Hurricane season on the Space Coast runs from June 1 to November 30. Most families have the water, batteries and shutters covered. Fire and carbon monoxide are easier to forget, even though storms and power cuts make both more likely. Generators run for days, candles come out, and extension cords end up in places they were never meant to go.
This is a check you can do in one afternoon, ideally before a watch is issued for Brevard County.
1. Test every smoke and CO alarm
Press the test button on each alarm and replace any that are past the date printed on the back. A combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm covers both risks in one device. Put one inside or just outside each sleeping area and one on every level of the home.
2. Plan where the generator goes
Most storm-related carbon monoxide poisonings come from generators run too close to the house. Run a portable generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, and never in a garage, even with the door open. Choose the spot now so nobody has to decide in the dark.
3. Keep a fire blanket where the cooking happens
When the power is out, people cook on camp stoves, side burners and grills. A fire blanket on a hook near those spots lets anyone smother a small pan fire in seconds. Pull the tabs, lay it over the flames, turn off the heat and leave it in place. Call 911 for anything larger.
4. Check the wiring before the season, not after
Surges and outages are hard on old wiring, and arcing inside a wall gives little warning. An outlet sensor such as Ting watches the electrical activity of the whole home and alerts your phone if it detects patterns linked to electrical fires.
5. Walk through your way out
Every bedroom should have two ways out. In a two-story home the second way is usually a window, so keep an escape ladder in the closet of each upstairs bedroom and make sure everyone knows how to hook it over the sill. Pick a meeting spot outside, such as the mailbox, and practice once with the whole family.
Your one-afternoon list
- Test all alarms and replace expired ones
- Mark a generator spot at least 20 feet from the house
- Hang a fire blanket near the stove and grill
- Plug in a wiring sensor before the next storm
- Put an escape ladder in each upstairs bedroom and practice your plan
This article is general information, not professional, legal or veterinary advice. Follow product instructions and local rules.