Residents of Pinellas County have had two opportunities in recent weeks to practice their hurricane drills.
Those who are smart now have a list - in their heads if not on paper - of the things they would do differently next time and the items they needed but didn't have on hand.
It is time to get out those lists and start refining your personal storm plan. Hurricane Ivan, a Category 4 storm, appears headed toward the Gulf of Mexico.
If your household doesn't have a list, perhaps a family discussion is in order, with everyone making their own contributions. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Every household needs a "hurricane pantry" filled with food items that are not perishable, do not need refrigeration, and are edible without cooking. Attention should be paid to variety and nutrition when selecting these foods - a few granola bars and a jar of peanut butter will not be enough to make it through days without electricity. And don't assume you will be able to run out and buy food as you need it. Area stores and restaurants are likely to be closed, even if you could safely drive to them.
If you used your flashlights and battery-operated radio during Hurricane Frances, you will need new batteries.
Cellular phones may or may not work in a storm, but they certainly won't work if they have dead batteries. If the electricity is off in your home, how will you recharge your phones? A cell phone recharger that plugs into your car's cigarette lighter is a possible solution.
Hurricane shelters, usually located in school buildings, do not provide cots or comfortable chairs for evacuees, and it can take some time for the kitchen to start operating. Make a list now of items you would take to a shelter, including lawn chairs or fold-up cots, blankets, books and games, a radio, food and clean clothes.
In a hurricane, wind and rain are not the only enemies. Heat can be, too. Floridians have become so accustomed to air conditioning that they suffer in the high heat and humidity if the power goes off. Battery-powered fans can be purchased in building supply stores.
If you live on the water and likely will evacuate during a hurricane, it pays to identify an inland hotel or motel that you could call for an early reservation.
All the experts have said it repeatedly in recent weeks, and Floridians hopefully will heed it: Putting tape - adhesive, masking or duct - on windows will not keep them from being shattered by flying debris in a hurricane. And once windows break, hurricane-force winds can enter a home and lift off the roof. Construction-grade plywood can be used to cover windows (metal storm shutters are even better), but it can take days to buy, measure and cut the wood and obtain special fasteners. And you will need a good drill. Better get started.
Hurricanes Charley and Frances proved to those who were affected by them that it would be difficult to overprepare for a hurricane. We are in the midst of an active and dangerous hurricane season. Using the calm before the storm to think through all of the possibilities and prepare for them is not overreacting. It is being smart.
