Kick start hurricane season with early prep
The official start of hurricane season may still be several weeks away, but that doesn’t stop Mother Nature. On May 8, the U.S. National Hurricane Center issued the first hurricane-related weather advisory.
Experts at Baylor College of Medicine offer ways to prepare now before a hurricane to make sure you stay healthy and safe.
Get ready
Dr. Bobby Kapur, assistant professor of emergency medicine, suggests easy steps to take now to be 
prepared for an emergency, like:
- Building an emergency kit.
- Creating a plan for family members, including pets, for a safe evacuation. In Houston? Review the evacuation map.
- Knowing where you will go in your house during a storm. Stay away from windows and all family members can easily exit after the storm. Don’t forget to choose a place that will be safe in case it floods.
- Having a set place to meet outside of your home in the event of an emergency.
Health & hurricanes
If you have a health condition that requires daily medication don’t get caught unprepared.
Dr. Norman L. Sussman, associate professor of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, said patients can avoid any life-threatening problems by talking to their doctor and pharmacists now to ensure they always having a two to three week extra supply of medications on hand.
Sussman suggests creating a ready-to-go medical supply in a waterproof bag, with a detailed list of prescription medication and a copy of your emergency contacts.
Proper medication storage can be challenging in the aftermath of a hurricane.
“Medications can be altered by extreme heat and even moisture, causing them to become less potent before their expiration dates,” said Dr. Hani Jneid, assistant professor of cardiology at Baylor and interventional cardiologist at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
In general, most medications should be kept in a cool, dry location.
