This past weekend, Hong Kong witnessed the biggest typhoon that it has had in years and I was right here for it. So this post is an HK survival guide during typhoon season.
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Get enough supplies
Stock up on EVERYTHING! Food and snacks, water, flashlights, batteries and anything that you think you might need if you are stuck indoors for longer than anticipated. This is because during a typhoon, normal everyday facilities that you use might not be available. For instance, if the electricity goes out and you have an electric stove, microwave, fridge etc. All this translates to is NO FOOD. So stock up as soon as you can because shops start to empty and prices start to rise.
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Keep entertained
Charge everything!! Phones, tablets, laptops, battery packs and download your movies/tv shows. If you read books, get keep 2 of them ready. The reason is simple. As I mentioned before, during a typhoon, you might not have all the normal working facilities that you are used to at your reach and you are definitely not advised to leave the building you’re in; so the key is to be prepared. If you’re like me and that’s all you do with your free time, this is a very important tip.
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Tape and secure ALL windows
You’re probably wondering why taping the windows is important. This is of course in the worst case scenario. If the wind breaks the window, the tape ensure that it does not shatter into thousands of pieces (which is very dangerous). Rather it keeps the big shards together for an easier and safer clean up.
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Don’t underestimate it
I find that as exchange students, a lot of us didn’t take the news as seriously as we normally would if we were back home and we heard a hurricane was coming (maybe because of the different name). However, a typhoon is basically the same thing as a hurricane but one that occurs in the tropical regions of the world so DO NOT underestimate its potential impact.
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Talk to locals
This is very important because they have lived through similar situations. They can tell you how to stay safe and what to expect. For me, this was necessary because I knew how to prepare my mind for what was to come.
To be completely honest, I was actually very scared when I heard the news but it seemed like I was the only one. The locals carried on with their lives like nothing was happening and now that the typhoon Mangkhut has come and gone, I know why. Hong Kong is built to withstand these kind of occurrences. The buildings are all made out of strong concrete, the drainage system is amazing, most of the electricity lines are underground and so are the train stations. Facilities are designed so that minimum damage occurs and citizens don’t have to worry.
Throughout the typhoon, I had access to power, internet and good company. Although there was a bit of water dripping in from the windows and it felt like the building was swaying at some point, everything went on normally. The typhoon definitely had its impact, trees fell and roads were blocked. However, everyone kept safe and from the current news updates, there were no fatalities. On the bright side, classes were cancelled the following day.
I won’t be completely me if I do not point out the humor in the situation. The semester Debbie decides to come to Hong Kong, the country faces the largest typhoon that it has in years. On the other hand, because I have experienced this you all know how to prepare for a typhoon.
PS. BBC had the same idea so here’s a link to additional information if you need it https://www.bbc.com/news/world-45521927
