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It's Still Hurricane Season - Make Sure You're Prepared
Jul 27, 2009
The start of hurricane season has been relatively calm so far. However, the American Red Cross reminds you that the need to be prepared remains.
Preparing for the possibility of a storm landing near you is essential. Make sure your emergency plan is still current. See if anything in your kit needs to be replaced.
Some steps to help you be prepared include:
- Check your disaster supplies kit. If you’ve never built one, do it now. Include a three-day supply of water and ready-to-eat non-perishable foods such as tuna fish, peanut butter, crackers, canned fruit, juice boxes, etc. Don’t forget a manual can opener, battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries. Your kit should also have a first aid kit, prescription and non-prescription medications, and copies of important documents.
- Prepare a personal disaster and evacuation plan. Identify two meeting places, one near your home, and one outside your area in case you can’t return home. Make plans for your pets. Select an out-of-area emergency contact person.
- Be informed. Listen to weather updates from your battery-powered or hand-cranked radio.
- Before the storm hits, bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, hanging plants, bicycles, toys and garden tools, anchor objects that cannot be brought inside. Close all windows and doors. Cover windows with storm shutters or pre-cut plywood. If time permits, and you live in an identified surge zone, elevate furniture or move it to a higher floor to protect it from flooding. Fill your vehicle’s gas tank.
- If a hurricane WARNING is issued, listen to the advice of local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so. Secure your home by unplugging appliances and turning off electricity and the main water valve. If you are not advised to evacuate, stay inside, away from windows, skylights and glass doors. Do NOT use open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light. If power is lost, turn off appliances to reduce damage from a power surge when electricity is restored.
For more information on preparing for a disaster, visit www.redcross.org
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.
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