For heavy or bulky items that you can’t bring indoors, anchor them to something solid the best you can with rope, chains, bungee cords, or other strong materials. If you’re very short on time or have nothing to anchor your items to, you can attempt to shelter them in a swimming pool where winds might be less likely to pick up the items and toss them around. Lower the water level no more than 1 to 2 feet if you wish. Otherwise, the hydrostatic pressure can be too strong and possibly cause the pool to “float” or “pop” out of the ground, according to the Broward County (Florida) Hurricane Preparedness Guide. The water in your pool serves as a kind of shield, protecting your pool’s finish from the effects of flying debris. If you have time, remove all loose items from the pool area, including the filter housetops and filter lid. Prior to the storm, turn off the circuit breaker to the pool equipment (the pump, motor, lighting, chlorinators, etc.). If possible, remove the motor and relocate it to a high-and-dry place inside. Or tightly wrap the motor with plastic and strapping tape or rope. Prune any suspect branches, starting with the ones nearest to your home and other structures. They might do the most damage if they happen to break in the storm. Then, once you’re done pruning, make sure to drag the cut branches far away from any structures. You might want to bungee them to something solid or even bring them inside a shed or garage to wait out the storm, so they don’t become projectiles.
Ready.gov/Hurricanes Ready.gov/Floods Ready.gov/Severe Weather Ready.gov/Tornadoes National Hurricane Center FloodSmart.gov DisasterAssistance.gov FEMA.gov RedCross.org/
Also, in areas that are commonly hit by hurricanes and heavy rains, consider buying flood insurance. You also might want to invest in a generator to ensure that you will have power during and after a storm.
