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What Should I Do?
BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON STARTS
- Plan an evacuation route.
- Contact the local emergency management office or American Red
Cross chapter, and ask for the community hurricane preparedness
plan. This plan should include information on the safest evacuation
routes and nearby shelters.
- Learn safe routes inland.
- Be ready to drive 20 to 50 miles inland to locate a safe place.
- Have disaster supplies on hand.
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries
- First aid kit and manual
- Emergency food and water
- Non-electric can opener
- Essential medicines
- Cash and credit cards
- Sturdy shoes
- Make arrangements for pets.
- Pets may not be allowed into emergency shelters for health and
space reasons.
- Contact your local humane society for information on local animal
shelters.
- Make sure that all family members know how to respond
after a hurricane.
- Teach family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity,
and water.
- Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department
and which radio station to tune to for emergency information.
- Protect your windows.
- Permanent shutters are the best protection. A lower-cost approach
is to put up plywood panels. Use 1/2 inch plywood - marine plywood
is best - cut to fit each window. Remember to mark which board fits
which window.
- Pre-drill holes every 18 inches for screws. Do this long before
the storm.
- Trim back dead or weak branches from trees.
- Check into flood insurance.
- You can find out about the National Flood Insurance Program through
your local insurance agent or emergency management office. There
is normally a 30-day waiting period before a new policy becomes
effective.
- Homeowners polices do not cover damage from the flooding that
accompanies a hurricane.
- Develop an emergency communication plan.
- In case family members are separated from one another during a
disaster (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work
and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.
- Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family
contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long
distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address,
and phone number of the contact person.
DURING A HURRICANE WATCH
(A Hurricane Watch is issued when there is a threat of hurricane conditions
within 24-36 hours.)
- Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for
hurricane progress reports.
- Check emergency supplies.
- Fuel car.
- Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys,
and garden tools and anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
- Secure buildings by closing and boarding up windows.
Remove outside antennas.
- Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings.
Open only when absolutely necessary and close quickly.
- Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles,
and cooking utensils.
- Store valuables and personal papers in a waterproof
container on the highest level of your home.
- Review evacuation plan.
- Moor boat securely or move it to a designated safe
place. Use rope or chain to secure boat to trailer. Use tiedowns to
anchor trailer to the ground or house.
DURING A HURRICANE WARNING
(A Hurricane Warning is issued when hurricane conditions (winds of 74
miles per hour or greater, or dangerously high water and rough seas) are
expected in 24 hours or less.)
- Listen constantly to a battery-operated radio or television
for official instructions.
- If in a mobile home, check tiedowns and evacuate immediately.
- Avoid elevators.
- If at home:
- Stay inside, away from windows, skylights, and
glass doors.
- Keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries
handy. Avoid open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as
a source of light.
- If power is lost, turn off major appliances to
reduce power "surge" when electricity is restored.
- If officials indicate evacuation is necessary:
- Leave as soon as possible. Avoid flooded roads
and watch for washed-out bridges.
- Secure your home by unplugging appliances and
turning off electricity and the main water valve.
- Tell someone outside of the storm area where you
are going.
- If time permits, and you live in an identified
surge zone, elevate furniture to protect it from flooding or better
yet, move it to a higher floor.
- Take pre-assembled emergency supplies, warm protective
clothing, blankets and sleeping bags to shelter.
- Lock up home and leave.
AFTER THE STORM
- Stay tuned to local radio for information.
- Help injured or trapped persons.
- Give first aid where appropriate.
- Do not move seriously injured persons unless they
are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.
- Return home only after authorities advise that it
is safe to do so.
- Avoid loose or dangling power lines and report them
immediately to the power company, police, or fire department.
- Enter your home with caution. Beware of snakes, insects,
and animals driven to higher ground by flood water.
- Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.
- Check refrigerated foods for spoilage.
- Take pictures of the damage, both to the house and
its contents for insurance claims.
- Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded
roads and washed-out bridges.
- Use telephone only for emergency calls.
- INSPECTING UTILITIES IN A DAMAGED HOME
- Check for gas leaks--If you smell gas or hear
blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building.
Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the
gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for
any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
- Look for electrical system damage--If you see
sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation,
turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker.
If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker,
call an electrician first for advice.
- Check for sewage and water lines damage--If you
suspect sewage lines are damaged avoid using the toilets and call
a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company
and avoid the water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting
ice cubes.
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