Articles tagged with: hurricane preparedness

Staying home during a hurricane?

hurricane seasonYou’ve prepared, and now the hurricane is closing in. You’ve decided to ride out the storm at home. Here’s some ideas to help you stay safe.

  • Prepare and mark clean containers for water storage. There should be a minimum of 1 gallon per person per day for 7 days.
  • Check your disaster-supplies kit again. Do you know where the manual can opener is?
  • Recharge to full capacity all electronics and then unplug them.
  • Offer your home to family, friends, and neighbors who may live in a vulnerable area or house.
  • Stay inside away from windows.
  • Stay tuned to radio and TV. Wait for the “all-clear” announcement. Remember, after the calm “eye” passes over, there is more storm to come.
  • Keep small pets in carriers. They will be more comfortable and are ready to transport quickly if necessary.
  • Turn your refrigerator and freezer temperature controls to their lowest settings.
  • Put bicycle helmets on the children.
  • Close all interior doors to limit flying debris

 

 

What to do as a hurricane approaches

boarding windowsIt’s the middle of hurricane season. You’ve already done your pre-hurricane preparation. Among other things, you know your evacuation routes, and you have a 5- to 7-day supply of food and water for each person in your family. Now a hurricane watch has been declared. What should you do?

  • Listen for weather updates.
  • Get your car ready with gas, oil and other maintenance issues.
  • Make sure your evacuation supplies are easily accessible and up-to-date with medication needs, etc
  • Board up your home’s windows.
  • Secure the flying missiles in your yard like lawn furniture, bicycles, and grills.
  • If you have a swimming pool, make sure it’s full and super-cholorinated. Cover the pump and filtration systems.

 

Things to do BEFORE a Hurricane is even close

make a planIf you live in a hurricane-prone area like Houston, there are certain activities you need to have done BEFORE the weather forecast declares we’re under a Hurricane Watch.

PLAN

  • If someone in your home has a need for life-sustaining medical equipment, have other arrangements in place for electricity sources and evacuation needs.
  • Have a list of medicines, medical assistance devices and doctors that everybody in the home uses.
  • Talk with your family members to figure out who will be your out-of-state contact in case you can’t reach each other locally.
  • Keep a list of important phone numbers in your emergency kit.
  • Agree on two meeting places for family members to come together. Choose a place near your home and another one outside your region in case you need to evacuate separately.

MAKE AN EMERGENCY KIT

  • Should include 5 to 7 days of food and water for each person and pet.
  • Hand-crank or battery radio with batteries
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • FIrst aid kit
  • Rain gear
  • Plastic sheeting and duck tape
  • Moist towelettes, plastic bags and ties
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Disposable eating dishes (plates, cups, plastic-ware) and paper towels
  • Cash
  • Matches in a waterproof container

KNOW HOW TO STAY INFORMED

  • Use several sources of information.
  • Radio stations 740 AM or 88.7 FM
  • Find out how to get text or email notifications for your jurisdiction

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

  • Get to know them BEFORE a crisis hits.
  • If you are young, strong and healthy, find out if any of your neighbors might need help when the hurricane comes. Know who your elderly, medically fragile, and single parent neighbors are.