Being from Florida, I have a false sense of preparedness whenever a hurricane is supposed to hit. This never stops me from stocking up on essentials though.
I make sure that I have enough water for at least two weeks, buy a bunch of bread, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, chips, a ton of other unhealthy snacks that I know will not sufficiently sustain me if things went downhill. Candles and flashlights are always a must. Oh, and can’t forget the wine!
-Beste Hunterwalker
My family and I run on faith. We pray hard that the hurricane either shifts away from the islands or simmers down to just wind and rain.
-Sheena Nazare
Am I prepared to be suddenly homeless, I think to myself. As hurricane season approaches each year, I verify that I have everything replenished, then improve and maintain those items.
As we go through the seasons I take note of behaviors and supplies. My main concern is water. It is difficult to keep 20 to 30 gallons of drinking water, therefore, I clean the bath tubs and buckets both for water collection.
Is anyone really prepared for two weeks, no electricity, no stores open? I think 1 percent of O‘ahu is prepared at most, and I am not part of that small group. Mentally preparing that I would be going into survival mode, I think, “What if there is damage to my home and I no longer have the creature comforts?” And I know that despite preparation, few really are ready for that experience.
-Jonathan Young
As Hurricane Olivia and Lane took their course on the way to our islands, I felt that for the first time in a long time, maybe even ever, that there might be actual danger coming.
I’m sure a lot of others felt this way though, as hardware stores had probably the busiest week of the year and grocery stores all sold out of water. Luckily, my grandfather is a little bit of a hoarder so we were mostly equipped because of past tsunami and hurricane warnings.
We didn’t board up our windows, but we did gather some supplies and make sure all the loose items in the garage and yard were contained or in a safe place. I wasn’t sure if we’d be without power so I charged up my power packs and all the rechargeable batteries I could find.
This is more or less the same strategy that goes into every natural disaster that comes our way. Luckily with Olivia and Lane long gone, the islands should be safe for now even with the unsettling amount of hurricanes around the world.
Hopefully next time we will all be more prepared and won’t have to scramble to make sure our families and homes are safe. But I do think it will be interesting to see how people react to hurricanes the next time one comes around.
-Jarred Hee
Being prepared is second nature to me. Throughout the year as we go grocery shopping, I always make sure to stock up and replenish any non perishables we need: soup, water, dry pasta, canned goods, etc.
We also grow a variety of fruits and vegetables that can help sustain us. Because we live in Hawaii, the blessed Hawaiian air ruins a lot of furniture and appliances, however instead of throwing everything away, we keep salvageable materials that can be used to patch holes or board windows and can help secure other items.
As threats of hurricanes approach, we board up our windows and garage, as well as fill water bottles and jugs with water.
Pack freezers with water bottles to keep it cold longer in power outages, and clean the tub so as the storm arrives we can fill the tubs with water as well.
-Patrick Matoarao
Growing up in California I’ve never had to worry about hurricanes. Once we moved to Oahu, it’s become a recurring event.
To prepare for hurricanes, we stay inside away from windows, keep our dogs safe with their cages ready to go in case of an evacuation.
We already get gallons of water delivered to our house every month so we are normally good on water and don’t need to worry.
My family and I don’t really do much to prepare for hurricanes which is not good, but we don’t really know what else we can do other than have enough water to last several months and enough food to make sure we are safe.
-Elizabeth Rush
The general way we prepare for hurricanes is by following the state rules which say to stay prepared for about 14 days and stock up with food and water to accompany 14 days of isolation.
Though my family takes it to a whole new level especially with the fact that we live on the North Shore, where roaming blackouts and traffic from the blocked Kamehameha Highway are a normal thing.
We usually fill our bath tub with water and drop chlorine pills to purify it. We take out $200 from the bank because of the blackouts that would occur and would prevent the bank’s machines from operating. We usually have an evacuation plan before, during and after the storm.
-Raymond Halualani-Hee
Typically, I don’t do anything to prepare for a hurricane. I normally have things you would generally need in case of an emergency. However, I do prepare mentally by strategizing a “what if” plan to keep my two keiki safe under any circumstance.
-Shauna Perry
Being from Texas, I have survived three hurricanes in my life, all of which leaving devastating results on the community for months after the initial storm.
I recall Katrina leaving many displaced people frantically looking for their loved ones and food bank lines wrapping the parking lots for fresh supplies. It’s important to know where you and your family would meet in the event of a natural disaster.
Say the phone lines go down or a loved one is at work across island. This way, you’ll know where to find them and have the peace of mind that they know to go to a safe, secure location where you both can eventually meet.
Also in every hurricane I have been through, the power remained out for several weeks and water supplies were cut in fear of contamination.
I do stock heavily on clean distilled water for drinking and bathing. It may also be advised to invest in a generator or even a small radio to stay in touch with news updates from weather officials. You think, “It won’t happen to me” until it actually does.
-Aleczander Giman
