Category 5 Hurricane Irma Is Roaring Towards Florida

(Newswire.net — September 5, 2017) Woodbridge, VA —  Just a few weeks after Hurricane Harvey devasted Houston, TX, and the surrounding region, another hurricane is gathering strength. Irma has recently upgraded to a Category 5 storm, and is heading to the U.S. and the Caribbean. 

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey has left millions reeling in its aftermath, even with dozens of aid agencies working round the clock. The response to Hurricane Harvey has been lauded; articles of everyday people banding together to clean up, repair damages, and start to return Houston to normalcy have filled the Internet. Though Houston and its citizens were as prepared as possible for Hurricane Harvey and responded diligently and tirelessly, one should never underestimate the preparations needed to undertake before a storm hits.

Here are some tips for those in Florida, and along the Eastern seaboard, as they await Hurricane Irma:

1. Ensure you have one gallon of water per person and animal in your household, for at least three days.

2. Refill medications now. 

3. If you need meds refrigerated, call the closest fire department as they may know of a service in your town that offers ice for medical reasons after the storm arrives. If there is someone in the house with medical issues that must have power, call the Red Cross to find out where a medical shelter with backup power is located.

4. If you have a spare tub, fill that with water to flush the toilet. 

5. Remember that if cell phones are down or the circuits are busy, text messages can get through.

6. Debit and credit cards don’t work without power. Keep plenty of cash on hand.

7. Fill up your fuel tanks and extra gas tanks now. Also, make sure you have enough propane or coal for your grill.

8. Double-check that your car charger is working.

9. Cook raw meat before the storm hits – or on a grill as soon as it’s safe.

10. Rake the yard, as a drain clogged with leaves does not flow and all the water may end up in your basement.

11. Buy a tarp or two.

12. Buy batteries.

13. Stock up on canned food, and find your manual can opener. 

14. Make certain you have at least one super long (50+ feet) heavy duty extension cord.

15. After the storm is over, don’t walk through puddles. Power lines will be down all over the place and that water may be hiding live wire.

16. Write down the phone numbers of your power, phone and cable companies to advise them of any broken or downed wires.

17. If you’re being told to evacuate, get out.

18. Fully charge any external battery/power banks.

19. If you have pets, call the vet for proof of rabies and shots. If you need to evacuate, your pet may not be welcome at a shelter without these records. Also, make sure they have name tags on their collars.

20. Find the paperwork for all your insurance policies – home, renters, car, business. 

21. Plan at least two routes to leave your neighborhood.

22. Every person in the family should have the phone numbers and addresses of family members written down, in case phone batteries die and can’t be recharged.

23. Make sure to have plenty of candles and matches available. 

24. Place any items kept outside (lawn furniture, trash cans, grills, etc) either in the house or garage before the storm.

25. Double check your family’s emergency preparedness kit – make sure it is fully stocked with flashlights, an updated first aid kit, and anything else your family needs to weather out the storm.