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Driving Tips | Hurricane Safety
Quite often, personal injury and property loss or damage can be avoided. Follow these helpful hints listed below to avoid problems from the start. Tips for Driving in Bad Weather  The Basics
- Clear snow and ice from entire car to improve visibility. This includes light fixtures, turn signals, mirrors, windows, hood, and trunk.
- Utilize low beams in snow and fog.
- Posted speed limits are established for ideal road and weather conditions.
- Avoid sudden starts, stops and turns. Don't brake hard. Icy or wet roads require up to 10 times more stopping distance.
- Accelerate carefully to avoid wheel spin. Utilize the car's low gear to avoid spinning or slipping. A low gear will help avoid loss of control.
- In a skid, ease off the accelerator and don't press the brakes. Carefully steer in the direction you want the car to go and straighten the wheel as soon as the car begins to go in the desired direction.
- Lower speeds and increase distance between other cars or change lanes in wet/icy conditions. Anticipate potential danger such as ice on bridges, snow-covered lane markings, stalled cars and poor visibility.
- Drive defensively. Watch for other drivers who are unprepared for changing road conditions.
- Carrying kitty litter, sand or granite chips can help get a car out of an icy spot. A 50-lb. bag of granite chips placed over drive wheels can give improved bite on ice and snow.
- Carry shovel, boots and other winter items in the trunk and make sure vehicle has at least a half tank of gas.
 Additional Preparation Tips:
- Equip vehicle with simple emergency equipment: sand, kitty litter, or granite chips; flares; heavy-duty flashlight; windshield scraping device; flares; small shovel; long jumper
cable; snacks; gas line antifreeze; and extra blankets.
- Check windshield wiper blades. Snow blades can be an effective alternative to conventional wiper blades.
- Check the anti-freeze/coolant for the correct level of protection required in your driving area.
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Under inflation or over inflation can reduce the gripping action of tires because the tread will not meet the road surface as they were designed to do.
Tips for Preparing Your Boat for a Hurricane  Hurricanes can wreak havoc upon people and property. Be prepared
prior to the storm. We care for your safety and the safety of your property. Proper preparation can make a big difference. Here are a few hints for proper care of your boat or yacht prior to the storm arriving.
Be Prepared
The best thing you can do is get out of harms way. Storing your boat on land is the preferred and smartest method of taking care of your boat. If hauling the boat is not an option, take it to a secure
harbor. Pilot the boat away from the predicted path of the storm to a safe harbor. Be prepared well in advance. Buy all of your supplies ahead of time, so you beat the rush on
storm day, (just like supermarkets and hardware stores run out of items prior to a storm, marine supply stores do, also). These items include extra lines, fenders, extra anchors,
exhaust port plugs and duct tape (it can be used for everything). Trailerable Boats
If the boat is in the water, haul it. Secure it on the trailer by lashing it with nylon lines. If
possible, put the boat and trailer in a garage. If not, make sure it is secured to a tree or to the ground using augers. Moored Boats
Your choice of mooring location is very important. Choose an uncrowned mooring location with protection from open water and with good holding ground. The one thing you don't need is a
crowded location where one boat owner isn't prepared enough and we have the pinball effect from the other boat. Set a three point mooring system with oversized lines and chafe
protection. Set your lines as long as possible, estimate a conservative storm surge and long wave swells. Docked Boats
Choose an uncrowned dock with sturdy pilings and a minimum of 20' depth. Secure the boat
with oversized dock lines, double or triple the lines and add chafe protection. Place extra fenders along the side and set anchors to keep the boat away from the pilings and the dock. General Information
- Seal all ports, vents, scoops, hatches, windows, doors, etc.
- Remove accessible equipment, supplies, ship's stores, ship's papers, etc.
- Charge the batteries and set the bilge pumps on automatic settings.
- Remove all sails, Bimini tops, sun shades, canvas, etc. to reduce wind resistance.
- Close the fuel tank, propane or C.N.G. valves.
- Take all valuables such as electronics, appliances and documents off the boat.
Most Important!
Don't stay on the boat! Go home!!! Staying on board is too dangerous. Boats can be replaced, but you can't be, and there is little you can do once the hurricane comes ashore.
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