Are You Ready for Hurricane Season?

Misc.

June 1 is the official start of Florida’s hurricane season. That means it’s time to rush up on your disaster preparation—a disaster plan and supply kit will go a long way toward helping you and your family keep safe during a storm.

Create a Family Disaster Plan

A family disaster plan is a checklist of things you can do before and during a hurricane if you live in a vulnerable area. It includes important skills, items, and information that will help you see a storm through.

Learn about your home—in what ways is your property most vulnerable to flood or wind damage? Try to find ways of minimizing the risks.
Standard homeowner’s insurance doesn’t usually cover flood damage, so check your current policies to make sure you’re up-to-date, and consider a separate flood policy if you live in a vulnerable area. Even if you are not in a vulnerable area, ask your insurance provider what would be covered if water were to enter your home from a roof or broken window.
Have at least one family member take classes in first aid, CPR, and disaster preparedness.
Locate the safest room or area in your home—usually an interior room without windows—and designate this as your safe room, where your family can stay during a storm.
Map out escape routes from your home, and choose a gathering place outside the home where your family can meet up if you’re separated.
Decide how you’ll take care of pets if you have to evacuate.
Designate a friend or family member who lives out of state as a contact person, and plan at least two ways to contact that person.
Make up a disaster supply kit stocked with all the items you may need during a hurricane threat.
When a hurricane watch is issued, check your disaster supply kit and make sure it’s well-stocked and in a convenient location.
Have a discussion with your family about all of these issues, and make sure everyone knows what to do during a hurricane or other emergency.

Check your Disaster Supply Kit

Just like insurance, a disaster supply kit is something you have while hoping you’ll never need it. The kit contains items you may need if a storm hits your area and does enough damage to cut your electricity or temporarily isolate your home from the outside world.

When creating your disaster supply kit, it’s important to make sure that everything you put in the kit stays in it. Don’t be tempted to remove items from the kit and use them for everyday life—it’s too easy to forget to replace them. (You don’t necessarily need to designate items such as blankets, pillows, and clothing especially for the kit, however, as you can assemble those when you hear of a hurricane watch.)

What types of items should your kit include?

At least one gallon of water per person per day, with enough for between three and seven days (or longer if you wish).
Add enough food for three to seven days. Use only canned, dehydrated, or other non-perishable food items. Don’t forget cooking implements, including a can opener, and plastic utensils and paper plates. If you want to be able to cook food, you’ll also need a grill or other cooking equipment and a supply of fuel.
First aid kit, toiletries, and personal care items. Add prescription medicines to the kit when you hear a hurricane watch has been issued.
Blankets, pillows, and clothing (including cold and wet-weather clothing).
Battery-operated flashlights and radio, and spare batteries.
Books, toys, and games to keep you occupied during the storm.
Store important documents, including insurance policies, social security & bank account numbers, wedding and birth certificates in a waterproof document sleeve and add the sleeve to your kit after hearing of a hurricane watch.
Tools (battery or hand-operated), and any emergency repair items you want to have on hand to repair damage done to your home.
Pet care items for your pets, including food and extra water, a leash and muzzle for dogs, and a cage or carrier for any small pets.

Once you’ve assembled the kit items, store them in water-tight bags or boxes in a secure location (such as your designated safe room). Make sure your family knows what the kit is for and where it’s located.

Don’t forget that some items, such as batteries and certain types of food, will need periodic replacement to keep your kit up-to-date.

What to do when a Hurricane Watch is Issued

If a hurricane watch is issued, you’ll take slightly different actions depending on whether or not you need to evacuate. In either situation, your first priorities will be grabbing your disaster supply kit and gathering your family members. Notify your designated contact person about the hurricane watch, fill your car’s tank with gas, grab any emergency supplies you need, and some cash (neither ATMs nor fuel pumps will work if electricity is cut). Finally, take care of your pets according to your disaster plan. It’s also a good idea to check up on your neighbors, and make sure they’re aware of the emergency situation.

Have a contact person outside of the state that you will communicate with and let your friends and family know who that is and how to contact them for updates.

If you’re being evacuated, you’ll also need to decide on a destination. Ideally you’ll want to head to the home of a family member or friend who lives in a safe area, but if that’s not possible a hotel or motel is going to be your most comfortable option. Shelters are usually fairly uncomfortable and don’t allow pets, so it may not be a good option for you.

Before you leave, make sure you have a route mapped out. Don’t leave home until you have a destination and a safe route for getting there. Be patient and leave early.

Date: 2008-05-29 11:42:29
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