Hundreds of thousands of years ago, Mother Nature dolled out an X factor to every corner of the planet; ours is hurricanes.
I can hear the gusts of Ida howling as I type this post, and it isn't a great feeling. My heart rate accelerates, my skin bumps, my torso leans instinctively forward, and my shoulders migrate up my neck. If you've had an experience with a storm that does the same to you, I get it. The information that follows isn't meant to trigger but to aid you in taking back control of your storm season by being better informed, prepared, and ready to rock a hurricane.
The good news? Unlike sudden events like earthquakes, sinkholes, and spontaneous combustion, we can combat hurricanes with intelligent preparation. If you're not from around these parts, it helps to think of hurricanes as big, super-wet blizzards. You see them coming; you have a plan and worst-case scenario, you get out of the way.
If you're considering relocating to the area, you may be curious. Do we not know about these storms? Are we in denial? The truth is New Orleans is worth it, and so we stay. We stay, we prep, we pray, we soothe, we listen to the experts, and we behave accordingly. Here's what to do.
Here are six things most people forget when building their hurricane plan:
#1 Keep Important Documents On You - There are three essential types of documents you should keep on your person, especially during hurricane season.
Insurance - if you need to leave town, or if you're out of town when disaster strikes, you'll be comforted knowing you've got the details of your property and flood insurance handy.
IDs - Keeping identification on you is good practice on any day. Consider keeping medical IDs, work IDs, passports, licenses, registration, prescription cards, and other important identification with you or in an easy-to-grab-and-go container during storm season.
Prescriptions—Take a small amount of prescription medication, contact lenses, and other items with you when you leave home, but also keep those prescriptions with you so you can refill wherever you may wind up. Don't forget to include the medications and prescriptions for anyone you care for, including those for your pets!
Don't want to carry sensitive documents? Upload them into a secure place in the cloud, take pictures, and make copies. Just make sure you've got a device to access those documents and a way to keep them charged.
#2 Know Your Home—You may have been enjoying your home for days or years, but if you haven't been through a major storm, you may not have considered what it needs and provides in extreme conditions.
Waterlines—Know where water from the city is piped in and out of your home, not just the walls, taps, and faucets, and how to shut it off.
Gas lines - Know where the gas comes in and out of your home. Learn which appliances it fuels that may need to be turned off or restarted. Know who to call to do so. Got a gas-powered generator? Keep it serviced and know how many days it can run safely.
Breakers - Are your breakers labeled? You may save yourself some stress by knowing which switch controls what. Also, see where the main on and off switches are and where the box is located.
Live in an apartment or condo? It's still important to know where these items are, where they are metered, and who is responsible.
#3 Prep Your Home - Not every storm requires battening the hatches; some storms provide good practice. In either case, it's important that you - and those you live with - understand what's needed and who's on deck for what. It's no fun to be the last roommate left in town and on the hook for everything.
If Dad usually takes care of the shutters and Mom usually brings in the plants, make sure you've got a neighbor to help when Dad travels. Make sure Dad knows to take in Mom's plants when she's out of town.
Safe Room—Everyone should have a place where their go-bag/supplies live, and everyone in the household should know where this is. In an extreme wind event, you'll want a hunker-down room that ideally has no windows and in which all doors can be closed.
Clean Up - Take in items that can be damaged by rising water or high winds (potted plants, outdoor décor, etc.). Bring in or tie down anything that could become an airborne projectile (bird feeders, gardening tools, outdoor furniture, etc.). Clean gutters and remove or clean up anything that may prevent water from draining away from the house and into storm drains properly.
Board Up—In high-wind situations, it may be time to close the shutters. Don't have shutters? You may want to have plywood handy to board up. Plywood costs rise and fall, and supplies run low when storms are in the Gulf, so get this before the storms start coming and keep it somewhere protected and dry so you don't have to replace it every year.
What storm calls for what? When in doubt, check the news and check in with your neighbor who has lived here the longest.
Walk the home at or before the start of the season. Are there gaps by windows that can be better caulked? A group of shingles that have wandered? Make sure your home is safe and sealed to avoid damage from major rains.
After a storm, do the same exterior check. Is everything where it should be? Has anything flown the coop? Take care of your place, and it will take care of you.
#4 Stock Up - Even moderate storms can cause a loss of power. For many people, this is the worst part! Get supplies to keep you happy through 3-7 days of living without power.
Food & Water—You may know you need food and water. But did you know you'll need enough water to drink, clean, feed, and flush? Stock up on drinking water and fill tubs for the rest. Shop for food that doesn't require a microwave, refrigerator, or stove. Consider getting some charcoal or gas for that grill or investing in a small gas-powered burner. Don't forget pets need food and drinking water, too!
Electronics - Make sure you have enough batteries for radios, flashlights, lanterns, charger blocks, etc. Make sure essential electronics are properly grounded and protected from surges.
Gas & Cash—Get some cash out of the bank in advance. It will prevent you from needing to beg or borrow when ATMs and credit card readers are down. Fill the car up with gas. Even if you don't leave town, power outages can mean downed gas pumps. Gas generator? Make sure you've got enough to feed it, too!
Local tip! You can keep freezers and refrigerators colder for periods of time by freezing water bottles or water in ziplocks or Tupperware and loading up both. Just be sure to keep them closed!
#5 Evacuation Plan - You do you, but remember, other people care about you too. Have a plan with your family, roommates, and friends. Know where each other will be, are going, and can meet up. But also consider:
Your Car—Have a plan for where to move your car in case of rising waters, especially if you're leaving town. Know how to get to it if/when you need to during a storm. Fill it up with gas before you park. Keep oil changes, and service needs up to date. If you do hit the road, you could be in slow-moving traffic, and your gas tank and nerves will be grateful you gassed up!
A Communication Plan - How will your people in New Orleans know where you are? Share your plans. Have a system to notify people if you leave. How will your people outside of New Orleans know you are safe? How will you provide updates? How will you do so if the internet and phone lines are down for a while?
How to Leave - Which road will you take? Where will you land? And of course, know where the above items are so you can grab and go. Know your closest evacuation route. Have a place to go to the north, east, and west. Storms don't always run right up the middle. Share that plan with others.
While it's rare you'll need to leave the city, many people do because it's more comfortable to be elsewhere, and it's often a good excuse to spend time visiting with friends and relatives outside of town. If it is mandatory to leave town, your travel expenses will often be at least partially covered by your insurance provider.
Try and make the most of it. It's no fun to be stuck at home or in a hotel with nothing to watch but the storm. Book with a buddy. Bring something else to do. And be sure if you are booking a hotel to know a handful that are pet friendly if your family includes more than just humans.
Last But Not Least, Check in With Each Other. It's always a good idea to check on those nearby who may benefit from some help and to let others know you're OK, too.
Neighbors - Stop by your elderly neighbors and see if you can run an errand for them. Check-in to see who is staying in town.
Family and friends—Make sure those who live with you are on board with your shared plan. Make sure those who don't live with you know that you have a plan and how to reach you.
Social Media—Social media is a great tool for getting advice, being prepared, and feeling connected. When we stayed through Ida, I published a lot of real-time updates and information. You can rewatch it all here.
Do make sure your phone stays charged and plugged in. All of the checking in, logging in, commenting on, and streaming can run down your battery pretty quickly. Being disconnected during a storm is a poor choice for your mental health. Consider sharing, 'I'm fine when the storm passes. ' You'll be surprised how many friends care to know you're OK.
You're never alone when it comes to storm prep or riding out a storm. One of the great things about living in New Orleans is our sense of community. Find community tips and more here: https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE4MTkyMDE4MDcwMTQzMzkx?story_media_id=2650236252734665297_18279233962&igsh=dTB1Y3ZmOWdxZWNu
Each storm is different. Your storm tolerance may be high or low; there's no shame either way. Just remember, you're living in a city that has survived more than three hundred storm seasons. And we survive those storms by listening, looking out, and being prepared. Thanks, Mama Nature!
We do it because life here is like nowhere else on the planet. Good enough, different enough, and fun enough to put up with the season. And that's saying quite a lot.
And that, my friends, is how and why we rock a hurricane.
Also, if you're thinking of buying or you're currently buying a home but haven't closed yet, talk to me about how to protect your new place, your deal, and your interest rate during named storms!
Voted Neighborhood Favorite by Nextdoor, Team Cool Murphy is a top-producing, licensed real estate team based in New Orleans, brokered by Cool Murphy, LLC.
Celebrated for her next-level creative approach to real estate, Elisa Cool Murphy is an award-winning, top-performing real estate broker in New Orleans and the founder of Cool Murphy Real Estate.
Contact Her -
email: cool@coolmurphy.com
Facebook: @homeinneworleans
IG: @coolmurphynola
YouTube: @coolmurphynola
phone: 504-321-3194
