All it it takes to remind us of what can happen is the memory of past storms. Just mention a name, and we are all reminded of the paths of devastation: Irene, Hugo, Katrina. At the same time, we all know that often times, all the hype and doomsday prophesies only amount to a bit of rain and maybe a fallen tree. No matter what hurricane Sandy (or Frankenstorm) does in your area, being prepared gives you piece of mind.
Here is a list of things to do in preparing your homestead for a hurricane:
- Make an emergency contact list
- Check your property to determine which shelter is safest for animals - have a back up if something happens and you need a new place to house animals. Consider power lines, trees, flood regions, etc
- After the storm inspect your fencing, housing and pastures, for damage and fallen trees (especially poisonous ones)
- If you have dead tree overhanging your house, barn or shed, try to cut it down before the storm arrives.
- Make sure livestock has plenty of food and water with a good back up supply in case you can't get to them right away, or you can't get to the feed store.
- Keep a livestock kit near at hand with emergency info and basic first aid supplies (know where your human first aid supplies are!)
- Decide at what point to lock your animals inside their shelter.
- Have evacuation supplies nearby: If you need to leave know where everything is: cages, leashes, food etc.
- Have access to emergency gear such as shovels, chainsaws, hammers, nails, wood, etc. Think through what might happen and have your gear ready to go.
- Put stuff away - anything that could blow around, or be damaged with serious precipitation or flooding.
- In places that are expecting high winds, cover your window and secure things like screens.
- Harvest anything from your garden that could be damaged in the storm.
- Stake plants that may be damaged by heavy winds.
- Have food prepared that you can cook without electricity.
- Have access to clean water (enough to last 7 days)
- Be prepared for power outages and consider the food in your fridge in freezer. If you know you will experience a long power outage, eat the food that will go bad.
- Have flashlight, matches, candles, and other emergency equipment ready for your home.
- Charge cell phone batteries or other batteries.
- Move any large equipment to high ground to avoid flooding problems.
- If you have one, check your generator.
Do you have other ideas for preparing your homestead for a hurricane? Leave a comment below!
I shared at Clever Chicks Blog Hop and the Barn Hop
Great tips. Luckily we don't have to worry about hurricanes here in MO, but many of these ideas would also be great in preparation of tornado season.
ReplyDeleteFor someone that has experienced devastation in there home not once, not twice, but three times. I over prepare.
ReplyDeleteThe big one fill your car up with gas. If there are outages most likely you cant get gas.
Have a safe place to go in a event of a emergency whether it be family, friends, or a shelter.
Another tip if you have young children have a "Camp Out Night" during the storms. The kids think its a blast to sleep with mom and dad together. It puts ease to the mind that your all together in one room and can gather up everyone quick in the middle of the night if an emergency springs up. This has helped us twice doing this.
Gretchen, I hope things go smoothly today and tomorrow and that the only clean up is a few scattered branches.
-Jen
Same to you Jen - I'm in favor for over preparing! Great thought about filling up your car with gas - I'm doing that this morning!
DeleteGreat tips. We are near the coast in CT so aren't sure what to expect from this storm. Firewood is all split and stacked and I have plenty of reading to catch up on if we are without power for an extended period of time. The ducks will be camping out in the garage for the next day or so but at least they will be safe.
ReplyDeletethe animals all have shelter, food and water and the propane tank is full so if we lose power, the generator will turn on. I'm as ready as possible although I'd like to make bread...not sure if I want to chance the electricity and the oven won't work, just the stove top, in case of power failure.
ReplyDeleteDid you bake bread? It's no fun to get caught with an uncooked loaf of bread with the power out!
DeleteSome great reminders here for everyone. We live in tornado alley and we often have heavy winds and storms in the winter...so we try to stay prepared on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminders!
ReplyDelete