September marks the peak of hurricane season for those of us living in the Caribbean. With cyclonic activity being more frequent during these weeks, it’s normal to feel uneasy and anxious. Here are some key steps to follow to ease some of the stress of handling college AND the hurricane season.
1. Stay Informed
Make sure to follow weather forecasts closely before preparing for the event. Watch the news, listen to the radio and follow meteorologists on social media for weather updates. It’s important to take into consideration that the type of weather event and intensity matters. You might not need to go out in a hurry for gas if it’s just a thunderstorm, but you might need to stock up on some water if there’s a category 3 hurricane announcement.
2. Prepare Yourself and Your Surroundings
Have enough non-perishable food, potable water, and a first aid kit available (take a look at this list of other supplies to have around). Think of yourself and others that live with you or close to you while stocking up. Also, pay close attention to your surroundings- secure anything that might be loose around your backyard that could fly off and hurt someone. You might want to trim or cut down tall trees that could fall on your home or block your street as well. And fix any leaks or crevices in advance, it could save your house and personal belongings from a flood.
3. Safety First
Even though it’s hard to juggle a hurricane and classwork simultaneously, your safety is first. So, before working on that INGL3XXX essay, make sure you feel safe and prepared for a hurricane. If you don’t feel safe at home, consider joining a community shelter in your town or ask a friend to bring you in for a couple of days.
4. Don’t Wait Until Last Minute
You should already have most of the supplies stocked up from the start of hurricane season. Being prepared beforehand gives you more time to concentrate on keeping up with your classes. While it’s true that some universities honor time off for weather events, that time is limited, and some professors might hand out more homework than usual. So, instead of watching “one more episode,” you might want to catch up on your chemistry assignment before your power goes out.
5. Take a Breather
Try to meditate and consider drinking tea to calm any anxious feelings. Talk to someone, a friend or professional, if you are feeling overwhelmed. In the end, your safety and wellbeing are all that matters.
Here are more safety tips from NMEAD (Negociado para el Manejo de Emergencias y Administración de Desastres) as well as list of emergency contact information for Puerto Ricans. Be sure to contact any of the pertinent officials if you consider yourself in harm.