How to Prepare for a Hurricane in Hawaii
Due to the upcoming hurricane season, weather predicted for our area can be dangerous, and we wanted to create an article on what to do during this time.
Hurricane season begins June 1st and ends November 30th. You are encouraged to contact the local Emergency Preparedness Division or local Red Cross Chapter to verify the needs of your household during the event of a hurricane. You can also view this helpful article by the Dept. of Health.
Please be advised that if the area is notified of a hurricane watch we strongly recommend that you take proper precautionary action in accordance with recommendations and instructions from the local authorities.
If the authorities issue a hurricane warning for the area, it is important that you comply with recommendations and instructions, which may include evacuation, issued by the local authorities.
It is important to remember that hurricanes and all associated weather and tidal conditions are natural disasters. Property management companies are not responsible for any resulting property damage, interruption of utilities/services, or bodily injury (this is what renters/homeowners insurance is for!)
Given the potential for driving rain during a hurricane, please take the steps necessary to prevent damage within your home, i.e. dry water around windows, blinds, and window sills to reduce the potential for mildew. Also, don’t forget to empty your refrigerator before evacuating or at the point power loss exceeds 24 hours.
In an effort to assist you in preparing for this hurricane season, we have prepared the following information to help you better prepare in the event of a hurricane.
Prior to the hurricane:
Listen to the County Warning System on the radio. Do exactly as advised. Make plans to relocate outside the affected area, if needed. Have current information on the location of the Red Cross shelters and directions to get there. If there are ill or disabled persons in the home, contact their doctor for instructions. If the County Warning System requires relocation, do so early to avoid traffic jams and dangerous winds. Be sure to take necessities such as prescriptions, bedding, enough food and water for 24 hours, flashlights and a battery-powered radio.
If you evacuate, take your valuables, pets, refrigerated and frozen food with you. Make sure you turn off all electrical appliances.
Clear off balconies, terraces and patios. Place rolled towels around the bottom of all exterior doors and windows. Use sand bags if they are available.
Close all blinds to avoid shattering glass. Do not tape any windows. Windows may be boarded from the outside only. Repairs needed from any damage caused to the building by the resident from boarding windows will be the financial responsibility of the resident.
Fill the bathroom tub with water. This water may be used for drinking should the water supply become interrupted or contaminated. It may also be poured into the toilet bowl to induce flushing.
Stock up on daily necessities. Items such as the following are a must: non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid kits, blankets, can opener, batteries, battery-powered radio, prescriptions, diapers, baby food, extra eye glasses, hearing aids and battery-powered lanterns.
Fill all vehicles with gas. In the event of loss of electricity, the gas pumps will not operate.
Have enough cash on-hand. In the event of loss of electricity, ATMs and debit/credit card machines will not operate.
Carry all important paperwork and personal identification with you.
Take pictures of the inside and outside of your house for insurance claims if needed.
Pursuant to your lease agreement, all residents are required to carry renter's insurance. To assist your carrier in the event of a loss, make a complete inventory of personal property. An inventory checklist can be obtained from your insurance representative. Store this and other important documents in waterproof containers or in a waterproof safety deposit box.
During the hurricane:
Continue to listen to the County Warning System on the radio. Do exactly as advised.
Stay indoors! If the calm eye of the hurricane passes through the area, continue to stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary to leave.
If the electricity goes off, turn off or unplug all hazardous appliances. (i.e. stove, iron, curling irons, blow-dryers) Use flashlights instead of candles or kerosene lamps. Take necessary precautions.
Conserve refrigeration. Open the refrigerator/freezer door as little possible.
Remain indoors until the official "all clear" is given from the County Warning System on the radio.
After the hurricane:
If you vacated your home prior to the storm, before returning, please check with your local authorities to determine the condition of the roads and the surrounding area.
Beware of outdoor hazards. Watch out for loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the proper authority. All emergency numbers are in the white pages of the telephone book.
Drive cautiously. Debris-filled streets are very dangerous. Snakes and poisonous insects may be a hazard. Washouts may weaken road and bridge structures, which could collapse under vehicle weight.
Open the refrigerator only when necessary. Food will spoil in the refrigerator if the power is off more than a few hours.
Do not use water until authorities have issued the area to be a “safe water area.” Use the emergency supply in the tub or boil water. Report broken sewer or water mains to the proper authority. Please limit usage of water and toilet facilities. Property may need to implement water restrictions. If a boil water advisory is issued for your neighborhood and there is no power to boil water, add 16 drops of fragrance-free chlorine bleach per gallon of water to purify it, then let it sit for 30 minutes before drinking.
Take extra precautions to prevent fire. Lowered water pressure in city mains and the interruption of other services may make firefighting extremely difficult after a hurricane.
Notify your insurance carrier in the event of losses and where you may be reached.
Please wipe all moisture from windows and doors.
If you are on Facebook, the recommended pages to follow for updates on the storm are:
Hawaii News Now
Star-Advertiser
City and County of Honolulu
The Governors Office
Other resources:
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA)
Recommendations for protecting children in response to natural disasters (American Academy of Pediatrics)
COVID-19 information (DOH)
Links to follow for more information of hurricane preparedness:
http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane#About
https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
If you do get caught in a storm, be patient. It takes a team effort to clean up after a storm. Responsibility for the cleanup falls to numerous local, state and federal agencies.
As you can imagine, many of the vendors and contractors we depend on to provide parts, labor, or technical assistance may be stretched to the limit. Because of this our response to service requests in your home may be delayed. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and patience during the aftermath of these storms.
Should damage to the property occur, please let your management and insurance know as soon as possible. Be sure to document all damage with a lot of pictures. Please take the time be as prepared as possible and stay safe!
