To Weather a Hurricane, Be Prepared Hurricanes can release more than 2.4 trillion gallons of rain a day. To put that in context, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is one of the largest in the world. Its tanks hold 5 million gallons. So, in a single day, a hurricane can rain down the equivalent of 480,000 Shedd Aquariums. Is your facility ready to deal with that? With winds that can exceed 155 miles per hour, a single storm can cause billions of dollars in damage and affect dozens of states. And because hurricanes can cause damage from the coast to several hundred miles inland, the best defense you often have is preparation. Here are a few ways employers can be proactive. Before a Hurricane Create an Emergency Action Plan: Have a written plan in place that details and organizes the employer and employee actions for the different emergency scenarios a hurricane can present to a workplace. Make an Emergency Preparedness Kit: Prepare for the worst. A good hurricane preparedness plan starts off with a hurricane checklist that can be documented in your emergency action plan. The checklist serves as a guide for a disaster kit. At a minimum, the kit should include: flashlights, first aid kits, non-perishable food items, water, a battery-powered radio, and batteries. For more information visit the National Hurricane Center. Prepare Your Facility If you have enough warning before the storm arrives, prepare your facility to help minimize any damage caused by the storm. • Trim surrounding trees • Board up windows • Secure items that may become airborne • Brace large loading dock or garage doors • Protect items by storing them on the floor Fast Facts •The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, but storms can form before and after. •2020 was a record-breaking hurricane season that produced 30 named storms. •2020 and 2005 are the only recorded years that storms were named with letters of the Greek alphabet after the maintained rotating list of 21 names was exhausted. Know the Terms • Hurricane Watch “Be Aware.” Conditions are right for a hurricane in the next 48 hours. • Hurricane Warning “Take Action!” Hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. SAFETY FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT CONTACT: SAFETYQUESTIONS@FASTENAL.COM OR 1-833-FNL-SAFE
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