Going off to college is such an exciting time! Many students will find themselves living near the coast for the first time in their lives, which will expose them to the reality of hurricanes. (Did you know stores sell out days before a storm even hits?) It can be daunting if you or your family has never been through one and has no idea how to prepare. While the risk of a hurricane is low, here is a college student’s hurricane checklist that will walk them through everything they need to do to prepare within a few hours.
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A Nightmare out of Nowhere
You’ll be minding your business one hot, sunny afternoon when you get a text asking if you have heard about the hurricane. It seems to have popped up out of nowhere, ruining your weekend plans. Worse, traffic seems to be growing heavier by the minute and drivers are acting road-ragey. What is going on?
The Pre-Storm Inconvenience
People who have already been through a storm know to gas up their cars and get to the grocery store as soon as possible. By tonight most of the stores will be sold out of bottled water, chips, snacks, soft drinks and PopTarts. (Seriously. PopTarts sell out almost as fast as the bottled water.) If you don’t know this in advance, you will have to go through the storm without the items you may need, like I once did. Everything I learned has gone into creating the college student’s hurricane checklist so you can prepare faster than most locals, even if you have never been through a hurricane.
Hurricane Traffic is Worse than Holiday Traffic
Unusually heavy, impatient traffic and lines forming at the gas station is often the first indication that something is wrong. It will look like Christmas shopping traffic but worse and significantly more aggressive. Well-meaning family members will be blowing up your phone constantly, distracting you from the dangerous driving conditions. Ignore your phone and focus on the road. They can wait. You need to prepare for the storm, which will take all of your focus for the next several hours. Once you are safely home with your groceries unloaded, you can return calls and texts. Your family will understand because what they want to hear is that you are safe and well prepared.
Family Members:
Your college student will need uninterrupted time to prepare. Try to minimize calling and texting. They will be navigating heavy traffic and crowded stores among a frantic local populace all trying to stock up. It is difficult to describe the frightening, hectic, angry, panicked, fender-bending, horn-honking, supply-grabbing people that they will be encountering in this moment. Your student will be okay if they can focus and drive carefully right now.
You can be of the most help by making sure they already own the items on our list and linking them to this page if a hurricane pops up. After they are aware of the incoming storm, a constant stream of texts on their phone is counter-productive. Scheduling an evening phone call is a safer game plan and you’ll get many more details that way. Encourage extended family members to contact you for updates. This really helps!
The Stores Will Sell Out
You will probably see ransacked and empty grocery store shelves as you are trying to buy the things you need. Only buy food you will eat and items you will use. Get bottled water for use in case the water pumping stations lose power or flooding contaminates the water supply with fecal matter or fish and animal carcasses. A boil ban will be announced if that is the case and bottled water is just more convenient, especially since you probably cannot boil water without power. (Most people have to use their grill.) If bottled water is sold out or you don’t want the expense, fill your empty bottles and pitchers at home with water before the storm.
Park Your Car Safely on Higher Ground
If possible, park your car in a sheltered area on higher ground that is not prone to flooding during storms. Avoid parking near trash cans, dumpsters, benches and un-bolted items that may blow in heavy wind and strike your vehicle. The inner parking spaces near the center columns of a parking garage will give good protection from airborne debris. If your only option is parking in the open, park away from large trees that could fall on your car. Bicycles should be brought inside so they are not damaged by wind.
Plan on Losing Power
Falling branches and downed trees take out power lines. Because hurricanes pack such a powerful punch, winds even a hundred miles inland can knock trees over. The wind outside will sound horrific but most structures have already withstood multiple hurricanes in the past and will make it through this one, too. A flashlight or headlamp with extra new batteries and water to keep you cool when the power, air conditioning and lights go out are important. Power will be out until the hurricane passes and sometimes for up to three days after a storm so be as prepared as you can. Flashlights, batteries, a camping lantern and candles with matches are nice to have.
You Will Need Proper Clothing
The hurricane will leave a mess outside. Sticks, branches, pine cones, trash, debris and maybe glass will litter the ground. You will be responsible for cleaning up your front door and patio area at the very least, so have a pair of work gloves to protect your hands. Hurricanes bring a lot of rain so mud boots are nice to have for navigating the mud puddles after flash flooding deposited silt over the sidewalks and streets.
Life Returns to Normal Quickly
I think the crazy traffic before the storm is usually worse than the storm itself. Afterwards people seem more apt to be kind and helpful towards neighbors as a feeling of camaraderie binds everyone together. The gas and grocery stores will re-stock in a few days, fast food places will re-open and you’ll now be able to say you survived a natural disaster!
I hope our college student’s hurricane checklist helps you feel prepared for whatever you may face in the future!
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