Preparing Yourself and Your
Family
A
Hurricane Watch means it is time to put the early stages of your hurricane
plan into effect. Review checklists and
plans with your family. Advise
out-of-area relatives or friends of your plans.
Ask them to wait to hear from you after the storm and to spread the word
to other relatives and friends. Consider
your options. If an evacuation of your
area is likely, do what is necessary before you leave. Fill the gas tanks in your vehicles. Inspect your home and yard for loose
items. Listen to local radio and TV for
information. Get window and door
covering ready and fill sterile containers with drinking water. If you feel comfortable doing so, move ahead
with your plans. Install window
protection and evacuate early. When
winds reach 40 mph, bridges may close and high profile vehicles such as RV’s
and trailers will not be allowed on evacuation routes.
A Hurricane Warning means you should rush your plans to completion. Tropical storm force winds and heavy rain may
begin to affect your area soon. If you
live in a mobile or manufactured home or in an area threatened by rising water
– evacuate. If you live in a site built home/condo and
are not in a flood prone area, consider riding out the storm. If you decide to stay, look for
alternatives. If part of the building is
damaged, where will you go? What will
you do if flooding is worse than expected?
If you stay, there will come a time when you are “on your own”. Fire, law enforcement and ambulances will be
unavailable once the winds reach 40 mph.
Knowledge about hurricanes is not enough to protect you and your
family. You must put this information to
work. If you have questions about your
situation and your plan, ask now! Don’t
wait until the storm is nearly here, or it may be too late to get an
answer! Review what you need to do to
prepare and protect you, your family and your property. The following options will help you make the
correct choice:
Option A – Stay at home. If your home can withstand
the expected winds, is away from the coast and not in a flood prone area
consider staying at home. Newer homes
are constructed to withstand 110 mph winds.
Homes built after March 1, 2002 must meet even more stringent wind requirements.
Option B – Stay with a relative or friend or in a hotel outside the
evacuation area. If you expect to
stay at someone else’s home or a hotel, make advance arrangements. If staying
at a friend or relative’s home, be certain it is adequately prepared and is
located in a safe area. Consider where
you will go if the friend or relative 
is out of
town.
Option C – Relocate out of the area.
Emergency Management officials have developed hurricane sheltering and
evacuation policies. Officials will issue local statements to inform you of
recommended evacuation routes. Because
you may have to travel considerable distances on unfamiliar roads, include a
current road map as a part of your disaster supply kit. Know where you are going and plan, not only the
best route, but alternate routes also.
If possible, leave early to avoid heavy traffic, possible flooding and
high winds. If you wait until the
Hurricane Warning to leave, you will find hotel rooms extremely scarce
throughout
Option D – Public shelters. A Public
shelter should be your last option and used only if you have no other safe
place to go. Local radio and television
will announce which shelters will be open and opening times. Do not report to a shelter until it is
open. Familiarize yourself and family
with the locations and routes from your home to the shelters. Do not wait until the last minute, if an
evacuation order is given, move quickly but without panic.
12 questions to ask if Your
Family Member resides in an Assisted Living Facility, or Nursing Home.
1. Does the facility have a currently approved
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan? May I see a copy of the approval
letter?
2. Do you maintain a minimum 72-hour supply of food,
water, medications, etc. for each resident?
3. Do you have an emergency generator? What does it
supply power to during an outage?
4. Under what circumstances, would my family member be
evacuated?
5. Can my family member be released to me for the purpose
of evacuation?
6. Who will notify me of the impending evacuation of my
family member?
7. Whom should I call to receive current information on
my family member?
8. How will my family member be transported to another
facility?
9. What facilities might my family member be evacuated
to? Where are they located?
10. How will my family member be transported back to this
facility, once it is deemed safe?
11. Who will notify me that my family member is returning
to this facility?
12. If my family member evacuated with me, how do I return
them to the facility once it is deemed safe?
72- HOUR DISASTER KIT
Every home should have a
72-Hour Disaster Survival kit. Ensure a minimum
three-day (72 hours) supply for each person.
Although hurricanes are our focus, other events could require
evacuation. Brush fires, hazardous material spills, floods and tornados all
have the potential to disrupt our daily activities. Here is a minimum suggested list of survival
kit supplies.
Disaster Kit Shopping
List
q Canned or other
non-perishable food
q Manual can-opener
q Drinking water - 1 gallon
per person per day, (use sterile containers) other juices and soft drinks
q 
Baby needs; diapers,
formula, etc.
q Personal medications and
prescriptions
q 
First aid kit
q
q 
Extra batteries
q Blankets, pillows, sleeping
bags or lawn chairs
q Sanitary supplies
q Cards, books, small
games
q Road maps
q Wet and cold weather
clothing
q Pet foods
Gather
important documents (birth certificates, insurance policies, health records, mortgages,
deeds, titles, financial documents) in one place, ready to take with you. Any
documents you may need after a storm or flood should be gathered now and kept
in a protected place.