Hurricane Season and how to prepare

by May 27, 2022

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak occurring between mid-August and late October. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15 and ends November 30. While these are the common seasons for cyclones, storms can occur at any time of the year, even as early as April, for example.

Though hurricanes often come with some warning, preparing your properties and tenants well in advance is of the utmost importance. Natural disasters don’t wait on humans to be ready to respond. Being ready can help lessen the stress of an emergency situation. Heeding the tips below could save you thousands of dollars or may even save a life.

Prepare your property:

boarding up the windows, preparing for a storm
  • Be sure trees and shrubs are welltrimmed so they are more wind
    resistant.
  • Secure loose gutters and downspouts
    and clear any clogged areas or debris to
    prevent water damage.
  • Retrofit to secure and reinforce the roof, windows and doors. Garage doors
    should also be braced.
  • Move indoors any exterior furniture, yard ornaments or play equipment
    that could act as a dangerous projectile. Cover all windows. Permanent
    storm shutters offer the best protection. A second option is to board up
    windows with 5/8” plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape
    does not prevent windows from breaking.
  • Move valuable items, such as rugs or art, move them away from windows
    and to upper floors if possible.
  • Be sure the battery backup for your sump pump is working to prevent drain
    backups.
  • Purchase a portable generator for use during power outages. Remember to
    keep generators and other alternate power/heat sources outside, at least
    20 feet away from windows and doors and protected from moisture; and
    NEVER try to power the house wiring by plugging a generator into a wall
    outlet.
  • Consider building a FEMA safe room or ICC 500 storm shelter designed for
    protection from high-winds and in locations above flooding levels.
  • Hurricane Safety Tips from FEMA: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

6 General Disaster Preparedness from Ready.gov

  1. Review your insurance policy and require tenants to carry renter’s
    insurance to protect their belongings. Tropical Storms/Hurricanes coverage
    and Flood coverage are both purchased separately, so check with your
    agent to make sure you are covered appropriately for your area.
  2. Consider providing basic supplies for an emergency preparedness kit in
    your welcome packet, including a flashlight, batteries, and first aid supplies.
    Tenants will also need medications and copies of critical information
    if/when they need to evacuate.
  3. Share resources to help tenants make an emergency plan including an
    evacuation plan and a communication plan. Connect tenants with local
    emergency management agency contact information with tenants.
  4. Make a plan for contacting tenants in the event of an emergency. Be sure
    they know how to best contact you or your property manager during an
    emergency too.
  5. During the event, stay tuned to your phone alerts, TV, or radio, for weather
    updates, emergency instructions or evacuation orders. In any emergency,
    always follow the instructions given by local emergency management
    officials. Advise your tenants to do the same.
  6. Communities have text or email alerting systems for emergency
    notifications. Search the Internet with your town, city, or county name and
    the word “alerts.” NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio and television
    newscasts are several other reliable methods for obtaining the latest
    information.

Ohana Legacy Properties wants you to be safe
during this storm season.

Like family, no one gets left behind or forgotten

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