation seems likely. Otherwise, keep a half a tank minimum. Make sure you have a portable emergency kit in the car. If you don’t have a car, plan how you will evacuate if needed.
• Unplug electrical equipment such as radios, televisions, and small appliances. Leave freezers and refrigerators plugged in unless there’s a risk of flooding.
• Leave a note telling others where you are going and when you left.
• Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that provide protection.
• Check with neighbors: they might need a ride!
• Watch for road hazards and don’t drive into flooded areas.
• When you return, please remember: only use generators outside and away from your home!

Once you have closed on your home, there are a couple items you will need sooner than you can say housewarming party. Rather than wait, get these essential items right away. If any are already there, you should replace them.

Batteries

Replace all the smoke detector batteries when you move in and each time the time changes. As long as you are in this section of the store, treat your home to a new flashlight and nightlights.

Vacuum

Do you want the dirt and dust of your last residence to come with you to your new home? Leave mites, bed bugs, and flea eggs at the door. Toss that old vacuum and buy one that is appropriate for the different surfaces it will have to keep clean. The broom and mop should be retired, too.

Garden Hose

Get the highest quality hose of at least 25ft. One for each spigot. A  roll-up hose organizer is a nice touch, but not necessary. A high quality hose will coil and uncoil easily without kinking. Extension cords are usually an aisle over, so grab one of those, too.

Tools

You are going to need tools. Get a set that comes with it’s own case. It should include a hammer, screwdrivers (flat head and Phillips), needle nose pliers, and wire cutters. Pick up a box of picture hangers, tacks and nails.  You may also find it handy to get a cordless drill.

Unless you just bought your household a new pack of scissors, get a set with various sizes. You’ll need someway to open all those moving boxes you packed up.

Wasp Spray and Cockroach Baits

These items should probably be used first. As soon as you have the keys, leave the baits in corners of each room and next to any exterior doors. Inspect the

exterior of the building for any wasps, and take them out before running to the car. You don’t want your moving volunteers to get stung.

If you find no wasps, put the can away. You’ll need it soon enough. Don’t use the spray (which can shoot 20ft ) inside the house.  Instead, use a flyswatter for any spiders you may see.

Keeping the value of your home or even adding to the value of your home may not require a gigantic effort on your part. Simple things such as a tidy yard and garage, freshly painted exterior, building a car port or installing a modern kitchen are all ways to keep the value where you want it to be. After all, buying your property is a large investment of time and money.

Financially, if you rent out your property and are commanding more rent because of the improvements, this is reflected in the overall value of the place. You may also save money with tax deductions for your expenses related to improving the property. Larger equity from an improved home that will enable you to comfortably borrow more money for other investments.

Some factors which affect the value of your property over time, and may not be obvious are:

• Safety – homes in cul-de-sacs and areas safer for children.
• Location close to desirable schools.
• Limited availability – in a nice neighborhood, limited construction is allowed, causing values to rise over time.

Top property appreciation tips:

• Keep the property’s interior and exterior in good condition
• Do regular yard maintenance
• Take care of plumbing and gutters
• Bathroom and kitchen renovation as necessary
• Replace the roof

How To Choose a Property That Will Increase in Value

• Research the Neighborhood
  Are there problem areas? Is there any flooding or structural issues with the house? What future property development might occur?Use expert help and advice. An hour with a pro will save time and money.
  The best people to help you are a property inspector, a good real estate agent, a handyman, an insurance representative and an attorney.
• Inspect the property. Make sure there are no deteriorating roofs, termite infestations, or outdated electrical systems.
• Avoid overpaying for your property.
  You may end up crippled by debt or with a property that is worth considerably less than what you paid for it.

Another way of getting hold of a property that will appreciate in the short term is to acquire an undervalued property and quickly sell it for a profit. Some people will buy and sell a property in the same condition it is in, seeing the opportunity in the low price. The enemy here is a bad market which could leave the property on your hands. Other flippers renovate the property and add value before selling. This additional investment does slow down the appreciation.

There are some lower-cost ways to improve the value of your home:

• Plant a tree. Landscaping adds curb value.
• Add a money-saving luxury. A water filtration system is an excellent idea: not only does it purify the water, but it will lower grocery bills
• Improve the air quality in the home. One way is to get rid of carpets and replace them with tile, laminate, or vinyl flooring.
• Popcorn ceilings are dated. It’s actually fairly easy to scrape the popcorn away and replace it with a softer texture.
• Replace closed draperies with vertical blinds or shutters. Sunny rooms look bigger
• Small bathroom updates can help: replace wallpaper with paint or old lighting with a new fixture.
• Energy-efficient fixtures help increase house value. A ceiling fan can not only add lighting but help cut the cost of cooling your home.