All of Florida needs to be prepared for Hurricane Dorian. The Category 2 storm is expected to strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane by the time it makes landfall, either Friday night or Tuesday morning. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has described it as an “extremely dangerous” hurricane, and Governor Ron DeSantis declared and expanded the state of emergency.
The size of the storm and its unpredictable path has made it difficult to assess just where in Florida will be affected the most by its 140 mile per hour winds, torrential rainfall, and storm surges. As such, if you live in Florida, you need to be prepared for Hurricane Dorian, just in case it hits your hometown.
Preparing for Hurricane Dorian On Approach
The best way to be safe during a hurricane as powerful as Hurricane Dorian is to be prepared for it far in advance. If you do not have a hurricane emergency plan and kit in place, do what you can to make them now.
Your hurricane preparedness plan should entail:
- Checking emergency broadcasts as frequently as possible for updates about evacuation orders.
- Knowing where your local evacuation center is located. Discussing with all family members how to get there in case you get separated.
- Creating an emergency safety plan for your own home that brings everyone in your family to the safest location, be it a shelter or an interior room. Share this plan with everyone in your family and rehearse it ahead of time.
- Making sure everyone knows how to use all items located in your hurricane preparedness kit (see below).
- Staying in your designated safe zone or evacuation center until alerted by emergency personnel that it is safe to leave.
- Searching your property afterward only in groups for added safety. Whenever possible, be sure to avoid standing in or stepping in floodwater, which may be concealed live wires that have electrified the water.
Your hurricane emergency kit should include at least:
- One gallon of water per day per person, keeping up to two weeks of water
- Nonperishable foods, supplying two regular meals per person per day
- Hand crank or battery-powered radio
- One flashlight per person with extra batteries
- First-aid kit, including disinfectants, gauze, bandages, etc.
- Doses of necessary medication, supplying up to 10 days
- Copies of critical documents, like medical records, extra cash, and IDs
- Extra blankets and dry clothing kept in vacuum-sealed bags
Be Prepared for Hurricane Dorian & Be Safe Everyone
From all of us at Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A, we wish that you do everything you can to prepare for Hurricane Dorian and to be safe during it. You can find additional information about hurricane preparedness from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). You should also visit the National Hurricane Center’s website (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/) to keep track of Hurricane Dorian as it moves closer to the Florida coast.
Here in Fort Lauderdale, hurricanes can seem like a regular occurrence. While we are certain we will endure Hurricane Dorian, too, do not just make assumptions. Prepare as much as you can. Once again, be safe everyone!