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Never underestimate the danger posed by straight line winds.
They may lack the notoriety of tornadoes, but they’re no less damaging. Indeed, these intense winds surge in a straight line at up to 100 mph and, according to the same source, commonly cause more destruction in the process.
Needless to say, getting caught up in such a storm can have huge repercussions. The threat to properties, infrastructure, and human life is very real. It’s of paramount importance that people know what to do before and during these cataclysmic winds.
After all, with your safety on the line, taking precautionary steps can literally be the difference between life and death.
Looking for advice on handling high winds and minimizing the chance of trouble?
Keep reading for 7 tips on staying safe during straight strong winds.
- Stay up to Speed on Weather Updates
As they say, ‘information is power’. Truer words have never been said when it comes to staying safe in storms and high winds!
It’s hard to overstate the value that comes from being in the know. By listening to the radio or watching the news, you can keep up to date with any potential storms on the horizon. You’ll know if and/or when they’re going to hit, which means you can take steps to prepare.
The element of surprise is a leading cause of trouble. People are caught unawares by the high winds and place themselves in danger as a result.
Avoid that fate by staying up to speed on the weather- especially if you live in areas that are prone to inclement conditions. Oh, and make sure you have a quality insurance claims lawyer, just in case the worst does happen.
- Have a Disaster Plan and Survival Kit
Information only gets you so far though. The next vital step is being ready for the worst. After all, failing to prepare is like preparing to fail!
Storm preparedness is vital for staying safe in straight line winds.
Every household should have a plan in place for what to do in a disaster situation; everybody in the family should know what’s expected of them. Figure out what you’ll do, where you’ll go, who you’ll have around, and what you’ll take with you.
From there, assemble a disaster-readiness kit full of food, equipment, water, and other essential supplies that will keep you safe in a worst-case scenario. Place the kit somewhere readily available and make sure you grab it when a storm sets in.
- Install (and Remember to Close) Storm Shutters
It’s in the interest of every homeowner to protect their property as well.
For one thing, it’s a primary place of shelter when high-winds hit; the people inside are only as safe as the house keeps them. Secondly, you’ll minimize the amount of damage your home encounters.
Numerous steps can be taken to batten down the hatches, as it were. But one of the best is to install hurricane shutters outside windows. These reinforced shutters should prevent debris from smashing the glass and allowing wind into the property.
That’s of immense importance!
Strong winds that enter your home places the structure under intense forces. It isn’t uncommon for entire rooves to be blown off in the process. Hurricane shutters should help you avoid this eventuality.
- Remove Loose Items from the Yard
High winds are known to lift entire houses from their foundations!
With that level of power behind it, anything you leave outside in your yard can (and will) be picked up, tossed around, and lost. Loose items become deadly weapons. They’re shot through the air, creating untold danger to anything in the way.
Houses (be it yours or your neighbor’s), cars, and even people suffer as a result.
Do your best to take everything of this nature into your house before the storm comes. Kids’ toys, gardening equipment, plant pots, and anything else should all be stowed away somewhere secure.
- Seek Shelter in the Basement and Away From Windows
Certain places in your home are better than others for staying safe.
In general, you want to be low down (preferable in the basement, if you have one), away from windows (especially when they’re not covered by hurricane shutters), and/or under a staircase (or any other heavy, seemingly immovable item of furniture).
In an ideal world, you’d have a designated safe room in your house. A bit like the shutters, this is something to organize ahead of time. Everything about these rooms is reinforced to provide optimal protection from storm danger.
It goes without saying, but if you have one of these rooms, then head there with your family ASAP (taking your disaster kit with you).
- Avoid Sheltering In Manufactured Homes
As we just noted, different areas of the house are better-suited for storm protection.
But the same applies to different types of actual property as well.
Manufacture homes, for example, are one of the worst places to be when a straight line wind is due. It takes far less for these structures to be lifted, flipped, spun, and dropped versus others. A strong enough wind will pick it up and toss it around like a rag doll.
Head to a more permanent structure on solid foundations if at all possible.
- Keep Well Away From Power Lines and Trees
A final quick tip is to stay well away from trees and power lines.
Both are common victims of high winds, which rip through at high velocity and uproot them from the ground. Trees and power lines alike will fall, damaging whatever’s in their path. The last thing you want is to be in their way when it happens.
Stay Safe in Straight Line Winds
Straight line winds cause immense damage every year. Vehicles are crushed, properties are destroyed, infrastructure is ruined, and peoples’ lives are lost.
That’s why it’s super important for everybody to take sensible precautions both before and during these events. Hopefully, the tips in this post will help you take appropriate shelter from the storm!
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