Emergency Checklist - Hurricane
How can I prepare for a Hurricane ?
Hurricane:
Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Scientists are able to predict hurricanes, but people who live in coastal communities should plan what they will do if they are told to evacuate.
How can you be prepared?
Step 1: Get a Kit
4URSURVIVAL offers complete survival and 72 hour kits, designed and assembled according to guidelines given by government agencies and non-profit preparedness organizations. These kits include items such as:
•non-perishable food
•water
•a battery-powered radio
•flashlight and batteries
•first-aid kit
•blankets
•matches
•and much more
4URSURVIVAL also offers smaller portable kits with similar items that you should keep in your car.
Step 2: Make a Plan
Make a family emergency plan. Disaster can strike at any time, and the family may not be together, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
•Plan where your family will meet, both within and outside of your neighborhood
•Be sure that every family member knows what to do in different types of emergencies
•Be sure to consider the specific needs of each individual family member
Inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time such as work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one.
Step 3: Be Prepared
Familiarize yourself with the following terms:
•A Hurricane watch means that a hurricane is possible in your area. Prepare to evacuate. Tune in to local radio and television news programs or listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments.
•A Hurricane warning means that a hurricane is expected in your area. If local authorities advise you to evacuate, leave immediately.
•Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on their wind speed, pressure, and damage potential. Category One and Two hurricanes are extremely dangerous and must be taken seriously. Category Three, Four and Five hurricanes are considered major hurricanes.
•Hurricanes often produce widespread torrential rains and result in deadly and destructive floods. Excessive rain can trigger landslides and mud slides, especially in mountainous regions. Flooding on rivers and streams may persist even several days after a storm. Learn more about preparing your home for a possible flood by reviewing the floods page.
Prepare Your Home
•Cover all windows with pre-cut plywood or hurricane shutters to protect from high winds.
•Keep trees and shrubs well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
•Secure your home by closing shutters, and secure all outdoor objects not tied down.
•Turn off utilities.
•Turn off propane tanks.
•Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water to ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and sanitation.
Prepare Your Business •Carefully assess how your company functions, both internally and externally, to determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating.
•Plan what you will do if your building, plant or store is not accessible.
•Learn about programs, services, and resources at U.S. Small Business Administration
Listen to Local Officials
Learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government. In any emergency, listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials.
•For additional information on how to plan and prepare for hurricanes, as well as what to do during and after a hurricane, visit the following:
◦Federal Emergency Management Agency
◦NOAA Watch
◦American Red Cross
◦U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
◦U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control