Hurricane Tracking Blog

This is a quick hurricane checklist. During a hurricane:

• If you must use candles, do not leave them unattended - keep them in safe holders and away from flammable material such as curtains, paper and wood.
• In case of heavy winds and severe electrical lightning, turn off and unplug electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics.
• If you are using a portable generator, plug appliances into the generator, using extension cords if necessary. For your safety, place the portable generator outside the house so that it (the generator) gets proper ventilation. Always turn it off when refueling.

Before a hurricane, here are some things you should from an electrical safety stand point - your hurricane checklist:

1. Trim and remove trees that could fall on power lines during strong winds.
2. Contact your power company for advice when trimming or removing trees that are close to power lines.
3. Have a licensed electrician check the service wire connection to your home to make sure it can withstand hurricane winds.
4. Stock up on battery-powered flashlights and batteries in case of power outages.
5. Ensure that family members know where the circuit breaker is located, just in case you need to turn off the power.
6. If you are installing a stand-by generator, get a licensed electrician to connect it to the main electric panel. A special switch is needed to ensure that the power from the generator does not “back feed” into power lines and potentially cause injuries.
7. If someone in your home depends on life-support equipment, and you do not have a stand-by generator, consider moving the individual to a special facility to avoid the effects of an extended power outage.
8. When a hurricane threatens, turn your refrigerators and freezers to their coldest settings in order to ensure that the food lasts longer in the event of a power outage.