A few days after Hurricane Wilma swept through South Florida in 2005, Howard Hanson and his wife ventured to Publix for food, but selections were slim.
“All they had were cans of Vienna sausages … and some anchovies,” says Hanson, FAU’s associate vice president for research. “We had food, but it just got boring really fast.”
Boring food and other similar problems are bound to happen after a hurricane, but they often don’t make the news. So, here are some tips for making the time immediately after the storm bearable. While these suggestions may not protect your home, they may protect your sanity.
Get a variety of foodWhile loading up on Chef Boyardee may seem like a good idea at the time, canned foods get tiresome by day two. Try to pick up sandwich supplies, like bread and peanut butter, that won’t go bad once they’re opened. Another option is to pick up an outdoor grill or stove and cook some food. Be warned: People who need that morning pick-me-up may want to skip the grill and go with that latter option.
“We had a charcoal grill, but it was really hard to boil water for coffee on it,” says Hanson, who has since invested in a camping stove.
Coffee drinkers could also pick up instant coffee – which often comes in single-serving packages – and add it to a cup of hot water.
Pack an overnight bagStudents living in the dorms may not have much of a warning before they need to evacuate, since hurricanes can suddenly change direction. Assistant Housing Director Sean Pierce says the decision to close the residence halls is determined on a case-by-case basis and can be done at a moment’s notice.
“It’s decided by President Brogan,” Pierce says. “[His decision] depends on where the storm’s coming from and how strong it is,” among other criteria.
However, students are usually informed ahead of time if there is a storm approaching and that an evacuation could be necessary.
People living off campus may also want to put clothes and other valuables in a small bag, in case they want to move after the storm. The electricity can be out for weeks at a time, so finding somewhere else to stay – like a relative’s house or a hotel room – may be more enjoyable.
Ditch the DuracellsInstead of spending a fortune on batteries for each approaching storm, solar lights – yes, the kind that go in the lawn – can be used year after year. The smaller varieties can be taken off of their posts fairly easily and brought inside at night.
Or pick up a rechargeable flashlight or two. For instance, Wal-Mart sells flashlights that can charge in a car’s cigarette lighter, as well as flashlights that charge in the sun. If a wall socket is needed, there are also car adapters that have the typical socket at one end – which could be used to charge a cell phone or power a blender, too.
Protect your carIf there is no space in the garage at home, look for a public parking garage. These structures offer little wind resistance – which means they’re not likely to fall down from strong winds – and keep most objects from falling on the car. If you’re weary about getting ticketed or towed for extended parking, Hanson says it’s not likely to happen.
“[Parking garage attendants] probably have other things to worry about,” says Hanson.
Find something to doWhen the electricity stops working, so does the television, computer and the video game system. You can also load up on books, whether they’re novels, crosswords or coloring books, to keep busy. If it’s too hot to stay inside, take a walk or ride a bike around the neighborhood to look at the damage – just be sure to look out for fallen power lines. This could also be a good time to meet the neighbors, since they’re going through the same situation.
FAU’s Hurricane Plan Gets National RecognitionRead more about FAU’s new national ‘StormReady’ ranking from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service online on our Web site
Quick FactsFor information about campus closures, call FAU’s Hurricane Hotlines:
Boca Raton Campus: (561) 297-2020
Broward Campuses: (954) 236-1800
Jupiter Campus: (561) 799-8020
Treasure Coast Campus: (772) 873-3330
For FAU’s hurricane emergency plans, as well as a list of online resources, visit the FAU Hurricane Information page.
For the Department of Housing’s 2008 Hurricane Guide, visit the FAU Housing Web site.
