9 things SC residents do during storms like Idalia that may get them killed or hurt

While Hurricane Idalia will likely be downgraded to a tropical storm once it sweeps through Florida and Georgia, it will still bring strong winds with gusts up to 40 mph and serious flooding, especially in areas already known to be problems in the Midlands.

The whole state of South Carolina is expected to be impacted by the storm, more serious along the coast and Interstate 95 corridor and lessening as you go west.

Here are nine suggestions from various sources including the National Weather Service, Accuweather and the National Hurricane Center to help you come through Tropical Storm Idalia perhaps not unscathed but alive.

If you’re told to evacuate, do it. Don’t ride it out. Don’t stay just to be able to say you came through a storm or to witness the unbelievable power of Mother Nature. You can see it on TV. Today we have the benefit of early warnings, as opposed to the deadliest storm ever, Hurricane Galveston in 1900 that killed as many as 12,000 people. Marie D. Jones, author of “The Disaster Survival Guide: How to Prepare for and Survive Floods, Fires, Earthquakes and More” told Accuweather, “You not only put yourself and your family at risk, but the lives of first responders who will have to attend to you if you are injured or in danger from rising floodwaters.” Leave early so as not to get stuck in traffic. And take your pets. Do not leave them to fend for themselves. In the days before the storm is expected to hit you should have collected important papers and assembled a go bag of essentials and medicines to grab quickly.

If you wait too long or decide to stay, do not go outside. Know that 6 inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off of your feet. And, you don’t know what else is in there with you. Do not drive through flooded roads. Two feet of water can sweep a car away. If you are stuck, stay inside unless the car is filling with water then get on the roof. Retreat to what should be your fully stocked home — food, batteries, radio. Use flashlights, not candles. While lovely, they are also a fire risk for what could be days without power.

If you’re at the beach, do not go for a walk. Storm surge is the leading cause of hurricane related deaths in the United States. The surge on Charleston area beaches is expected to be 4 feet, more than enough to cause grave damage.

Be smart about what room you shelter in. Tall or weak trees can be easily toppled by trees. Don’t choose the attic should water creep into and up stairs. Choose the roof, where first responders can see and rescue you. Consider adding an escape hatch in your attic if you consider the attic a good place to shelter.

It’s commonly believed that if you tape your windows they won’t break. Think again. Board them up. They will break and the glass will be in huge flying pieces that can hurt you.

Open windows will not help relieve pressure from inside. What will happen is the wind will lift the roof off your house. Physics.

This one is said every time there is a storm so people must still be doing it. Do not run your generator inside. They must be well ventilated to keep carbon monoxide, which is odorless, from building up in your home. Carbon monoxide causes the most deaths from poisoning. Keep charcoal grills outside too.

That brings up another point of ensuring that everything you have outside is secured — lawn furniture, grills, umbrellas. High wind causes them to become projectiles.

Once power is restored don’t turn everything on at once. Be sure to turn off switches and appliances when the power goes off except two to let you know the power is back on. Then turn everything off one at a time.