Be PREPARED for a HURRICANE!!!

[dragonhearted]

I got this from a National Weather Service report. Though it merited mention here:


...EVERY HOUSEHOLD SHOULD HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION WHEN A HURRICANE
THREATENS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE...NOW IS THE TIME TO FORMULATE ONE.
A PLAN ALLOWS YOU TO ACT INSTEAD OF REACT WHEN AN EMERGENCY ARISES.

RESIDENTS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST SHOULD PREPARE TO RELOCATE
FURTHER INLAND...PREFERABLY TO HOMES OF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. DO NOT
BE ALONE DURING THE HURRICANE.

WHEN MAKING YOUR PLAN...GIVE FULL CONSIDERATION TO WHETHER YOU SHOULD
LEAVE OR STAY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION.

IF YOU LIVE ON A BEACH OR BARRIER ISLAND...OR HAVE TO TRAVEL ACROSS
TIDAL FLATS TO SAFETY...PLAN TO LEAVE.

IF YOU LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME...PLAN TO LEAVE.

IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHICH HAS A HISTORY OF FLOODING...PLAN TO
LEAVE.

IF YOU LIVE ON HIGH GROUND AWAY FROM THE BEACHES AND TIDAL MARSHES...
AND LIVE IN A STURDY HOME BUILT TO CODES...CONSIDER STAYING IN YOUR
HOME.

...PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION...

FILL AUTOMOBILE GAS TANKS.

ASSUME POWER AND WATER MAY BE OFF FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO SEVERAL WEEKS
AFTER THE HURRICANE PASSES.

FILL CLEAN CONTAINERS WITH WATER. PLAN ON AT LEAST ONE GALLON OF
CLEAN WATER PER PERSON PER DAY FOR DRINKING...IN ADDITION TO WATER
NECESSARY FOR COOKING...CLEANING...AND FLUSHING TOILETS.

STOCK UP ON CANNED FOOD...ESPECIALLY FOOD THAT CAN BE EATEN WITHOUT
COOKING OR HEATING.

CHECK FOR ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS.

HAVE WORKABLE FLASHLIGHTS OR PORTABLE LANTERNS AND A BATTERY-POWERED
RADIO. HAVE A SUPPLY OF SPARE BATTERIES. USE BATTERY-POWERED LIGHTS
INSTEAD OF CANDLES SINCE FIRE FIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL MAY
NOT BE ABLE TO REACH YOU DURING THE HURRICANE.

PREPARE TO BOARD UP WINDOWS. STORE OR SECURE LAWN FURNITURE...
BARBECUE GRILLS...GARBAGE CANS...AND OTHER LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

...ACTIONS FOR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS...

NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS SHOULD ACTIVATE THEIR HURRICANE PLAN OF
ACTION. THOSE LOCATED ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MAKE
PLANS FOR THE RELOCATION OF PATIENTS IF IT IS REQUESTED. ACT EARLY...
EMS AND RESCUE TEAMS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU LATER AS THE
HURRICANE APPROACHES.

PET OWNERS SHOULD HAVE A PREARRANGED PLACE FOR THEIR PETS TO STAY.
MOST EMERGENCY SHELTERS DO NOT ALLOW PETS. OWNERS SHOULD KEEP A
SUPPLY OF PET FOOD...MEDICATIONS...AND CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION
WITH THEIR PETS.

BOAT OWNERS SHOULD TAKE ACTION NOW TO REMOVE THEIR BOATS FROM THE
WATER OR SECURE THEM FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS. IF POSSIBLE...BOATS
SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE WATER AND MOVED TO A SECURE LOCATION.
LIGHT BOATS LEFT ON A TRAILER OUTSIDE SHOULD HAVE THEIR SPRINGS
CHOCKED WITH WOOD BLOCKS AND THE BOATS SHOULD BE PARTIALLY FILLED
WITH WATER TO WEIGH THEM DOWN AND KEEP THEM FROM BLOWING AWAY.

***************

Be well and safe all!!

 

[Icingsugar]

Yeah. Hold on to yer hats.

Me? I live in Sweden, what do I care?

 

[dragonhearted]

...some additional information

I'm about an hour from Myrtle Beach - just to add to that post - make sure that when you stock up on canned food you also have a manual can opener. You would be *amazed* at how many people forget that electric can openers don't work when you dont have electricity. Also consider stocking up on things like peanut butter, snack packs of fruit, etc - if you're a camping person, get extra propane cans for your camp stove, before the storms hit, fill your bathtub with water (great to have close for toilet flushing) and if you have any large trash cans outside fill those as well or keep open and allow rainfall into them. You wont be drinking either, but it saves your drinking water. If there's even a remote chance of a hurricane coming though in the coming week, dont stock up on fresh meats, milk, or eggs. Instead buy dry or evaporated milk (and truly only if you have children), and stock up on canned meats etc. Get cash from the bank and consider having a couple of those little tanks of gas (like for your lawn mower) in an out building - especially if you plan to use or borrow a gas powered generator. I *hate* hurricanes and Hugo killed my house (with the aide of two china berry trees). But my parents have always been huge camping buffs so we were ok. I just remember our neighbors having to ask to borrow one of our hand can openers because of course all the stores immediately sold out.

Kalista

Thanks again, Kalista!

 

[sheath]

What a timely thread!

And Kalista...awesome, babe!

I just wanted to add that no matter who you are, or where you are, you need to take precautions in the event of a natural disaster. That doesn't just mean hurricanes and tornadoes. Earthquakes can absolutely devastate a community, and though big ones are rare, are you SURE it won't happen to you? Floods, wildfires, avalanches, mudslides...everyone, anywhere, is at risk of something that could easily become a full-scale natural disaster.

So it's a good idea to be prepared...at least with the basics, like water, canned food, extra clothing and prescriptions, etc. You can get a complete list of what the Red Cross thinks is necessary, and it's a good idea to make sure you take care of it now, before a natural disaster hits.

Besides, it's peace of mind.

S.

 

[Jenny _S]

OMG! What about extra batteries for your vibrator too? What's wrong with the National Weather Service? How could they forget that?

Oh, wait. I'm in Oregon. We don't have hurricans. Whew!

 

[warrior queen]

you call them hurricanes - we in the southern hemisphere call them cyclones.

i lived in the cyclone belt for the greater part of my youth, and went thro at least 2-3 every year, including the most powerful one to hit the aussie coast ever.

they're no big deal, if you're prepared.

hell, i even had my 21st birthday party in the middle of a category 5 cyclone - i am never gonna forget that!

i do notice tho, that in america, your building codes seem to be somewhat lower than ours - there's always so much damage, even from something we'd class as a category 1 or 2.

in the cyclone belt here, the houses are built with strict coding - no wood at all in the building materials, not even the ceiling joists - all steel and double brick.

during cyclone orson, category 5,(320km/h winds) there was no damage at all to any of the buildings in the town, and most of the caravans (mobile homes?) were intact also.

 

[CelticFrog]

I just wanted to add that no matter who you are, or where you are, you need to take precautions in the event of a natural disaster. That doesn't just mean hurricanes and tornadoes. Earthquakes can absolutely devastate a community, and though big ones are rare, are you SURE it won't happen to you? Floods, wildfires, avalanches, mudslides...everyone, anywhere, is at risk of something that could easily become a full-scale natural disaster.

DANGIT SHEATH!!! GET OUTTA ME HEAD!
Having ranted for a second and a half, I agree completely with S here. I have a piece of paper that is my "11 Points of Preparedness in an Evacuation" I keep handy. I'm working slowly at getting everything in my household ready for that. Of course, me the perpetually disorganized and messy person that I am, I'm also getting my house in order and clean at the same time... GOD forbid.

These points are probably repeating the already good information from the Weather Service people, but the way it was sent to me made it/makes it easier for me to understand and follow.

Anyhow, here they are:
1. People -- have a plan for getting out of the house and make sure everyone knows it...
you've all heard that for fires but think of it for every other disaster as well. Don't forget the emergency bag of food and water, even if it's just peanut butter, crackers, granola bars.

2. Pets -- carriers or leashes readily available. And their food too.

3. Pictures -- Keep negatives or CDs of pictures in a lock box or at a family member's home. Picture albums in one place ready to grab at a moment's notice.

4. Papers -- Have all important papers in a lock box at a bank and only keep copies at home. This helps to keep from panicking. If you MUST have them at home, keep them all in a folder that you can find and grab at a moment's notice.

5. Prescriptions -- Take your medications with you. Don't forget the ones that have to be refrigerated like insulin, have a small ice chest and cold packs readily accessible to pack and go.

6. Purses -- Wallets, backpacks, whatever you tend to carry with you on a daily basis. Make sure you can find it, because this should be where your identification, credit cards, and cash should be. Keep a stash of emergency cash someplace. REMEMBER where you put it! ATMs may not be available in a power outage.

7. Proper clothes and comfort items -- Have a change of clothes along with outer garments that coincide with the weather situation. Don't forget diapers if you have babies. Childrens' favorite blankets, stuffed animals, or toy. Deck of cards is always nice to spend the time with.

8. Planner/Calendar -- This should have all the information you need about appointments, phone numbers, addresses, insurance numbers, important dates. It's small and FILLED with things you might otherwise struggle to remember.

9. Personal Protection -- Women, you know what I mean. What a crappy time to start your period and not have anything. Anything. It's good to have meds for cramps too. For Jenny_S's sake, I'll put batteries for your vibrator in here too. That would be a crappy time to run out of THOSE!

10. Phones and Radios -- A cellphone may not work immediately, but will most likely be back in service before you can go home. Always have a charger ready to go and/or an extra battery. They may not work in the case of a power outage, but then again they might. Know which local radio station has emergency bulletins. Keep a battery powered radio tuned to that station and make sure you have plenty of batteries for it.

11. Patience -- If you have a good plan and are prepared, it will be easier to be patient with emergency crews. Staying calm and clearheaded is important, yet so difficult unless we're ready. Other people will see that you are patient and calm and take your cues. This is a good thing.

I hope those actually help someone. They've already helped me a ton just by making me think twice about where I keep stuff that I would need. I'm not even close to being TOTALLY prepared, but every day I get closer. And I rarely have anything to worry about. I'm from Oregon originally, but I seem to recall living through earthquakes there and floods and mudslides too. Now I'm in Idaho and still have lightning storms and duststorms. I'm sure anywhere you go there's at least one particularly prevalent natural occurrence that's damaging if not disastrous.

Now off to pretend I'll never have anything to worry about for just a bit longer... maybe tomorrow I'll buy a firesafe!!!
lol
Ang

 

[Mogwai7]

[Removed]

 

[cutvelvet]

what truly makes an erotic connection work?

So you've read and written some really exciting stories.. you've had thouhsands of fabulous and horrible fantiasies.. then you write ot someone and you think you've know enough to meet him/her..
you jive on the page..you really get excited writing to the person..
then you meet..
This is NOT j-Dating.. what happens then?

 

[Mr.G]

The Sky's falling! The Sky's falling!!

The experts say that with global warming and the sea getting hotter there is no reason NOT to expect the occasional Cat 6 (YA SIX - off the scale!) hurricanes in the future.

OH and the dude in Sweden. Stock up on thermal undies and seal blubber. With the melting of the Greenland IceCap the Gulf Stream is probably going to go away. Sweden and Northern Europe will have the same climate as Baffin Island! Nice if you're a snow boarder. Not so nice watching the fast forming glaciers bearing down on your village.

A famous Chinese philospher said, " May you live in interesting times..." We are doing that.

For what it's worth...my guess on how we screw things up once and for all ?? ... Some religious fanatic (who thinks he's gonna get a bunch of chicks, a big house and a Ferrari ) gets hold of a bucketfull of bad-bugs (ebolathrax or worse) and thinks he's doing the world a favor removing the disbelievers - not to mention everyone else - in the name of (fill in the blanks) and dumps it into the water supply. Poof. We're all gone. 30 million years from now giant BUGS will be driving around around in VW BUGS.

 

[Weird Harold]

Oh, wait. I'm in Oregon. We don't have hurricanes. Whew!

Icingsugar:
Me? I live in Sweden, what do I care?

Jenny, I grew up in Oregon and lived through about 15 "Columbus Day Storms" with all of the power outages, floods, and downed trees that they bring along with their hurricane force winds.

Oregon gets hurricanes, they just don't call them that.

Icingsugar, Just because you do't get "hurricanes" doesn't mean Sweden doesn't get the occasional severe storm or other natural disaster.

The original post gives a disaster preparedness list tailored for hurricanes, but the principle of being prepared for natural disaters is a good one wherever you live.

Even the relatively boring (weatherwise) high desert gets an occasional "hurricane force" storm and those who aren't prepared suffer.

 

[BrownEyes26]

Hurricane Juan

I live in Halifax NS and wish that I had seen this thread prior to Hurricane Juan. As it was, I myself was reasonably prepared, but not for the windows blowing out of our building after which we were all evacuated to the basement. We stayed there all night and some people are still not back in their apartments, because there was so much damage.

I do not know if the weather services did not really expect Halifax to be hit head on, but it would have been nice to be prepared for the worst.

These lists are good ideas!!
BE26

 

[BrownEyes26]

Hurricane Juan off of Nova Scotia

Here is the pic.

 

[cutvelvet]

anais Nin quote..

I finally saw that wonderful quote at the bottom of your post.. " and the day came"... what is it from.. her aurobiography..
where do you hang out..geographically wise. i mean.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

my hurricane is 2 years old & currently on a big time sugar high!

Gonna declare my house a disaster area & apply for govt. aid.

 

[BrownEyes26]

Hey cutvelvet clean out your PM box.

 

[sheath]

I'm glad this got bumped...especially for those of us in 'tornado alley' in the US south, this thread is timely. Those big dark clouds will be rolling in before you know it!

S.