Prepping for Hurricane season

For fifty years, June 1st marked the start of hurricane season. It’s a stark reminder to brace ourselves for hurricanes—ferocious winds, flooding, and power cuts—as soon as possible.

Looking toward the 2024 season, experts forecast an active Atlantic hurricane season. They anticipate eight to thirteen hurricanes, with four to seven potentially reaching category 3 or higher.

Mandatory evacuations in Baton Rouge have been rare in recent memory. But just as the global pandemic caught us off guard, we must prepare for the unexpected.

Some residents opt to leave early to avoid the anxiety of losing power or facing floods. Planning now is key for your family—and remember, plan for your pets too. They depend on you; never leave them behind.

Here are a few other hurricane prep tips to get you started.

Basic supplies kit

It’s a good idea to start prepping now so you aren’t in the thick of the hurricane panic buying later. Here are a few things you can gather now:

1. Flashlights (LED flashlights consume less power than conventional flashlights)
2. Extra batteries
3. Bottled water (3 gallons per person)
4. Canned food
5. Non-electric can opener
6. High energy foods like peanut butter, jelly, and crackers 
7. Paper products (plates, paper towels, etc.)
8. Toilet paper (you know I was going to list this)
9. Pet food
10. Infant formula/Baby food
11. Diapers
12. Feminine products
13. Gasoline for your generator (if you have one)
14. Cash (ATMs are going to be offline so it never hurts to have some on hand)
    

Protect your important files

Get a plastic container to put your essential paperwork in. It’s also a good idea to go ahead and find those documents so that if there is a hurricane threat, all you have to do is place those documents in the container. 

Documents you will want to keep safe or take with you in case of evacuation are:

1. Driver’s license or state-issued identification card
2. Birth certificates
3. Marriage certificates
4. Social Security cards
5. Insurance policies
6. Tax returns
7. Wills
8. Stock certificates
9. Proof of residence (lease or closing documents)

Don’t forget: If you haven’t already downloaded Louisiana’s Legal Digital Driver’s License app, please do it now. www.lawallet.com

Preparing your home

Do you have a tree that needs to be taken down? What about a tree with some dead limbs? Contact your local tree person while there is time to take care of these things. 

Do you have loose or missing shingles on your roof? Call your favorite roofer and have them replaced before the winds pick up. 

If a storm is threatening the Baton Rouge area, you will want to check your yard for objects that may become flying objects. Start by turning your trampoline upside down, securing your patio furniture, and bringing all loose objects indoors.

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Preparing now will make things a little less stressful when or if a storm threatens us later. It will also be a little easier on our budgets to start picking up a few extra supplies every time we make a grocery run.  
Finally, if you have elderly neighbors or know of someone who may be unable to prepare for themselves, pick up a few extra supplies next time you are at the store and help them out! Be a good neighbor.