Hurricane safety for runners is something with which I am exceptionally familiar. Having lived in Florida since 1994, hurricanes are just part of the territory. Of course, fitness doesn’t stop for storms, so let’s talk about how to safely get your miles in when these weather events come to town.
Watch The Weather Reports
The best way to stay safe is to keep an eye on the weather. I like the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Tidbits, and Mike’s Weather Page. Things can change very quickly during tropical systems, so it’s important to know when the wind and rains are going to be in your area.
Stay Inside
For those of us who really love to run inside, now is really the time to embrace treadmill running. Ugh, I know. But truly. When dealing with winds in excess of 40 mph, tornado warnings, flood warnings, and rain, it’s just better not to risk it. While the storm is overhead, stay indoors and protected.
Stay Out Of Standing Water
After the storm clears, the issue of standing water can be a factor. Sure, there are puddles, but some of those puddles can be full of hazards after a hurricane. Glass, sharp objects, and even snakes, can be positioned beneath the surface of seemingly innocent puddles, and it’s best to avoid them as best you can.
Watch For Power Lines
Downed power lines after a massive wind event are another risk factor. awhile we are in an area where most power lines are underground, we still do lose some. While they may look harmless, lines can be live, and absolutely pose a huge danger. Avoid them at all costs. Linespeople are the among the first to be deployed as soon as we get the all clear after a hurricane, and they are cleared fairly quickly.
Hydrate and Fuel Well
Florida is still hot this time of year, and hurricanes are notorious for taking out the power. It can be easy to get dehydrated or not eat as well as you normally might, while roughing it in the aftermath of the storm. Do your best to take care of yourself, get in your water, and stay fueled!
If you’re in Hurricane Ian’s path, stay safe!
Any tips to add?
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It’s definitely smart to stay indoors during a storm! Hope you are staying safe!
Oh wow, that hurricane looks dangerous! A very good point about the power lines. There must be many who get injured or even killed that way.
Stay safe, Jenn!
I think death by power line is definitely one of the more common ways to go. The storm itself isn’t the killer: it’s the floods, lightning, power lines, etc.
Even snakes! Yikes! As A Californian I never could understand the fear of earthquakes. Hurricanes are much scarier. Great tips though I hope to never need them.
See, I am TERRIFIED of earthquakes. They come out of nowhere and OMG holes in the earth. We’ve had a whole week to prepare for this. If it’s too scary, we can leave. This one won’t be too bad for us, personally, but it will be devastating for a lot of the state.
It is definitely smart to stay inside until things are safe enough to go out again. Hope things are not too bad down there today!
No. Not up North.
Hope you are safe.
My friends on the Gulf coast decided to leave. Phew.
I’m glad. They said this thing is coming in just shy of a Cat 5. I understand why people stay, but it’s a terrible idea.
Good Luck Jen! It looks like this one is going to barrel through the state right towards Jacksonville. Because we’re so far south (and on the east coast) we’re missing the worst of this one. But schools and work are canceled for the day and we’re getting some strong winds, plus we’re under a tornado watch. I got out for a quick run last night before it got too bad, so I can stay inside today. We also have friends who have evacuated from the Gulf coast- it looks like it’s going to be terrible over there.