Hurricane Safety Tips & Planning

Hurricanes are known for causing major destruction and damage to buildings, homes, the environment, surrounding areas and much more. Daphne, Alabama, is a coastal city familiar with the path of a hurricane by experiencing a magnitude of hurricanes every year. It’s important to have a plan and to be prepared for the havoc a hurricane can cause. 

East Bay Apartment Homes is always ready to tread through the rain of a hurricane with you. We’ve compiled a list of tips to consider during hurricane season in the south. Implementing certain tips and steps can help you be fully prepared for what’s to come during the midst of a hurricane. 

If you have an approaching hurricane or tropical storm in your area, this is how you can prepare: 

What To Do Before A Hurricane 

• Stay informed with local weather warnings and alerts by signing up for weather notification services, by listening to local radio stations and TV for warnings, local safety announcements and instructions. 
• Find a space inside your home to move outdoor items inside. This can include your patio furniture, toys, bikes, potted plants or any items you feel necessary. These items can be turned into damaging, soaring debris during a hurricane. 
• If your local officials have not directed you to evacuate your area, prepare a safe space inside a closet, a small room or a hallway away from windows to avoid injury from broken glass due to a broken window. 
• Have emergency supplies ready for use in the event of an emergency. Prepare to have non-perishable foods, medical supplies, toiletries, sleeping bags, water, cash, flashlights, batteries and more to ensure survival and safety. 
• Call the hospital, public health department or the police about special needs. 

What To Do During A Hurricane 

• Store your emergency supplies in an area you can access easily. 
• Stay aware of local weather alerts, local TV and radio stations for current updates on the hurricane. 
• Have flashlights on hand. The hurricane will probably disrupt electrical service.
• At times during a hurricane, the weather can look calm. Don’t be tempted to go outside until you see or hear an official confirmation that the worst is over. Sometimes, the weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but then quickly gets bad again.
• Don't open doors. Keep the wind and rain outside. 
• Keep away from windows. Injury can happen from pieces of broken glass or flying debris during a storm. Find a room with no windows, or go inside a closet. 
• Be prepared to evacuate at any time. If local authorities order you to evacuate or your home is damaged, you may need to go to a neighbor’s house or hurricane shelter. 

What To Do After A Hurricane

• If you were evacuated from your home, or if it has been severely damaged from the hurricane, contact local authorities for any help needed and wait for them to give the confirmation to return. 
• Stay on the lookout for flooding in your area after a hurricane. Rising water can produce dangerous conditions hours and even days later. 
• Check your home for structural damage before entering inside. 
• If it’s dark, use only a flashlight to walk through your home instead of matches, a lighter or a candle. Open flames can ignite leaking gas from structural damage to your home.
• Listen for reports to ensure drinking water is clean enough to drink. 
• Start your cleanup as soon as possible. Begin disinfecting and washing items that have been soaked by floodwater or disposing of items that cannot be saved.

Even with the best preparation, you can still experience damage from unexpected events like a hurricane. East Bay Apartment Homes is always ready to help our residents prepare and bear through hurricane season and what it brings. Our goal is to continue to keep our residents safe during trying times like hurricane season. Contact us today by calling (251) 626-0234 or visit our website www.eastbayapartmenthomes.com.