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A monster hurricane is brewing in the Atlantic Ocean and could potentially impact the United States and Florida. While Hurricane Irma is still too far out to determine the possible track, some long range models are showing it could hit Florida. Even without a direct hit, Hurricane Irma is expected to become a Category 5 hurricane within the next few days, resulting in high winds and severe weather for hundreds of miles away from the eye of the storm. Andrew Fredman takes a look at what makes this hurricane different, and how it has similar traits to past devastating hurricanes, at Mashable.com. While it’s too early to know if it will impact Florida, now is the time to prepare for it.
Major Hurricane Irma now … I’d be surprised if storm didn’t become Cat 5 during next 5-7 days. Many EPS ensembles are very intense. pic.twitter.com/EyjSojsG6r
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) August 31, 2017
How to Prepare:
Taking preparations for a hurricane or tropical storm will help save your family if an emergency arises. Ready.gov provides the following tips on hurricane preparation:
- Know where to go in the event you decide to evacuate or a mandatory evacuation is issued. While unlikely a mandatory evacuation would be issued for the Horizon West/Orlando area, many people choose to evacuate for anything greater than a Category 3 storm.
- Create a go-bag: As we witnessed with Hurricane Harvey in Houston, many people were forced to evacuate flooded homes very quickly, leaving most belongings and supplies. Create a go-bag with essentials that can quickly be grabbed in the event of an emergency evacuation or a tornado.
- Stock up on supplies: Having supplies on hand for your family and pets is essential after a hurricane. It is possible to be without electricity for several days to even several weeks, making life difficult for everyone. If this were to occur, your family should have enough non-perishable food on hand to last through the recovery process.
- Clear yard waste: If a major hurricane would hit in 7 – 10 days, there is only 1 remaining day for yard waste pickup before the storm. Be sure to clear any branches and thin out overgrown trees before your next yard waste pickup. By thinning out a tree, it will allow wind to pass through it, decreasing the chance of the tree being uprooted.
Best Places to Buy Supplies:
- Thankfully there is time to prepare, with a potential landfall not for at least another week and a half. That means ordering online remains an option. Wal-Mart offers free shipping on orders over $35. Stock up on batteries, toilet paper, pet food, paper towels, and other everyday items. It’s easy to earn the free shipping option, pay a low price, and have it conveniently delivered by FedEx or you can choose In-Store Pickup and get the items at the Wal-Mart in Hamlin. Plus, for a limited time, if you make the purchase through TopCashBack, you can earn 8% back in commission on your order! TopCashBack uses affiliate links and instead of keeping the commission, passes it back on to you!
- Amazon Prime also is a great method to purchase some essentials, such as battery powered radios and flashlights. Check out these products useful products available on Amazon:
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