Hurricane Ian hit Florida pretty hard earlier this week. As of the writing of this post, it moved northward to South Carolina. By the time it reaches New Jersey, weather experts predict that it will be downgraded to a tropical storm. But don’t let that fool you. Tropical storms pack a mean punch, too. With that, comes possible flooding and property damage due to high winds. In fact, some organizers canceled events at the Jersey Shore due to rainy weather and possible storm surges. (Call before you head out to one of the restaurants participating in Atlantic City Restaurant Week this weekend.) So, with that in mind, I thought that now would be a good time to talk about what steps to take to prepare for a hurricane (or tropical storm) at the Jersey Shore.
How to Prepare for a Hurricane at the Jersey Shore
Make an Evacuation Plan
Your first step when you prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm is to create an evacuation plan. This means deciding on a specific safe location for everyone to meet up and check-in with one another. Typically, roadways become congested with people trying to leave the area in an emergency. Therefore, keeping your travel distance short but still safe helps reduce this congestion. This may mean traveling to a friend, family, or even a hotel located outside of the hurricane/tropical storm impact area.
Set Up an Emergency Contact
In addition to congested roadways, cell service often becomes spotty due to the added usage during an emergency. Designate one person to act as the contact for everyone in your group. That may be a friend or family member located well outside of the expected impact area. Make sure every person in your household has this contact number programmed in your phone. (Helpful hint: use an * or # in front of the name when you enter it in your phone so that it comes up at the top of your contact list for easy access.) Only contact this person to let them know where you are and if you are OK or need help.
Create an Emergency Kit
Pack an emergency kit with three days of supplies per person. Keep them in a backpack near the front door for a quick getaway when needed. Each kit should include clothing, a gallon of water per person per day, ready-to-eat food and snacks, a flashlight with extra batteries, a small first aid kit, a whistle (to help rescuers locate you), moist towelettes, plastic bags, manual toothbrush, toothpaste, and prescription medication. Make sure to add the name of the owner of the backpack, emergency contact info, and any necessary medical information (including insurance info) inside each backpack.
A larger kit can be kept in the house (in your pantry or stored in a closet, for example) with the same items for the whole household along with a set of pliers or a wrench handy so that you can turn off utilities if needed. You should also include an emergency kit for your vehicle. Include a properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench, tire jack, jumper cables, small tool kit, good-sized flashlight (hands-free preferable) and extra batteries, compass, water, non-perishable food items, manual can opener (if needed), and reflective triangles. Several vendors sell emergency kits for your car online.
For more information about how to prepare for a hurricane (or tropical storm) at the Jersey Shore, please read the State of New Jersey’s “Hurricane Survival Guide”. They put together some extremely valuable information in it for you. Stay safe!
Sherri Lilienfeld, Apex Prime Realty, Your Source for Jersey Shore Real Estate