Be PREPARED for a HURRICANE!!!

[dragonhearted]

I got this from a National Weather Service report. Just wanted to pass it along to you guys/gals:


...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!

 

[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!