Hurricanes Are Common Along the Florida Coast
Living along Florida’s beautiful coastlines, you are likely to have encountered or evacuated for at least one hurricane in your lifetime, if not many more. Hurricanes tend to be a common part of life along the coast, bringing damage and destruction with them.
Hurricanes affecting the Florida coast start forming in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, or the Caribbean Sea. The power of the storm tends to grow stronger as it approaches the coast. When the hurricane finally makes landfall, it brings high winds, torrential downpours, and a storm surge (a rise of the ocean caused by the winds of the storm) that often floods the area. This can lead to property damage and loss of property, or even worse, injury or loss of life.
Preparing for a Hurricane or Flood
There are many things you can do to prepare for a hurricane or flood. The most common preparations tend to take place as local storm warnings begin.
Stay Safe
The safety of you and your family is of the utmost importance during a hurricane or flood. It is important to have a hurricane plan in place, stay informed, and be prepared to evacuate. If you are advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
If you have some time before evacuating or before the hurricane hits, you may choose to take some additional precautions to protect yourselves and your property.
Protect Your Property By:
- Boarding up the house, protecting windows with plywood boards or storm shutters
- Securing outdoor objects
- Turning off utilities and propane tanks as recommended
- Moving valuables to higher ground
- If not able to move furniture and appliances to higher ground, try to raise them a little higher by propping them up with wood, cinder blocks, or other materials
If Not Evacuating, Follow These Precautions:
- Make sure you have several days supply of nonperishable foods and drinkable water on hand for each person
- Have plenty of fuel on hand
- Have any tools or supplies needed with you
- Have plenty of flashlights and batteries available, do not use candles
- Have a first aid kit available, along with life-saving medications family members might require. Medications may include: inhalers, epi pens, insulin, etc.
- Have a safe room to gather in during the storm
- Pay attention to local weather reports, via radio, tv, or the internet for as long as possible
- If called to evacuate, do so immediately
Pre-Season Hurricane and Flood Protection
Most Florida coast homeowners are familiar with the standard hurricane and flood protection recommendations listed above, but did you know you can do more to protect your family and property before hurricane season starts? Take these additional measures to protect your home and property.
Make Sure Your Home Measures Up to the Guidelines
Building codes for withstanding a hurricane have become more strict over the years as punishing storms have hit the coastline leaving a path of damaged structures.
If your home was built before stricter enforcement of building guidelines began in the early 2000s, you may want to consider renovating your home to meet the requirements set forth in the Florida Building Code. This code is updated every three years, therefore homeowners should routinely check the guidelines to ensure their property meets these standards and remains a safe place to take shelter during a natural disaster.
Add a Seawall to Help Protect Your Florida Coast Property
Seawalls are best known for preventing erosion, that can lead to structural damage to your property and very costly repairs. But seawalls can also help protect your home and property during a hurricane or flood.
A seawall can add an additional layer of protection between a hurricane or storm surge making landfall and your back door. It can help keep some airborne debris, such as trees from hitting the house. Or it can help block the wall of water (storm surge) from washing away your entire yard. But most importantly, it can slow down the rushing waters of a flash flood, potentially giving you a little extra time to get you and your loved ones to safety.
Begin Your Pre-Season Protection Process by Calling Gibson Marine Construction
The seawall experts at Gibson Marine Construction are happy to help you to upgrade your hurricane and flood protection by adding a seawall to your property. They will be with you every step of the way, recommending the best wall height, building materials, wall location, and creating a custom design just for you. Get your seawall construction project started today before it’s too late.
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