As nations all around the world battle an unprecedented pandemic, you have been taking the recommended precautions to protect you and your family from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Everyone is focused on staying safe from this disease, but other disasters can still occur during this unusual time.
For example, hurricane season runs from June to November. Are you prepared? If you live in a hurricane-prone area, follow these tips to get ready, even in the midst of a pandemic.

Contact Your Local Evacuation Shelter
If you don’t already have a community shelter in mind, make a few calls to find out the options available in your area. If you have a shelter picked out from last hurricane season, be aware that the facility may not be open this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If your family ends up evacuating to a shelter, remember to wear a cloth face covering, wash your hands frequently, and practice social distancing with people who aren’t members of your household.

Stock Up on Emergency Supplies
Every family should have a 72-hour kit, complete with the food, water, and supplies necessary to survive at home or on the go for three days. Consider any special needs your family has, including medications, pet food, and/or diapers and formula.

In addition to the supplies that you should have on hand during any hurricane season, set extra pandemic-related equipment aside as well. This includes soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and two cloth face coverings per person. Children under age two and anyone with breathing difficulties shouldn’t wear a mask. As you know, when emergency supplies are in high-demand, they become difficult to find, so give yourself plenty of time to stock up.

Make a Plan
Disasters don’t wait. Neither should you. Follow the guidelines from our hurricane preparedness blog to make a family disaster plan today. Your preparations may apply to hurricanes and other disasters that could affect your area.

Also, stay up-to-date with the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge regarding this novel coronavirus continues to expand, so best practices may change as the situation progresses.

Stay in the Know

Keep up to date on your local weather alerts to ensure you are never in the dark about local disasters that could affect you and your family. Consider purchasing a NOAA radio or downloading a reputable app on your mobile device, such as the FEMA app.

Schedule Disaster Recovery
If your home experiences storm damage during hurricane season, rest assured that DKI is here to help. We maintain a safe distance while working to restore your home to its original condition. When you call us for hurricane repair, we’ll arrive within two hours and start working right away. Our services include water damage repair, structural stabilization, tree removal, emergency board-up, contents restoration, and building reconstruction.

For more emergency preparedness tips, or to schedule storm damage repair, please call DKI. We have locations all across North America and offer 24/7 assistance.