How To Prepare For Hurricane Season In Baton Rouge

June 1, 2020, is the beginning of hurricane season. It’s time to prep for hurricane season. Just what the residents of Baton Rouge need. We are in the beginning stages of Phase One re-emergence after our Stay At Home orders due to COVID-19. None of us need one more thing to worry about. 

Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn’t check her calendar with our stress levels. It’s time to start getting prepared for hurricane season. Since some supplies are hard to come by since the COVID-19 pandemic, we all need to start preparing. This year, 2020, forecasters predict two to four impacts are in the cards for the country. We have some hurricane prep tips we would like to share with you.

With stores being low on a few essential items, 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. Flashlight
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 & 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 are lucky enough to have one)
14. Cash (it never hurts to keep some cash on hand anyway)

It would be best if you also got a plastic container to put your essential paperwork. 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)

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

In the Baton Rouge area, we have not had a mandatory evacuation that I can ever remember. That doesn’t mean that we never will. Who would have ever thought we would be living in a global pandemic situation. Some of our residents choose to evacuate voluntarily to keep from having the stress of no electricity, possible flooding, etc. It’s a good idea to make a plan for your family now. When you are making these plans, please remember to plan for your pets. DO NOT LEAVE THEM BEHIND.

Take time now to prepare your home for hurricane season. 

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 that taken care of 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. Turn your trampoline upside down, secure your patio furniture, bring in the kid’s toys etc.

Preparing now will make things a little less stressful when/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.  

PS. If you have elderly neighbors or know of someone that maybe can’t prepare for themselves, pick up a few extra supplies next time you are at the store and help them out! Be a good neighbor.