Hurricane

Hurricane Preparedness from the National Weather Service

Careful planning and preparation may very well save your life one day. Each year, millions of people deal with hurricanes as a part of the natural course of life. As a smart planner, whether you're a visitor to our beautiful shores or a property owner, you should begin planning your actions well before a storm threatens.

What to do if evacuation becomes imminent:

Take important papers with you, including your driver license, special medical information, insurance policies and property inventories. Tell your friends and relatives where you are going. Lock your windows and doors. Turn off electricity at the main breaker. Store valuables/irreplaceable items in empty appliances - washer, dryer, dishwasher, oven, or microwave. Pack some dry clothes in plastic bags to take with you. Put plastic bags over TVs, lamps, computers, stereos, major appliances, etc. Fill new garbage cans with water to use for flushing, bathing, and washing clothes.

If a hurricane approaches, take the following items with you:

Enough cash to last several days. Several weeks supply of medications and personal items. Nonperishable food items, including several weeks supply of canned goods. Drinking water - at least one gallon per person per day for two weeks. Flashlights and/or battery-powered lanterns, as well as extra batteries. Portable television or radio First-aid kit. Ice chest and ice. Infant-care items. Manual can opener. Plastic trash bags. Toilet paper and paper towels. Books, toys, and small games to entertain children.

Re-entering the property:

Access to your area may be controlled, so keep this in mind. Also, it could be three days before emergency crews reach your neighborhood, so be patient. Have a valid ID or pass ready for security checkpoints. Valid identification with your current local address will be required. Avoid driving, if possible. Roadway debris could damage your tires. Enter your home with caution. Open windows and doors to dry and ventilate your home's interior. Take an inventory of damaged items, photograph them, and report these items to your insurance provider. Make temporary repairs to correct safety hazards and minimize further damage.

For Your Safety:

Avoid downed or dangling power lines. Beware of snakes, or other animals displaced by flooding. Be careful with fire. Do not strike a match until you are sure there are no breaks in gas lines. Further, avoid using candles. Use battery-operated flashlights and lanterns, instead.

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