Preparing for Storms
Pre-preparation
- Listen to the radio or watch television for forecasts and possible warnings. Have a battery-operated radio on hand.
- Bring in or tie down loose outdoor objects.
- Prepare your house. If your home is equipped with awnings, lower them, or purchase approved storm panels. If these are not available, obtain strong plywood to cover your windows. If you cannot cover your windows, use a windowless room as a refuge.
- Listen to county and state officials regarding evacuations and shelter locations.
- Gather emergency supply items including water, flashlights, batteries, first-aid kit, extra medicine, non-perishable food, manual can opener, fire extinguisher, candles and matches, toilet articles and sanitary needs.
Storm Preparedness and Safety
Gather essential supplies and papers to take with you in case of an approaching hurricane. You will need the following supplies and papers when you leave your home; put them all together in a duffle bag or other large container in advance:
- Flashlight with plenty of extra batteries
- Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Prescription medications in their original bottle, plus copies of the prescriptions
- Eyeglasses (with a copy of the prescription)
- Water (at least one gallon per person is recommended; more is better)
- Foods that do not require refrigeration or cooking
- Items that infants and elderly household members may require
- Medical equipment and devices, such as dentures, crutches, prostheses, etc.
- Change of clothes for each household member
- Sleeping bag or bedroll and pillow for each household member
- Checkbook, cash, and credit cards
- Map of the area
Important papers to take with you:
- Driver's license or personal identification
- Social Security card
- Proof of residence (deed or lease)
- Insurance policies
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Stocks, bonds, and other negotiable certificates
- Wills, deeds, and copies of recent tax returns
If you have only moments before leaving, grab these things and go!
- Medical supplies: prescription medications and dentures.
- Disaster supplies: flashlight, batteries, radio, first aid kit, bottled water
- Clothing and bedding: a change of clothes and a sleeping bag or bedroll and pillow for each household member
- Car keys and keys to the place you may be going (friend's or relative's home)Power Outage at Home
- Conserve where you can. Cutting your energy consumption will reduce the overall statewide demand for electricity.
- You may not have any notice before an outage occurs; stay tuned to local news for the latest information. Outages can last for long periods of time during a hurricane or storm.
- Keep emergency supplies on hand, including:
- Flashlights with fresh batteries
- A portable, battery-powered radio
- A wind-up or battery-powered clock
- Water and nonperishable food
- A manual can opener
- Assist family members or neighbors who may be vulnerable if exposed to high temperatures for extended periods.
- Have either a cell phone or hard wire, single-line telephone. Cordless phones will not work without electricity.
- Know how to manually open and close any electric garage door, security door or gates.
- Protect sensitive electric equipment, such as computers, VCRs and televisions, by installing surge suppressors or other power protection devices.
- Make sure your smoke alarms have fresh batteries. Even those alarms that are wired to your home's electrical system should have a fresh back-up battery.
- Have an emergency plan in place, including back-up power supply, if a member of your household depends on life support or needs other medical equipment. This applies to all power outages.
- Identify the operating requirements of gas equipment. During an outage, appliances with electronic ignitions will not work because electricity is needed to ignite the natural gas. In addition, appliances requiring fans or other electric devices to run (such as central heating units and gas clothes dryers) won't operate.
