Houston Hurricane Plan

Here are some guidelines and information if you’re facing a hurricane or similar storm during the summer. Please, if you need to evacuate, please do so. -  here is a link to Evacuation Routes and the Zone List.   These tips and timeline are moreso for people that are hunkering down and are several miles inland. We are about 30 miles from the coast and these preps have served us well over the years. If I lived closer to where a storm was making landfall, I would need to beef up my preps and consider evacuating before the storm.

4 – 7 Days Before Storm:

1. Review your inventory. Go to the store and get what you need.   

2. Keep an eye on your vehicle’s gas tank – keep it full.

3. If your vehicle needs to be serviced (oil change, fluids filled, tire maintenance), do that now.

4. Make sure you have emergency cash in different denominations.

5. If you have a generator, test it out and make sure it works. Make sure you have plenty of gas/oil/heavy duty extension cords for it.

6. Have phone numbers ready for roofers, window companies, and most importantly, your insurance phone number and/or app for claims.

7. Make sure you have phone numbers for your neighbors so you can check in with them during/after the storm.

8. Medications – if anyone in your household are on medications, including pets, check your supply. If you are starting to run low, grab that refill now, or make a call in to your doctor and ask for an extended supply in case you’re not able to get to the pharmacy after the storm.

8.  Take pictures or video of your property, contents, belongings in case they are needed for insurance purposes.  If you have expensive items, be sure to store them away as safe as possible, and write down serial numbers.  Additionally, anytime you write a list (like with a pen and paper), a good idea is to take a picture of that as well, saved electronically.

2 - 3 Days Before Storm:

1.  Make ice. Fill plastic containers with water about an inch from the top and stick in your freezers. Fill your freezers in the empty spaces with these. You can also take ice from your ice maker and put it in plastic Ziploc bags…use ice trays to make extra ice…fill Ziploc bags with water and use as ice packs…you can be creative with this, but your goal is to make as much ice as possible to keep things in your freezer as cold as possible. You can also fill ice chests with these. Even if you have a generator that will be powering your refrigerator or freezer, you still want to have this as a backup, just in case. Additionally, if your water goes out, the ice will melt and you can use it to flush toilets, wash dishes, etc.

2. Take out your trash! Make sure all your trash is out for the next trash run. This includes cleaning out your refrigerator of any leftovers or expired foods. One of the last things you want is a hot smelly house after a storm!

3. Do your laundry! Get your laundry going and keep it done. Make sure extra blankets are clean as well, in case you have guests over unexpectedly to stay with you. It may be several days – even weeks – before you can do laundry after a storm, so have your laundry done.

4. Secure your things outside or bring them inside. Board windows if necessary.

5. Make sure drains/gutters are free of debris.

6. If you have pets, consider setting up a special area for them to relieve themselves if they cannot go outside; if you're bringing outside pets in, set up their area; keep leashes, kennels, carriers nearby and ready to go in case you do need to leave quick - you know where everything is and can grab it fast and easily.  Make sure you have plenty of pet food, supplies, meds, etc. on hand as well. Visit our Prepping with Pets page for more tips on our furry family members!

7.  More housekeeping, I'm sorry - make sure your dishes are done and stay done!

1 Day Before Storm:

1.  Get your house cool! Turn down your thermostat a few degrees cooler, especially at night when it’s easier to cool off. If power goes out during the storm, you’ll want to be as cool as possible for the days after.

2. Park your vehicle in your garage, if you can. If not, try not to park in the street, and pull your car up in your driveway as far as you can (to avoid flooding). 

3.  Double check your supplies.  Do you need to freeze more water? Do you have meals planned for the next couple of days?

4.  Have things out and ready to go.  Start setting things up and know where everything is.

5.  Have some fun.  Do s'mores with the kids.  Have a drink with your neighbor.  Take some time to have a good time!