Summertime in the South. Many of us who live here look forward to the balmy breezes and sunny days that stretch past dinner. What we don’t look forward to are tropical storms that can cause flooding and strengthen into hurricanes.
We can all take steps, though, to keep ourselves and those we care about as safe as possible, should a hurricane hit. Read on to see how we’ve prepared and get helpful hurricane prep tips you and others you care about can use.
We’ve Been Ready Right From the Start!
As a new community, Highpoint at Stonecrest features an array of advanced health and safety measures, including several designed to protect residents in an emergency situation.
For instance, with concrete construction and hurricane-rated windows, our community was built to meet the state’s hurricane standards even though we’re not in any of Florida’s peak hurricane zones. (See more about those in below.)
We’ve also made other efforts to ensure emergency preparedness for seniors — such as having on-site backup power and emergency supplies — so we’re ready if there’s a strong enough storm to cause a power outage. And always, whether skies are sunny as usual or a different scenario is unfolding, residents can rely on our staff for assistance around the clock.
Florida’s Hurricane Risk Zones
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has created a Know Your Zone Map showing the areas of the state that are at greatest risk for hurricane activity.
We’re fortunate that our community here in Summerfield is outside the peak risk zones.
If you have relatives or friends living in an area that’s at greater risk, such as the Panhandle or many of Florida’s coastal regions, share this information with them.
Seniors May Need To Take Extra Precautions
As a senior living community, Highpoint at Stonecrest takes our responsibilities seriously when it comes to emergency preparedness for older adults. We go to great lengths to ensure residents are safe within our community.
While our staff handles the planning and preparations for various types of emergencies, we also make sure residents know exactly what to do if an emergency situation arises.
Many older adults have health needs and special circumstances — for example, prescription medications that require refrigeration, or mobility issues — that must be considered when creating and carrying out an emergency preparedness plan. (See more details in the tips below.)
Step #1: Have a Communications Plan in Place
Everyone should have a plan for communicating with family members and friends during an emergency. This may be in the form of a chain, where specific individuals are responsible for contacting one another to make sure they’re safe or to relay information about others. If evacuation is necessary a communication plan becomes even more vital.
Keep in mind that power outages are to be expected during a hurricane and phone service may be interrupted. Cellphones may not work if nearby towers are out of commission, so you may need to travel to another area, if possible, for cell service.
Some newer cellphones (iPhone 14 and later, and the Google Pixel 9, for instance) can connect to satellites through a feature known as satellite SOS. This makes it possible to send emergency messages even when there’s no cell service available.
Step #2: Have Battery-Powered Items on Hand
Since there’s a chance you may be without electricity, have one or more flashlights and a battery-operated radio available. These, along with extra batteries, are crucial items to have in an emergency kit if you need to leave home.
(If you wear hearing aids, you’ll want to have extra batteries for those, too.)
Try to ensure your cellphone is fully charged before the hurricane hits, and have a precharged portable charger or solar charger on hand if possible.
Step #3: Pack an Emergency Kit Ahead of Time
Forecasters may know well in advance approximately when and where a hurricane is expected to make landfall, but sometimes there isn’t much warning.
It’s important to have a basic emergency kit packed and ready to go. If you have extra time, you can add more items to it before you need to leave. Keep a list in the kit of other items you’d like to bring with you.
The basic kit should include:
- Nonperishable food items
- Can opener and disposable plates/utensils
- Bottled water
- Personal hygiene items (toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap, etc.)
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements
- First-aid kit
- Changes of clothing and an extra pair of comfortable shoes
- Towel and washcloth
- Hand wipes or sanitizer
- Sleeping bag or blanket and pillow
- List of important phone numbers, including physicians and your pharmacy
- Cash or traveler’s checks (in case ATMs are without power)
- Spare pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses and sunglasses
- Matches stored in a plastic bag to keep them dry
- Copy of your health insurance card and driver’s license or other ID
For more suggestions about what to include in your emergency kit, as well as hurricane survival tips, take a look at these online resources from AARP, American Red Cross, FEMA, Ready.gov, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you have pets …
Pack an emergency kit for them, too, with food, water, bowls, ID tags, vet records, toys, leashes, if appropriate, and bedding. Store the kit near their carriers so it’s easy to find when you need it.
Step #4: Protect Your Important Documents
Hurricanes can destroy everything in their wake. You may want to store important documents elsewhere, like in a safe deposit box. These include birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, passports, legal documents such as wills, trusts and advanced directives, deeds and car titles.
You can keep photocopies at home so you have the information handy if you need it. Consider keeping a set of photocopies in your emergency kit. You might also want to include bank account and insurance policy information in your kit.
If you’ll be staying in a shelter or at a hotel or motel, make sure your emergency kit stays in your possession at all times.
Step #5: Prepare Your House
If you have enough time (and can do so safely):
- Cover your windows and doors that don’t have storm shutters with plywood.
- Secure outside objects like garbage cans and patio furniture (move them into your garage if you have one, or inside your house if necessary).
- Use sandbags to direct water away from your house.
- Freeze blocks of ice to help with food storage if you lose power; freeze water in quart-size bags to use for drinking water.
If a hurricane is imminent:
- Draw the window blinds and pull the curtains closed to help prevent injuries from broken glass.
- Move electronics and valuable items away from windows and cover with them with plastic to protect against water damage.
- Fill your sinks and bathtubs with water to use for bathing and flushing toilets.
- Turn off the gas, electricity and main water valve to help prevent damage.
Step #6: Be Ready To Evacuate
Decide where you will go and make your evacuation plans early. If you intend to stay with friends or family, coordinate with them in advance.
If you must go to a local shelter, make sure you know where it is and how to get there. If you’re bringing pets, be sure to check which public shelters or hotels will accept them.
Fill your car’s gas tank ahead of time. Remember, other people will also be preparing to evacuate, so there may be a line at the gas pumps.
Move your emergency kit(s) to the car, as well as any valuables you want to take with you. (Keep your car parked in the garage, if you have one, until you’re ready to go.)
If you don’t have a car or are unable to drive, arrange as early as possible for someone to assist you with transportation.
If you need special assistance because of a medical condition, see if your physician or your local health department can advise you.
Now, Take Your Next Step: Come See Us!
We can write at length about our community’s features and the array of amenities we offer, but the best way to get a feel for the vibrant, fulfilling lifestyle you could enjoy here is to spend some time with us.
Contact us so we can set up a time for you to visit. You can also reach us at 352-549-9210.
Featured Image: lazyllama / Shutterstock