Hurricane Matthew: Be Prepared

With Hurricane Matthew bearing down on Haiti and setting its sights on the Bahamas, much of South Florida is now under a hurricane or tropical storm warning.

While South Floridians have experienced nearly a decade without a major storm, it appears that some of Matthew’s effects will be felt in the coming days. Now is the time to take a moment to review your family’s hurricane plan. Baptist Health South Florida wants you to stay informed and prepared. You should create a hurricane kit, which includes documents such as passports, homeowner’s insurance policies and other hard-to-replace items. According to the National Hurricane Center, you should also assess the following:

• Knowing whether you live in an evacuation zone.
• If you do need to evacuate, where would you and your family ride out the storm if an evacuation were ordered.
• Find a friend or relative that lives outside the evacuation zone and have a plan to weather the storm with them.
• Establish and rehearse a family communications plan in case the emergency arises when you are not together.

Stay informed and take the necessary steps to protect your property. Keep in mind that many injuries occur during last minute preparations, so heed the warnings and give yourself time to perform the following:

• Cover all of your home’s windows.
• Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows.
• Board up windows with 5/8” exterior grade or marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install.
• Installation of impact glass is the best option. (Tape does not prevent windows from breaking).
• Trim trees and shrubs around your home. This will make them more resistant to high winds.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• If possible, reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause serious damage.
• Bring in outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
• Plan how and where you will secure your boat whether on a trailer or at a dock.

(Source: www.ready.gov/hurricanes)

The Baptist Health South Florida News Team will be closely following the progress of Hurricane Matthew.