Never Been Through A Florida Hurricane? Here's What You Should Know

FLORIDA — As Hurricane Idalia accelerates toward the state, emergency officials in Florida are urging residents to finish their preparations ahead of what forecasters call a rapidly intensifying storm.

While many Floridians are accustomed to what steps to take to prepare their homes and families for a hurricane, for some new residents, Idalia might be their first brush with dangerous tropical weather.

Luckily, the Florida Department of Emergency Management offers a comprehensive hurricane guide on its website. Here are some highlights from the guide and other necessary preparation tips to remember as Idalia nears Florida, according to state emergency officials and residents who have been through a hurricane or two.

The advice covers everything from keeping cash on hand to freezing lots of water to knowing what the weather terms mean.

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Know Your Tropical Weather Terms

What's the difference between a tropical disturbance and a tropical storm? When does a tropical storm become a hurricane? Knowing the difference can help you better prepare for what's to come.

• Tropical disturbance: A tropical weather system with organized convection (generally 100-300 miles in diameter) originating in the tropics or subtropics.
• Potential tropical cyclone: A disturbance that is not yet a tropical cyclone but poses the threat of tropical storm or hurricane conditions to land areas within 48 hours.
• Tropical cyclone: A rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls.
• Tropical depression: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less.
• Tropical storm: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph.
• Hurricane: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.

Common Weather Threats

Hurricanes and tropical storms produce many different weather threats. While most expect damaging winds and heavy rains, hurricanes can spawn tornados and cause deadly flooding. A few threats to expect, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management include:

• Storm surge: A hurricane can produce destructive storm surge, which is water pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds. This surge combines with the normal tides to inundate normally dry land in feet of water. The stronger the storm, the higher the storm surge.
• Inland flooding: In the last 30 years, inland flooding has been responsible for more than half the deaths associated with tropical cyclones in the United States.
• High winds: Hurricane-force winds can destroy poorly constructed buildings and manufactured homes. Debris such as signs, roofing material and small items left outside become flying missiles in hurricanes.
• Tornadoes: Hurricanes can produce tornadoes that add to the storm's destructive power. Tornadoes are most likely to occur in the right-front quadrant of the hurricane.

Make A Plan

According to state emergency officials, Floridians should have at least seven days of supplies on hand when a hurricane is forecast. These supplies include food, water, medicine, batteries, pet food and more.

See a complete list of supplies you should keep on hand in case of a hurricane.

Also, keep copies of vital family records and other documents (birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, passports, wills, deeds, financial, insurance, medical and immunization records, and copies of current bills) in a safe deposit box, waterproof container or other secure location.

Refill Your Medications

It would be best to have a minimum two-week supply of all prescription medications. You should also keep a list of all your prescription medications, dosages and any other special instructions with your emergency medication supply.

Florida law allows you to get a 30-day refill of your prescription medication even if you just refilled it, but only if you reside in a county:

• That is under a hurricane warning issued by the National Weather Service.
• That is under a state of emergency executive order declared by the governor.
• That has activated its emergency operations center/emergency management plan.

Know Your Evacuation Zone

Visit FloridaDisaster.org/Know to learn what evacuation zone you live in. Know your county's disaster plans and community warning systems. Learn your community's evacuation routes.

If you're ordered to evacuate, do so as soon as possible. Sometimes evacuations are ordered at the last minute, leaving little to no time to prepare. As part of your emergency plan, you should map out several evacuation routes and options to get you to your destination while avoiding potential hazards.

"During Irma, it took me 24 hours of drive time to take my mother-in-law to Atlanta, so if you need to evac DO IT EARLY," u/GreatGoatsInHistory wrote on Reddit. "Lots of people got stuck on 75 with no gas and not many good options."

Fill Up Your Gas Tank

While state emergency officials recommend keeping your gas tanks at least halfway full to avoid long lines at gas stations and potential gas stations, some Florida residents would advise you to fill up completely as soon as possible.

"Make sure you have a full tank of gas. If you have gas containers, fill me up," u/Altruistic_Pianist_3 wrote on Reddit.

"Fill up your cars and gas cans, stock up on food," u/CapeGreg767 wrote. "If you don't have a generator, then stock up on food that doesn't need refrigeration, because you will not have electricity when it's over."

Don't Leave Pets Behind

If you evacuate your home, do not leave animals or pets behind. Pets or larger animals probably won't survive a hurricane on their own. If by some chance they do, you may not be able to
find them when you return.

Know Generator Safety

Generators can be lifesavers in the event of a hurricane, but if not used properly, they can also be deadly.

If you have a portable generator, do not use it inside your home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area, according to FEMA guidance. Keep it outside of your living spaces and away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come inside. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that could kill you, your family and your pets.

Be sure to check on your family and neighbors who may be using generators to remind them about the importance of keeping generators outside their homes and other enclosed spaces.

If You Stay, Try These Other Tips

If you choose not to evacuate during a hurricane or tropical storm, keep these tips in mind, according to multiple Reddit users.

"If you have bathtubs, fill them up with water so it can be used for a variety of things i.e. flushing toilets, cooking etc..... Buy bottled water for drinking." -u/CapeGreg767

"I'd recommend filling up bathtubs with water prior to getting hit so you can flush toilets." -u/MacNuggetts

"Wash and completely fill your bathtub. This could be emergency drinking water, but this way you'll be able to flush your toilet in the event of lack of water pressure." -u/HeinekenRob

"Freeze large containers of water that you can then use to drink or keep food cold in the refrigerator if you lose power or in coolers, etc. Large chunks of ice melt slower than smaller." -u/susan127

"Get some cash from the bank, ATMs most likely will not be working. Cash will be king." -u/CapeGreg767

"Close up the shutters or board up the windows. If you can't do either then prop up (a) mattress or something again sliding glass doors and windows, stay in an inner room, away from windows." -u/DebiMoonfae

"Do not drive through or during the hurricane!" -u/Altruistic_Pianist_3