Storm Preparation Tips For Houston Residents

The city of Houston and the state of Texas have experienced a decent amount of hurricanes and tropical storms. People who went through Hurricane Alicia in 1983 attribute their survival to proactive measures by the government and their own preparedness. Some basic ideas of preparing yourself to weather a storm are discussed below.

When Hurricane Alicia hit Texas in 1983, it completely sank the neighborhood of Brownwood in Baytown. The areas of Seabrook, Kemah and others were flooded and the power was out for a week, even longer in the Houston metro area. No major hurricane has hit Houston since, but the city gets more than its share of flooding from tropical storms and depressions. Even though the flooding is mostly localized, low-lying areas are flooded badly in thunderstorms. Often in the path of a natural disaster, the residents of Houston must be proactive in securing themselves, their families and properties from damage during any such disaster.

You need to have a disaster supply kit ready. This kit has basic items that your family may need during an emergency. You must prepare this kit in advance, as disaster evacuation may force you to move immediately. Consequently, you will not have time to collect all necessary things, let alone go out and shop for them. The quantity of supplies must be enough to see you through three days at minimum. This is the usual time that relief workers will take to reach you (it could be hours too), but the severity of the storm may lengthen the waiting period. All your supplies must not be dependent on electricity, gas or even water, as these supplies may be cut off for days during a storm.

When you are picking food for emergency, then choose food items that will last three days or more without refrigeration (as the power outage could last for days in a storm). Take into account any special dietary needs for your family to avoid any medical emergencies. Do not get food that makes you thirsty. Advisable items include crackers (salt free), whole grain cereals and canned foods with high liquid content.

The amount of water to stock up on during an emergency is a common concern. You can estimate your water requirements by taking into account that a person needs one gallon of water per day (drinking and sanitization included). Nursing women, sick people or children may need more than a gallon per day. Those in higher temperature areas need more water.

Once you have prepared the kit, you need to maintain it so that it is always ready to use in emergencies and are in good condition. Be sure to keep canned food in a cool, dry place. Plastic or metal containers are ideal for boxed food. Dispose of any cans that get dented or damaged or swollen. Keep refreshing your supplies by getting rid of expired items. Stored water must be changed every six months. Make a note of when you bought any supplies, so that you know what all is good and what needs replacement. Keep other supplies like medicines, clothes and other things in airtight plastic bags and put the entire kit in easy to carry containers.

Making and maintaining this emergency kit can be really beneficial for you and your family. And once the storm is over, it is time to call in the disaster management experts in Houston Water damage or fire damage, they can handle anything as they are trained professionals that will put your life back on track.

The writer is a cleaning consultant with SVM Advantage, the leading disaster restoration company in Houston Janitorial services provided by the company are highly professional and completely reliable.