Hurricane Season is Here! Time to Prep!

Whether you are new to Central Florida, or were born and raised here, you know we have a hurricane season. Hurricane season is frequently talked about because it is not just a week or two, or even a month. The season lasts for a whopping 6 months! Thats literally half of the entire year. Luck for all of us living in areas like Winter Garden, Windermere, and Clermont, we usually fair pretty well when we do experience one. This is due to our location in the middle of the state. Once the hurricane reaches us, it’s chilled out quite a bit. That’s not to say we don’t experience loads of rain and heavy winds, it’s just not typically as sever as what coastal towns experience.

Many of the Erica Diaz Team members have either lived in the Central Florida area their entire lives, or for a very long time. We have prepped and gone through dozens of hurricane seasons over the years. So, we put together all of our best tips for getting through hurricane season in this article and are sharing them with you!

What is a Hurricane

Whipping winds, torrential downpours, and flash floods make up a hurricane. They form in warm waters and are fueled by water and heat. However, they do make landfall, which is why it’s crucial to be prepared. Fortunately, hurricane’s are mostly predictable, along with the path they will most likely follow. This does allow for necessary evacuations, and in the moment preparation. It is, however, a great idea to follow some basic hurricane season preparation tips which will keep you from last minute chaos and you’ll stay prepared all season!

When is Hurricane Season

Hurricane season officially begins June 1st and runs through November 30th. If you are thinking, “WOW we have to be on red alert for 6 months!” don’t worry, because that is not the case. Throughout the year, many storms do brew out in the oceans, however not all of them make landfall. Then the ones that do make landfall only hit specific areas. Luckily, hurricanes are typically predictable along with their level of strength. So, while hurricane season is 6 months long, you many only have to prep for a storm or 2, and some seasons… NONE!

2021Hurricane Season Prediction

On May 20th, NOAA released their prediction for the 2021 hurricane season. They do predict a more active than normal season, However, they also predict that it will not be a record breaking year like the one we had in 2020. During 2020’s hurricane season there were 30 storm. This was only the second time in history since they began naming storms in the 1050’s that the alphabet was completely gone through in the naming process.

While hurricane season does not officially start until June 1st, just 2 days after the NOAA released this years predictions. The season’s very first named storm, Ana,  began to brew. Ana made this year the 7th year in a row that a storm began before the official start of the season.

The NOAA has predicted that we will have 13- 20 named storms this year. They are also predicting that 6-10 of them may turn into hurricanes, and with 3-5 of these being major hurricanes.  (NOAA)

Photo Credit: NOAA

5 Vital Tips to Prepare for Hurricane Season

It’s a great idea to begin prepping for hurricane season a month or two before it begins. If you don’t, it’s totally fine. Regardless of when you begin to prep, we have pro hurricane prepping tip for you! Each time you go to the store of place an Amazon order, grab a few items for your hurricane supplies. Don’t put these where you put every day items, or else they will get used. Instead, create a space specific for hurricane supplies. Then, each time you grab a few items, place them with rest of the supplies.

Buying items a few at a time will cut down on having to make an expensive purchase all at one. Instead adding a few items to your regular shopping will allow you to spread out the expense over time. Keep in mind, some items do expire. It’s a great idea to check all of your items at the beginning of hurricane season. If something is about to expire add it to your everyday items and use it. Then purchase it again during your next shopping trip to replenish it in the hurricane supplies.

1. FOOD & WATER

Keep non-perishable foods stocked. Here’s a list of some ideas for non-perishable foods that are also kid-friendly. (Don’t forget a manual can opener)

• ravioli/spaghettios
• canned soups
• cereals that your kids like to eat dry
• PB&J supplies
• canned and dried fruit
• trail mixes, granola bars, pop tarts
• crackers, chips, and other snacks

**Don’t forget to stock up on pet food if you have a furry family member.

**A basic guideline for water is 3-5 gallons per person. On average each person needs about a gallon of water a day. This is the one thing we cannot live without and will be used for more than just drinking. You will need it to cook and clean so it’s always a good idea to have EXTRA.

2. MEDICINE & HYGIENE

• Make sure you have at least 2 weeks worth of prescription medication and a basic first aid kit, including bandages, antibacterial medicine, along with adult and children’s pain relievers.
• Stock up on soap, deodorant, and toothpaste. Dry shampoo is also nice to have on hand. We also recommend some disinfectant, cleaning wipes to wipe down the counters and tables and hand sanitizer.  If you have little ones in diapers don’t forget to stock up, you don’t need extra dirty clothes piling up, and don’t forget the wipes.
• It’s also a good idea to fill your bathtubs with water (not for drinking), you can use this to wash hands, flush toilets, and there are other times this extra water will come in handy. * You obviously do not have to do this throughout the entire hurricane season. Just during the specific times when the news is reporting that your area may have a hurricane.
• Catch up on laundry so you will have clean clothes and consider placing a set of emergency clothes in a waterproof container so you will have at least one dry pair for each family member.

3. IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

Put all your important documents inside of a waterproof container. We recommend including the following:

• insurance policies
• birth certificates
• social security cards
• marriage license
• wills, deeds, contracts, titles
• passports
• shot and medical records
• jump-drive with insurance photos and all of your family photos on it
• photo albums, scrapbooks, laptops or other important items

4. LIGHTS & COMMUNICATION

It’s important to have several flashlights with extra batteries, candles with matches or lighters, and a battery operated lantern. We also recommend getting a small battery operated radio, so you will be up to date on any new information. Don’t forget to fully charge all of your devices. The nifty wireless power chargers are great to have as well for recharging when necessary. We also highly suggest making it a habit to keep your gas tank full. Or at least fill up when the news is reporting that a storm may be heading your way.

5. ENTERTAINMENT

Make sure to have plenty of games and activities that can be done indoors. Keeping everyone active will help maintain a happy home during a disaster. Here are some ideas to keep everyone entertained.

• toys
• board games
• playing cards
• books
• coloring books, crayons, markers
• paper and pencils
• blocks, legos
• puppets
• play-dough
• blankets for building forts

Central Florida Homes & Hurricanes

It’s not not new news that Central Florida has hurricanes. Naturally, homebuyers want to know how the home they are considering purchasing will hold up in a hurricane. Year after year home developers work to make homes more structurally sound and strong enough to handle a hurricane. Homes are built specifically to withstand hurricanes. If you are looking at a home built within the last 15 years it’s been built to meet great standards in regards to holding up during a storm. All aspects of the home are considered including things like the windows. However, if you are looking at purchasing an older home, check with your real estate agent to see if any upgrades have been made. If none have, and you purchase the home, you may want to consider making them yourself.

The Erica Diaz Team – Hurricane Season is Here! Time to Prep!

Do you live in Central Florida? Then get ready, because hurricane season is here! Preparing for a hurricane is A LOT of work, but nothing is more important than you and your family. We hope these tips will help you prepare for this season and still allow for plenty of FUN in the sun! Have a safe and memorable summer!

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in Winter Garden, Windermere, Clermont or a surrounding area, or just take a look around, we’re happy to help! Get in touch with the Erica Diaz Team today! We look forward to connecting with you.