Hurricane preparedness is an essential part of emergency planning, helping to mitigate potential losses and prepare staff and residents for various risks associated with these powerful storms.
In this post, we detail the safety steps to take before, during, and after hurricanes.
When a rotating low-pressure tropical cyclone storm reaches sustained winds of 74 mph, it’s considered a hurricane. Tropical cyclones with sustained winds of less than 39 mph are tropical depressions, while storms with sustained winds of 39 mph or higher are tropical storms.
Hurricanes are categorized by sustained wind speed using a 1 to 5 rating, with 5 being the most catastrophic (sustained winds of 157
mph or higher). Any hurricane rated 3 or higher is considered a major storm with the potential for devastation. Hurricane winds can
cause significant property damage, sending objects airborne and turning them into destructive forces that damage anything in their
path. During hurricanes, the leading cause of death is water from either storm surges, rainfall, or high surf.
While hurricanes form in the Atlantic basin, storms can affect any U.S. coast.
At the start of hurricane season—earlier if possible—review your organization’s business continuity plan to identify vital operations, points of contact (e.g., federal and non-profit disaster relief organizations, utility companies, and emergency responders), and staff roles and responsibilities during an emergency. If you don’t have a business continuity plan, you can create one using our custom tool (please note, you must have an HAI Group member login to access this tool).
A top priority is staying informed so your organization can quickly alter plans as conditions shift.
Pay close attention to emergency information and alerts.
If authorities issue an evacuation order, ensure staff and residents are aware and follow the order immediately.
Inform staff and residents to stay inside and away from windows, skylights, and glass doors. If the eye of a hurricane passes over your area, there will be a short period of calm, but on the other side of the eye, dangerous conditions will rapidly return.
Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet. Water may also be deeper than it appears and can hide hazards. Just 12-18 inches of moving water can sweep away a large vehicle.
Beware of lightning and stay away from electrical equipment. Watch out for downed power lines. Don’t enter any room where water covers electrical outlets or cords are submerged. If there’s any chance water may have electricity in it, get out immediately.
If trapped in a building by flooding, go to the highest level of the building. Don’t enter a closed attic, as rising floodwater can cause entrapment.
Hidden dangers such as gas leaks, contaminated sewage, and fallen power lines can linger long after the storm passes.
This article is for general information only. HAI Group makes no representation or warranty about the accuracy or applicability of this information for any particular use or circumstance. Your use of this information is at your own discretion and risk. HAI Group and any author or contributor identified herein assume no responsibility for your use of this information. You should consult with your attorney or subject matter advisor before adopting any risk management strategy or policy.