SurvivalX.com

PROTECTING A MOBILE HOME
Of the 1,167 mobile homes in Homestead, 99% were leveled – only nine remained standing after Hurricane Andrew. Never stay in a mobile home during a hurricane. Its flat sides and ends, along with its light weight, literally make it a pushover.

To tie down a mobile home
• Over-the-top straps keep the homes from tipping over. The straps are secured with anchors on each side.

• Frame ties made of wire rope or rust-resistant steel strapping prevent the home from tipping over. They may secure the frame, but if the home itself is not strapped down properly, the home can be blown off its tied-down frame.

• Use both over-the-top straps and frame ties to secure mobile homes 10, 12 and 14 feet wide. (Double-wides, because their width makes them more stable, usually require only frame ties.)

PROTECTING YOUR BOAT IN A HURRICANE
Whatever preparations you must make for your boat, make them early.

Tying down your boat at a marina or dock

• Double all ties.

• Make ties high on pilings to allow for rising water.

• Cover all tie lines at contact points with rubber or other material to prevent chafing.

• Install fenders to protect the boat from rubbing against the dock.

• Be sure batteries are sufficient to run bilge pumps throughout the storm.

• Put duct tape around windows and hatches.

• Insert plugs in engine ports.

• Strip Bimini tops, sails, life rings — anything that could blow away.
• Disconnect shore power.

• Close fuel valves, and cockpit seacocks.

Tying down your boat at home

• If you can, put the boat in a garage.

• If you must leave the boat outside, remove small outboard motors.
• Lash down the boat.

• Fill the boat one-third to halfway with water. (Filling; all the way could break the trailer springs or axle.)

• Support the axle with blocks inside each wheel. Remove any item that could blow off the boat.

• Place the boat away from trees or objects that could fall on it.

Finding safe harbor

• If the boat cannot be removed from the water, it should be sailed to a safe refuge and secured there to ride out the storm.

• Many marinas must be evacuated during a hurricane alert. Check your dockage lease and consult the dockmaster. Florida does not allow mandatory evacuations from marinas.

• Consult the dockmaster and fellow boaters for suggestions.

• Drawbridges limit movement of large vessels, and ground traffic will get priority in an evacuation. Boat owners should act ahead of an evacuation order.

• If you decide to move your boat inland make a test run to ensure the water is deep enough and overhead clearances are high enough.