Hurricane Tips and Supplies Suggested by the American Red Cross
Hurricane Kit:
The Red Cross recommends having a small kit with 3 days worth of supplies for each family member to fit in the trunk of your vehicle, as well as keeping 2 weeks worth of supplies in your home, should a storm strike and you cannot or do not evacuate.
Here are items you should have in your kit:
– Water (one gallon per person per day)
– Enough non-perishable foods per person per day (canned foods and other ready-to-eat pre-packaged foods)
– Flashlight (Battery-Powered) (Have an extra one, just in case one breaks)
– Crank Radio (Battery-Powered)
– Lots of extra batteries for all battery-powered equipment
– A good first-aid kit that also includes all prescription and non-prescription medicines taken by your household members
– copies of all important documents, such as birth certificates and social security cards (the originals should be stored in a fire-safe locked box or in a safe-deposit box)
– extra long-sleeved shirts and pants and also sturdy footwear for each person
– one blanket or sleeping bag per person
– emergency tools, including those that will turn off utilities
– manual can opener
– extra set of home and car keys
– cash and credit cards
– any special items needed for infants, elderly, disabled, or those with medical conditions
– extra glasses or contact lenses
– extra batteries for hearing aids
– pillow for each family member
– hygiene items
Hurricane Plan:
Having an action plan is imperative to surviving a hurricane. All families need to hold a meeting to discuss an emergency plan. Discussion should include detailed information and agreement on what the family will do, as well as the reasons why. Each family member should also know where, how, and why to turn off all utilities from their main switches, as well as how to use a fire extinguisher. Please remember that if gas is turned off, only a professional can turn it back on. It is extremely dangerous for a non-professional to turn it back on, even if everything seems normal.
Your plan should include a decision on where you will all go if evacuation is required. Choose more than one location, in case some of them are not available or another is closer. Keep in mind residences of friends and relatives, shelters, and hotels and motels. All family members should be aware of every possible location to go to. Do not forget about pets. Find out which shelters, motels, and family members can accept pets. Your local humane society should have ideas on where you can take your pets. Call them ahead of time for phone numbers.
Get maps ahead of time and be sure all family members are informed of the city’s evacuation routes.
Be sure that everyone knows where the disaster kit is kept and take it when you are evacuated. It is a good idea to keep it ready in the trunk of the main family vehicle. However, if you do this, you may also want to keep an extra one in the house in case someone is out with that vehicle when evacuation is issued.
Have an out-of-area family member that everyone will use as a contact. This is the person everyone should keep in contact with to let them know where they are and what they are doing.
Stay Informed:
Keeping on top of all current information regarding hurricane conditions is extremely important.
Find out how you will need to get your information from local officials. Listen to the local media or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for the latest updates. If an evacuation is issued, leave immediately. DO NOT WAIT. You may even choose to leave before the evacuation is issued to ensure that you get out safely.
High Winds:
During a hurricane, high winds can be a huge problem. Before the hurricane makes landfall, you need to inspect your home’s perimeter for any items that can fall, move, break, or cause a fire. Secure these items.
Remove diseased and damaged limbs and branches from trees to make them more wind-resistant.
Have hurricane or high-wind shutters on all windows or cover them with plywood. This also applies to glass doors that lead outside.
Make sure garage doors and un-reinforced masonry are strengthened.
Move or secure any lawn furniture or other outdoor ornaments and decorations. Any outdoor items can be easily picked up and thrown by strong winds. It is imperative that nothing that can move be left outside.
Hurricane Watch:
A hurricane watch means that a hurricane may hit your area and to stay tuned and prepared just in case. It is imperative that persons in areas under a hurricane watch be sure to prepare for a hurricane, should it strike.
Listen to all weather reports and hurricane tracking reports via a battery-operated radio or other reliable source of information.
Check your hurricane kit to ensure that you have all items inside and ready to go. Flashlights, batteries, radio, first-aid kit, food, water, and clothing are some of the most important items needed.
Fill all vehicles and gas tanks with fuel.
Secure buildings and bring in all outdoor items. If any items cannot be brought in, anchor them.
Remove any outside antennas.
Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest setting. Do not open them unless absolutely necessary and when they are opened, close them quickly to retain the cold inside, in case of a power outage.
Store valuables and personal papers on the highest level of your home in a plastic, waterproof container.
Hurricane Warning:
A hurricane warning means that a hurricane is in your area and you need to seek appropriate shelter or evacuate immediately.
Before evacuating, try to register at the Safe and Well website at http://www.redcross.org .
If you have time and you are not in an identified surge zone, elevate all furniture or move it to a higher level to protect it from flooding.
Unplug all appliances and turn off electricity as well as the main water valve.
Take your hurricane kit
Tell someone outside of your home and in a safe area where you are going and how you plan on getting there.
Lock up your home and leave immediately.
Avoid any flooded roads and watch for washed-out bridges.
If you see water, turn around and go another way.
Evacuation:
If an evacuation is issued, you must leave your area immediately and seek safe shelter away from the evacuated area.
Follow the instructions above under the Hurricane Warning category.
For more information on preparing for disasters, please contact the Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org .
Sources:
http://www.redcross.org
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-17-2007/0004647601&EDATE=
If you enjoyed this content, please leave comments for the author and/or click on her picture to read more of her content and/or subscribe to receive an email each time this author is published on Associated Content.
