How Safe Is An Apartment During A Hurricane?

Natural disasters affect 160 million people worldwide each year. While things like tornados, wildfires, and hurricanes are inevitable for some regions, it’s a good idea to prepare your home. If you live in an apartment, it can make these events seem a lot more frightening.

So, how safe is an apartment during a hurricane? Well, it depends on where you are in the building. Units that are on the outside wall of the building are much more susceptible to damage. The same is true for those living on the lower levels of the building.

It’s natural to be afraid when severe weather hits. Thankfully, there are things you can do to prepare your home to keep you and your family safe. We’ll be discussing everything there is about what you can do when a hurricane occurs while you’re living in an apartment.

When you’re living in an apartment building, you’re sharing walls with other people. This means that being prepared is everybody’s duty. If everyone plays their part, you’ll all be much safer in the long run.

Another thing to mention when living in a building with multiple people is a buddy system. It may seem childish, but having a severe weather buddy can be the difference between life and death. You should know who your neighbors are, have their contact information, and ensure no one is riding out the storm alone.

There may be people in the building who are elderly or in need of assistance. This is another reason why the buddy system is so important. Consider talking with your landlord or property manager about making an official list.

A few other things the building owner will want to do are:

Something not a lot of people think about when they’re inside during a hurricane is where they’re parked. Depending on your apartment building, you may park in a lot on the ground, a garage, or a car park. Wherever your car is, consider whether or not it could be damaged by floods or falling debris.

If you’re preparing for an upcoming hurricane, you could move your vehicle to a safe location for the time being. The higher off the ground, the better. The two top floors of a parking ramp are great options if they’re available.

There’s no denying that living in an apartment comes with limited space. If you can, store these items in your kitchen cupboards, entryway closet, or even your linen closet. It’s also a good idea to fill up your bathtub and washer with water before the storm hits.

This allows you to have access to a way to clean yourself and your clothes. Stay away from any windows, especially when the hurricane is in full force. Keep your curtains drawn as a slight, but extra barrier to catch any flying glass or debris.

The National Hurricane Center suggests that people don’t use tape across their windows. This can make glass shards larger and cause more of a threat.

Even during a hurricane, we’ve got to talk about money. Having an emergency fund can make a massive difference. If your apartment is leveled and you have nowhere to go, you might need to stay in a hotel for a while, and that can add up.

This is why having an emergency fund is so important. In the event that your apartment building was hit, you might need to replace more expensive items, like furniture or electronics. We all know how expensive medical bills can get, which can also come quickly after a hurricane.

When storms pose an increased threat to human life, some cities will have mandatory evacuations for residents. When a government official places a mandatory evacuation, you do not have to leave.

If you stay, you’re agreeing to not needing or expecting emergency services when things hit the fan. Some counties will offer hurricane shelters in school gyms and other buildings for those with nowhere to go.

Leaving when an evacuation is announced is a great way to move to a safer place before things get rough. It’s important to leave as early as possible to beat as much traffic as possible. This still means you should prep your apartment for damage before you head out the door.

Related Questions

Is it safe to be in a high rise during a hurricane?

One of the scariest parts about being in a high rise during a hurricane is you will feel the building sway. If you’re feeling uncomfortable in your unit, the safest place to be is the stairwell. This way, you’ll also have an easy to access escape route if the worst happens. 

Can a tornado take down an apartment building?

Any structure that’s above ground is considered dangerous during a tornado. The safest place to go in an apartment building during a tornado will be the lowest level. Go to the most interior point as possible to ensure your safety. 

Can a hurricane destroy a skyscraper?

The danger hurricanes pose to skyscrapers is unusually high winds. These winds can not only cause damage but destroy just about any building in their path. It depends highly on the design and the construction of the structure to know whether or not it will survive the storm.