Know what hurricane WATCH
and WARNING mean
Watch:
Hurricane conditions are possible in the
specified area of the Watch,
usually within 36 hours.
Warning:
Hurricane conditions are expected in the specified
area of the Warning,
usually within 24 hours.
Prepare a personal evacuation plan
Identify ahead of time where you could go if you are
told to evacuate.
Choose several places - a friends home in another
town, a motel, or a shelter.
Keep handy the telephone numbers of these places as
well as a road map of your locality.
You may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes
if major roads are closed or clogged.
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or TV
stations for evacuation instructions.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately!
Assemble a disaster supplies kit
Make sure to include:
First aid kit and essential medications
Canned food and can opener
At least three gallons of water per person
Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping
bags
Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries
Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family
members
Written instructions for how to turn off gas and water
if authorities advise you to do so (remember, you will
need a professional to turn them back on).
Prepare for high winds
Install hurricane shutters or pre-cut 3/4ä marine
plywood for each window of your home.
Install anchors for the plywood and pre-drill holes in
the plywood so that you can put it up quickly.
Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or
damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so
that wind can blow through.
Know what to do when a Hurricane WATCH
is issued
-
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or
TV stations for up-to-date storm information.
-
Prepare to bring indoors lawn furniture,
outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans,
hanging plants, and anything else that can be
picked up by the wind
-
Prepare to cover ALL windows of your home.
If shutters have not been installed, use
pre-cut plywood as described above.
Note: Tape does not prevent windows from
breaking; so taping windows is not
recommended.
-
Fill your car's gas tank.
-
Recheck manufactured home tie-downs
-
Check batteries and stock up on canned food,
first aid supplies, drinking water, and
medications.
Identify what to do when a Hurricane
WARNING is issued
-
Listen to the advice of local officials, and
leave if they tell you to do so.
-
Complete preparation activities.
-
If you are not advised to evacuate, stay
indoors, away from windows.
-
Be aware, the calm Îeyeâ is deceptive; the
storm is not over.
-
The worst part of the storm will happen once
the eye passes over and the winds blow from
the opposite direction.
-
Trees, shrubs, buildings, and other objects
damaged by the first winds can be broken or
destroyed by the second winds that blow from
the opposite direction.
-
-
Tornadoes can happen during and after a
hurricane passes over.
-
Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in
a closet or bathroom without windows.
-
Stay away from flood waters.
-
If you come upon a flooded road, turn around
and go another way.
-
If waters are rising rapidly around you, get
out of the car and climb to higher ground.
Know what to do after a Hurricane is over
Hurricanes in the United States are most
threatening along coastlines. But such
fierce storms also have been known to build
up enough momentum to carry destructive
winds inland for hundreds of miles. Heavy
rains, flooding, and tornadoes add to the
damage hurricanes can inflict upon home and
community. Prepare for a hurricane by
completing each item on the checklist below.
Then meet to discuss and finalize your
Family Disaster Plan.
Put together a disaster supplies kit.
|
Location of Disaster Supplies
Kit::____________________________
|
Call your local emergency management
or planning and zoning office to find out if
you live in an area that could flood during
a hurricane or heavy rains.
.
Prepare an evacuation plan in case you
must leave. Clear your plan with the relatives
or friends you plan to stay with - or plan to
go to a Red Cross shelter. Add to your
Disaster Supplies Kit a map marked with two
alternative routes to your destination.
|
Evacuation plan
completed:_________________(date) |
Write instructions on how to turn off gas and
water if advised to do so by local
authorities.
|
Instructions
written:______________________(date)
|
Make a list of items to
bring inside in the event of a storm.
List
completed:___________________________(date)
Location of Disaster Supplies
Kit:_____________________ |
Buy any other items needed to board
up windows and protect your home well ahead
of time. Pre-cut plywood to fit windows so
that you can quickly cover windows.
|
Items purchased to protect
home:_________________(date) |
