Almost all countries near major ocean bodies are plagued occasionally by the occurrence of typhoons. In the Pacific, the weather disturbance is widely called typhoon. It is cyclone in the Indian ocean and in the United States, where most often it comes from the Atlantic, it is called hurricane.
A typhoon is a massive accumulation of destructive winds and torrential rains over a huge body of water, particularly ocean. The accumulation is facilitated by an area characterized by the presence of a low-pressure, which makes evaporation and wind development faster.
Typhoons do not develop overnight. Often, it takes about a few days before one is developed. Usually, typhoons start as thunderstorms that accumulate strength and intensify into a massive weather disturbance.
Typhoons are easily tracked and monitored by weather satellites because of their huge radius and accumulated cloud system.
Thus, weather bureaus are always able to track a development of one, making it possible for concerned government and safety bodies to release typhoon warnings for the safety of people who might be affected by the weather onset.
A typhoon is an almost predictable calamity. Almost, because its tracks can easily change, but certain, because its presence is easily monitored.
Preparing for a typhoon
Countries that are always visited by typhoons have instituted safety measures to prepare people for the destructive weather occurrence and to help curb, if not totally prevent, injuries and casualties.
When a typhoon is about to hit an area, typhoon warnings should already be released, at least 24 to 48 hours before the expected landfall of the weather disturbance.
Thus, people, whose residences are within the warning areas, should first and foremost make the necessary safety precautions. Here are some of them.
· Store enough food and drinking water that would last for a few days. The typhoons may bring in torrential rains and destructive winds that may ruin infrastructure. Groceries and markets might not be able to resume operations after a typhoon, so make sure your supplies would last until the situation goes back to normal.
· Make sure your home is sturdy enough to endure potential gusty winds and flash floods. If not, just evacuate and go to designated safe evacuation or safety center.
· During the typhoon, you may opt to put off electric currents within the house to prevent any electrical accidents. The local utility firm will voluntarily cut off the electric supply.
· Typhoons bring in rains and winds so make sure you have jackets and umbrellas, in case you may need to flee.
· If your home is safe enough, just stay indoors before and during the typhoon to ensure safety. During typhoons, electric wires might fall down to the streets and compromise safety. Same goes for falling, or even flying debris, which are the usual cause of injuries and casualties.
· Always monitor news updates regarding the typhoon. Get transistor radios to make sure there would be no news blackout in case the electric and communication facilities shut down.
Remember that typhoons are weather phenomenon. One can never prevent it from forming and coming over. However, what people can do is to help prevent the destruction of the weather disturbance.
They can help by not becoming one of the casualties. Life is too precious and it is not worth losing it due to some occasional weather occurrence like the typhoon.
Believe it or not, the coastline of the United states is regularly battered by hurricanes – about five on the average – every 3 years.
The fact of the matter is that hurricanes do bring lots of winds – some as strong as a hundred miles every hour. Along with hurricanes also come water surges that reach to twenty feet in height.
Such cyclones are extremely dangerous, therefore preparing for their onslaught especially during the months between June up until November, is a smart and practical thing to do.
The following are tips and advice you could do to be able to best prepare for any worst that could happen when hurricanes come.
Be aware and beware
Understand and know that every hurricane is a lot different, preparing for the possible worst is usually the best option as it makes one prepare and be pro active.
Make a list and check it twice
Try to make up a list of all the items found in your backyard or front yard which you think you need to bring in the house when a hurricane hits. The items which could be included in this list are the tools for the yard or lawn furniture.
Trim it
As much as possible, try to keep shrubbery and trees trimmed. Doing so prevents any unnecessary entanglements brought about by tree branches or the like.
Drain it
As much as possible, try to ensure that all the gutters as well as drains in your area are appropriately cleared. This is so that further flooding is prevented especially during the bouts of long and heavy rainfall that usually accompany strong hurricanes.
Use shutters specifically designed for hurricanes
Using shutters permanently for the doors and windows is a much safer and better alternative that simply taping all the glass as doing the latter does not in any way prevent the glass’ breakage. You could also protect the window from the outside using plywood or the shutters.
Plan for an evacuation
As much as possible, develop a plan for evacuation. Try to communicate with your emergency local management chapter or office of the Red Cross.
They may be able to provide you with the route for evacuation as well as shelters that are nearby.
Prepare blankets
Have ready sleeping bags and blankets just in case there is a need for you to have to rush to a shelter.
Think about your pets too
Know in advance what you could do to take care of your pets. A lot of animals were abandoned during the onslaught of hurricane Katrina.
Gather needed emergency supplies
As much as possible, prepare supplies beforehand. Included in this list of supplies should be flashlights, batteries, a radio, water and food, first aid kits, can opener.
An additional tip is by turning the temperature of your fridge to the highest setting. The reason for this is when the power goes off, the cool air of your fridge will get to stay a lot longer, thereby preserving your food a lot longer.
Elevate your home and furniture
It is also a good idea to elevate your house especially if hurricane and flooding is a common thing in your area.
All in all, preparing for the worst is always the best course available. It could save you precious time and energy as well as possibly save your life as well as those of your loved ones.
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