Hurricane Season is Here: Be Prepared
Hurricane Season runs from June through November
Additional Images
It is never too early to get prepared for hurricane season. Last year saw 16 named storms during the 2008 season. Eight became hurricanes and five were Category 3 or higher. And now the 2009 season is predicted to be "above average" and could bring 14 named storms to the Atlantic Ocean, with seven of them becoming hurricanes, according to Colorado State University forecasters, Philip Klotzback and William Gray.
Every home should be prepared by having an emergency supply kit, making a plan and by staying informed. Here are some tips to help families stay prepared, courtesy of www.ready.gov.
Step 1: Get A Kit / "To-Go Bag"Get an Emergency Supply Kit, which includes items such as non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries. You may want to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car. This kit should include:
Copies of prescription medications and medical supplies
Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows
Bottled water, a battery-operated radio and extra batteries, a first aid kit, a flashlight
Copies of important documents: driver's license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.
Make sure you have a "to-go bag" ready in case you need to evacuate, include:
- Water and non-perishable food
- Battery-operated radio and batteries so you can get important information from local officials
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Maps
- Important documents such as proof residence, pictures of your family including pets, insurance policies, and tax records
- Comfortable clothing and blankets
- Unique family needs such as prescription medications, pet supplies, infant supplies or any other unique need your family may have
Step 2: Make an Emergency Plan
Prepare your family
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, 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 places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.
It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one.
Plan to Evacuate
Identify ahead of time where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.
Identify several places you could go in an emergency, a friend's home in another town, a motel or public shelter.
If you do not have a car, plan alternate means of evacuating.
If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it at all times in case you need to evacuate.
Take your Emergency Supply Kit.
Take your pets with you, but understand that only service animals may be permitted in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency.
Take a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class from your local Citizen Corps chapter. Keep your training current.
Step 3: Be Informed
Familiarize yourself with the terms used to identify a hurricane.
A hurricane watch means a hurricane is possible in your area. Be prepared to evacuate. Monitor local radio and television news outlets or listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments.
A hurricane warning is when 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, central pressure and damage potential. Category Three and higher hurricanes are considered major hurricanes, though Categories One and Two are still extremely dangerous and warrant your full attention.
Here are additional things to consider, provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration:
Locate a safe room or the safest area in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances, the safest areas may not be your home, but instead within your community.
Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.
Dress in appropriate clothing -- seasonal/rain gear/sturdy shoes.
Consider special items, such as for babies and the elderly.
Have toiletries/hygiene items/moisture wipes.
Store some cash (with some small bills) -- banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods.
Keep keys in an easily accessible place.
Consider toys, books and games.
Keep a set of tools with you during the storm.
Be prepared, and remember the first and most important thing anyone should do when facing a hurricane threat is to use common sense. §
Albert Isaac is Editor-in-Chief at Tower Publications. He has lived in High Springs with his family since 1987. editor@towerpublications.com.
