Stay Safe From A Hurricane's Fury
Published: May 21, 2006
ADVERTISEMENT
More from this channel:
Where is the safest place in my house to stay during the hurricane?
Stay in a room without windows and with no, or few, exterior walls. This could be a closet, an interior bathroom or a hallway. If your house does not have such a room, choose one with the fewest or smallest windows.
Stay away from windows and sliding glass doors even if plywood protectors are up. High winds can hurl objects such as roof tiles through plywood and shatter a window.
Stay out of the garage. The garage door can be one of the most vulnerable parts of your home.
A window has broken. What should I do?
If a window breaks, the storm is inside your house. Everyone should go immediately to the safest interior room. Stay out of the room with the broken window. Protect yourself, your family and your pets. Putting a mattress over you can be some protection; a bathtub offers some shelter.
There is little you can do safely to protect belongings until the storm passes.
Will the storm last long?
Hurricanes can last for hours. Dangerous winds hit long before the most powerful winds arrive. The length of the storm depends on its size, how fast it is moving and how close you are to the center.
High winds will continue after the center passes.
Is it safe to go outside when the wind stops?
It may not be. If the eye passes over your house, it will seem the storm is over. But the eye is only a small area of calm at the storm's center. It can pass in minutes, and the winds will return with full force and no warning.
Stay inside until you hear from emergency officials or the weather service that the storm has passed. Even after the worst winds diminish, lines of storms can appear with dangerous gusts and heavy rain.
I am miles from the center of the storm. Do I still have to worry?
Yes. Hurricanes can cover large areas. They also can spawn tornadoes far from the storm's center and its most powerful winds. The tornadoes can strike with no warning and do as much damage as the core of the storm.
Can I call 911 if I need help?
Do not expect help at the height of the storm. Emergency workers, police, firefighters and ambulances get off the roads when winds reach about 40 mph because travel is too dangerous. This could be hours before the worst of the storm hits.
Emergency services won't be able to travel the roads until winds drop below 40 mph. They will be flooded with calls. Roads will be blocked by debris, fallen trees, downed power lines and water, and they may not be able to reach you.
