Brittney M. HelmrichHurricane Sandy is on her way up the east coast, and things are getting serious. Weather forecasts are predicting high winds, heavy rain, and possible flooding. If you live in Sandy’s path but your school hasn’t preemptively evacuated, we here at CampusRiot are here to save the day! If you need to batten down the hatches, here’s all you need to know about Hurricane-proofing your dorm room/apartment.
Your Hurricane Survival Kit
- Plenty of bottled water
- A flashlight (and plenty of batteries!)
- Food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated or cooked, like chips, crackers, granola bars, etc.
- Blankets and warm clothes (no electricity = no heat)
- Cash (ATMs and card readers won’t work if the power goes out)
- Have your license/ID/school ID/passport set aside in case you have to evacuate
Hurricane Preparation Checklist
Before the storm
- Charge your phone
- Get laundry done (you don’t want to be stuck in dirty clothes!)
- Shower (in case you lose hot water)
- Shut and lock your windows
- If you’re on the ground floor, unplug and move everything you don’t need in case of flooding
- Lock up valuables in a drawer/storage box
- Fill up your gas tank if you have a car on campus
- Pack a bag with clothing, toiletries, and any other essentials you use in case you have to evacuate
During the storm
- If you lose power, defrost your fridge. Put a towel underneath it in case it leaks
- Listen for information/announcements from your RA/RD or campus police
- Stay indoors unless directed otherwise by a school official
- Stay away from windows
- Keep a record of any damage that occurs to your room from the storm
- Get in contact with your family and keep them updated
- Most importantly, stay calm
Do you have any more dorm room hurricane survival tips?
Featured photo credit: NASA Goddard Photo and Video via photopin cc