As New Orleans continuously updates information about Tropical Storm Bertha and urges residents to prepare, this is an appropriate time for Vietnamese families living along the Gulf of Mexico coast — from New Orleans and Houston to small coastal towns in Louisiana and Texas — to review the fundamental safety principles when storms arrive. This article is not about any specific storm, but rather a handbook you can apply to any hurricane season, any year.
No operating mode of an air conditioning unit is completely safe during a thunderstorm, including fan mode.
How tropical storms differ from hurricanes
Many people confuse these two terms, but they differ in wind intensity. A storm is called a "tropical storm" when sustained wind speeds reach 63 to 118 km/hour. When winds exceed that threshold, it is upgraded to a "hurricane." What is important to remember is: a tropical storm can still cause severe flooding, prolonged power outages, and property damage just as severe as a hurricane, because heavy rainfall and storm surge are usually the causes of deaths and the most significant damage, not just wind speed alone.
Prepare before hurricane season — do not wait until a storm warning arrives
Hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico region typically runs from June to November each year. Instead of panicking and rushing to buy bottled water when you hear a storm is coming, your family should have an emergency kit ready at home throughout the hurricane season.
This emergency kit should include:
- Drinking water sufficient for at least 3 days, calculated at approximately 4 liters per person per day.
- Non-perishable food that keeps well, such as canned goods, instant noodles, and dried goods.
- Flashlights, backup batteries, and a battery-powered radio to receive news when the power goes out.
- Basic first aid supplies, prescription medications for each household member, with enough for at least one week.
- Copies of important documents such as identification cards, US residence documentation (green card, passport), home insurance papers, stored in a waterproof bag.
- Cash, as ATMs and card readers may stop functioning during power outages.
Additionally, plan your evacuation route in advance; do not wait until authorities issue evacuation orders to start thinking about it. Know in advance which route you will take, where you will go, and how to contact family members if phone service is lost.
When a storm warning arrives — immediate actions to take
When local authorities begin issuing notices about an incoming storm, this is the time to take action, not to wait and see.
First, board up windows with wooden panels or storm shutters, clear your yard of objects that could be blown away by wind, such as potted plants, outdoor furniture, or children's toys. If you have a garage, inspect the garage door as this is often the weakest point where wind can enter and collapse your entire home from the inside out.
Charge your phone, portable chargers fully, and if possible, fill your car's gas tank, as gas stations in affected areas often run out of fuel or lose power and cannot pump.
One detail that few people think about but is very important for families in hot regions like Houston or New Orleans: air conditioning systems. HVAC specialists recommend that as soon as you see lightning beginning, your family should turn off the air conditioner and switch off the circuit breaker at the electrical panel, as no operating mode is completely safe during a thunderstorm, including fan mode. The reason is not fear of direct lightning strike to the unit, but rather that sudden electrical surges from lightning can travel through power lines and burn out the control panel and entire air conditioning system, sometimes even extending to furnaces or home thermostats. If you know a storm is coming within 24 hours, you can lower your home's temperature a few degrees beforehand to help your home stay cooler longer after you turn off the system, and you should cover the outdoor condenser unit with a tarp or wooden panel to prevent flying debris from hitting it.
During the storm — where to stay and what to do
If authorities issue a mandatory evacuation order, do not hesitate — this is not the time to "try and see how bad it gets." If you stay because your area is not in a mandatory evacuation zone, choose a room without windows, on the lowest floor but avoiding flood-prone areas, and absolutely do not go outside to check conditions while winds are still strong.
Absolutely avoid floodwaters, even if it is just a small puddle on the road. Many storm deaths are not caused by wind but by driving through flooded areas, as as little as 30 centimeters of flowing water can sweep away an entire vehicle.
After the storm passes
Do not assume everything is safe the moment the rain and wind stop. Carefully inspect your home before turning electrical devices back on, especially air conditioning systems. If the outdoor condenser unit was ever flooded, you should call a technician to inspect it before turning the system back on to prevent electrical shock or additional damage. Be careful of broken or fallen power lines on the ground — always treat any electrical line lying on the ground as live until the power company confirms it is safe.
If your home is flooded, photograph all the damage before cleaning up, for insurance claims documentation. Do not discard damaged items immediately, as your insurance company may request to see them in person.
A perspective specific to Vietnamese families on the Gulf Coast
The Vietnamese community in New Orleans, particularly the Village de l'Est area, along with many families in Houston and small towns along the Gulf of Mexico coast, have experienced many major hurricanes since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For families with elderly grandparents or relatives who are not fluent in English, it is helpful to save phone numbers of Vietnamese-language radio stations and websites in your area to receive storm updates in your native language, as government emergency notices are often only broadcast in English and can be difficult to understand during urgent situations. Many Vietnamese temples and churches in the area also typically open as shelters or distribution points for essential supplies after storms — you should ask your local temple or church beforehand what plans they have for hurricane season this year.
For families working in nail salons or small businesses, you should photograph your entire shop before hurricane season as evidence for insurance if the shop is damaged, and you should discuss with your landlord beforehand about responsibility for repairs if a storm causes damage to the rental property.
Finally, remember that hurricane preparation is not a one-time task. It is a habit that needs to be repeated each year, checking your emergency kit again, updating contact numbers, and always monitoring official notices from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or local authorities as soon as hurricane season begins.