Have a permanent generator installed in your home
Depending on the speed of the permitting process, it can take a few weeks or a few months to get a permanent home generator installed, says Mark Costis, the owner and operator of GenerX Generators. Now is the time to put one in, ensuring you’ll be safe and comfortable in the event of a power outage. “If you lose power, a few seconds later the generator is on, and you’re watching TV again and the A/C is on,” he says. “If your portable generator is sitting in your garage, it could take an hour to get it up and running. Plus you’ll need to keep 30 gallons of gas or more in your house to keep it running for a few days.”
Install hurricane-resistant windows
Though they can be pricey, a 2018 study by a professor at Austin College found impact resistant windows found a benefit of $2.20 in reduced storm damage for every $1 in extra costs — making them the most cost-effective way to prepare a physical structure for a hurricane. Installing hurricane windows can also shave some money off your homeowners’ insurance.
Have your hurricane emergency kit ready
Remember when Publix was rationing cases of bottled water before Hurricane Irma? Avoid that by gradually preparing your emergency kit with these FEMA-recommended basics:
- One gallon of water per person, per day (three-day supply for an evacuation, two weeks for home)
- Non-perishable food (same supply as water)
- Flashlight
- battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
- Extra batteries
- First-aid kit
- Seven-day supply of medications
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Pet supplies
- Copies of personal documents
- Cell phone with charger
- Extra cash
- Extra fuel
Know your evacuation zone
Find the zone of your home or business at tampagov.net/hurricane-information. The city of Tampa recently mailed out re-entry hang tags to homes in the ZIP codes most likely to be evacuated in the event of a catastrophic hurricane (including 33606, 33609, 33611 and 33629). These hang tags will allow residents to pass through security screenings after the storm and re-enter their neighborhoods more quickly and efficiently.
