HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
BEFORE A HURRICANE THREATENS...

Elevation 0f Your Home Above Sea Level

Get this information from local Emergency Management officials. Your nearest Weather Service officials can supply flood-stage data for area streams and waterways. Find out if your home is subject to storm surge (tidal) flooding.

Maximum Storm Surge Which Might Occur

Information about the potential for inland flooding and storm surge is available through your local Emergency Management Office.

Route To Safety If You Have To Leave

Plan your escape route early. Check with Emergency Management for low points at and flooding history of your route.

Check the number of hours it could take you to evacuate to a safe area during peak evacuation traffic.

Location of Nearest Official Shelter

Emergency Management can give you the location of the shelter nearest your home and explain what you should bring with you.

Plan for your family's safety. Know how to contact family members should the need arise.

How Safe Is Your Home?

Near the seashore, plan to relocate during a hurricane emergency. If you live in a mobile home always plan to relocate.

The Inventory Of Your Property

A complete inventory of personal property will help in obtaining insurance settlements and/or tax deductions for losses. Inventory checklists can be obtained from your insurance representative. Don't trust your memory. List descriptions and take pictures. Store these and other important insurance papers in water-proof containers or in your safety deposit box.

What Your Insurance Will Cover

Review your insurance policies and your coverage to avoid misunderstanding later. Take advantage of flood insurance. Separate policies are needed for protection against wind and flood damage which people frequently don't realize until too late.

WHEN A WATCH IS ISSUED

Monitor storm reports on radio and television.

If considering moving to a shelter make arrangements for all pets. Pets are not allowed in shelters.

Refill needed prescriptions.

If evacuation has not already been recommended, consider leaving the area early to avoid long hours on limited evacuation routes.

Check Supplies

Transistor Radio With Fresh Batteries

Radio will be your most useful information source. Have enough batteries to last several days. There may be no electricity.

Flashlights, Candles or Lamps, Matches

Store matches in waterproof container. Have lantern fuel for several days. Know how to use safely.

Full Tank Of Gasoline

Never let your vehicle gas tank be less than half-full during hurricane season; fill up as soon as a hurricane watch is posted. Remember: when there is no electricity, gas pumps won't work.

Canned Goods and Non-Perishable Foods

Store packaged foods which can be prepared without cooking and need no refrigeration. There may be no electricity or gas.

Containers For Drinking Water

Have clean, air-tight containers to store sufficient drinking water for several days. The local water supply could be interrupted or contaminated.

Materials For Protecting Glass Openings

Have shutters or lumber for protecting large windows and doors and masking tape for use on small windows.

Materials For Emergency Repairs

Your insurance policy may cover the cost of materials used in temporary repairs, so keep all receipts. These will also be helpful for any income tax deductions.

WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED

Listen Constantly To Radio Or TV

Keep a log of hurricane position, intensity and expected landfall. Discount rumors. Use telephone sparingly.

If You Live In A Mobile Home

Check tie-downs and leave immediately for a safer place. Mobile homes are not safe in hurricane force winds.

Prepare For High Winds

Brace your garage door. Lower antennas. Be prepared to make repairs.

Anchor Objects Outside

Garbage cans, awnings, loose garden tools, toys and other loose objects can be deadly missiles. Anchor securely or bring indoors.

Protect Windows And Other Glass

Board up or shutter large windows securely. Tape exposed glass to exposed glass to reduce shattering. Draw drapes t across windows and doors to protect against flying glass if shattering does occur.

Move Boats On Trailers Close To House

Fill boats with water to weigh them down. Lash securely to trailer and use tie-downs to anchor trailer to the ground or house.

Check Mooring Lines Of Boats In Water, Then Leave Them

Store Valuables and Personal Papers

Put irreplaceable documents in waterproof containers and store in highest possible spot. If you evacuate be sure to take them with you.

Prepare For Storm Surge, Tornadoes And Floods

Storm surge tornadoes and flash floods are the worst killers associated with a hurricane. In a tornado warning, seek inside shelter below ground level. If outside move away at right angles from tornado; if escape is impossible, lie flat in a ditch or low spot. The surge of ocean water plus flash flooding of streams and rivers due to torrential rains combine to make drowning the greatest cause of hurricane deaths.

Check Your Survival Supplies Once Again.

IF YOU STAY AT HOME

Stay Indoors...

In an inside room away from doors an windows. Don't go out in the brief calm during passage of the eye of the storm. The lull sometimes ends suddenly as winds return from the opposite direction. Winds can increase in seconds to 75 mph or more.

Protect Property

Without taking any unnecessary risks, protect your property from damage. Temporary repairs can reduce your losses.

Stay Away From Windows and Glass Doors

Move furniture away from exposed doors and windows.

Keep A Continuous Communications Watch

Keep radio or television tuned for information from official sources. Unexpected changes can sometimes call for last minute relocations.

Remain Calm

Your ability to meet emergencies will help others.

IF YOU MUST EVACUATE

Know Where You Are Going...Leave Early, In Daylight If Possible. Move Your Most Valuable Possessions That You Can't Take With You To Higher Points Within Your Home

For Shelters...

Take blankets or sleeping bags, flashlights, special dietary foods, infant needs and lightweight folding chairs.

Register every person arriving with you at the shelter.

Do not take pets, alcoholic beverages or weapons of any kind to shelters.

Be prepared to offer assistance to shelter workers if necessary, and stress to all family members their obligations to keep the shelter clean and sanitary.

Don't Travel Farther Than Necessary

Roads may be jammed. Don't let your stranded auto become your coffin.

Lock Windows And Doors

Turn off gas, water, electricity. Check to see that you have done everything to protect your property from damage and loss.

Carry Along Survival Supplies

• First Aid Kit
• Canned or dried provisions, can opener, spoons, etc.
• Bottled water
• Extra family medication, prescriptions
• Spare eyeglasses, hearing aid and batteries, if required.

Keep Important Papers With You At All Times

• Driver's License and other identification
• Insurance policies
• Property inventory
• Medic-alert or device with special medical information
• Maps to your destination

Take Warm Protective Clothing

AFTER THE HURRICANE

If You Are Evacuated, Delay Return Until Recommended Or Authorized By Local Authorities

Beware Of Outdoor Hazards

Watch out for loose or dangling power lines, and report them immediately, to proper authorities. Many lives are lost by electrocution.

Walk Or Drive Cautiously

Debris-filled streets are dangerous. Snakes and poisonous insects may be a hazard. Washouts may weaken road and bridge structures which could collapse under vehicle weight.

Guard Against Spoiled Food

Food may spoil if refrigerator power is off more than a few hours. Freezers will keep food several days if doors are not opened after power failure but do not refreeze food once it begins to thaw.

Do Not Use Water Until Safe

Use your emergency supply or boil water before drinking until official word that the water is safe. Report broken sewer or water rnains to proper authorities.

Take Extra Precautions To Prevent Fire

Lowered water pressure in city and town water mains and the interruption of other services may make fire fighting extremely difficult after a hurricane.

THE RECOVERY

Insurance

Insurance representatives will be on the scene immediately following a major disaster to speed up the handling of claims. Notify your insurance agent or broker of any losses-and leave word where you can be contacted.

Take Steps To Protect Property

Make temporary repairs to protect property from further damage or looting. Use only reputable contractors (sometimes in the chaotic days following a disaster, unscrupulous operators will prey on the unsuspecting)-check the Better Business Bureau. Keep all receipts for materials used.

Be Patient

Hardship cases will be settled first by insurance representatives. Don't assume your settlement will be the same as your neighbor's. Policy forms differ and storm damage is often erratic.

It Takes A Team Effort

Responsibility for the clean-up falls to numerous local, state and federal agencies. A local disaster coordinator/director or his representative will be on hand to help residents in this effort.

Remember

--the coordinates of a hurricane given by the weather service is the location of the eye. The average storm is 250 miles in diameter: thus the danger zone extends some 100 miles on either side of the coordinates.

If a storm is projected to hit our area, maximum conditions would exist if the storm eye crossed over us, or to the immediate south. Lessor conditions would be expected if it crossed to the north of our area.

The National Weather Service categorizes hurricanes by intensity on a scale of 1 to 5; which include:

FACTS

--What to expect following a direct hit of a hurricane:

Polluted water, limited communications, no electricity, sewers backed up and overflowing, structures undermined, severe erosion to shorelines.

--Breakers coming ashore in a hurricane travel at about one-half the speed of winds in the storm. Relating this to pressure created by the breakers, that means an impact of 10,000 pounds of pressure per square foot.

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit

Experts recommend a disaster supplies kit for the home, with a smaller version for the car. The home kit should be stored in a convenient place known to all family members. Food, water and other time sensitive items need to be replaced twice a year, perhaps most conveniently when clocks are reset in spring and fall.

Store three days' worth of water

(one gallon per person per day)

Water should be stored in clean, sanitized containers with tight fitting screw-on caps. Clean containers with a sanitizing solution of one teaspoon household liquid bleach in one gallon of water. Pour this solution into the containers, let stand for two minutes, drain, then fill with tap water. Water containers should be labeled, stored in a cool, dark place, and the water replaced every six months.

Set aside a three-day supply of non-perishable foods

Choose foods that do not need mixing or cooking with water, such as:

• ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
• canned juices, milk, soup
• staples, such as sugar, salt and pepper
• high-energy foods, such as peanut butter, jelly, trail mix, granola bars
• vitamins
• infant foods or foods for special dietary needs
• comfort foods, such as cookies, candy, sweetened cereals, coffee and tea.

Buy or assemble a first aid kit

If purchasing a kit, select one approved by the American Red Cross. Kits assembled at home should include items most likely to be needed in an emergency, such as:

• sterile adhesive bandages and gauze pads in assorted sizes
• adhesive tape
• triangular and roller bandages
• scissors, tweezers, needles, safety pins
• moistened towelettes (antibacterial, if available)
• antiseptic, antibacterial ointment
• thermometer
• tongue depressors
• sunscreen
• petroleum jelly or lubricant
• soap
• latex gloves
• aspirin or other pain reliever
• anti-diarrhea medication/laxatives
• antacid

Select appropriate tools and supplies

• battery-operated radio and flashlight (and extra batteries for both)
• non-electric can opener
• utility knife
• map of the area
• cash, checks or traveler's checks in waterproof container
• fire extinguisher
• pliers, heavy duty tape
• shut-off wrench for utilities
• matches (in water-proof container)
• needles and thread; paper and pencil
• aluminum foil, plastic storage containers
• mess kits with paper plates, cups, plastic utensils
• toilet paper, soap, dishwashing detergent, feminine hygiene supplies, personal hygiene items
• plastic garbage bags, plastic bucket with lid (for temporary toilet)
• regular household liquid bleach for disinfecting (5.25% solution sodium hypochlorite--not scented or colorsafe). Replace with fresh product twice a year.

Set aside clothing and bedding supplies for the entire family

Supplies should include at least one change of clothes for each family member, including comfortable shoes, and blanket or sleeping bag. Other items might include rain gear, hats and gloves, work boots, and sunglasses.

Don't forget special needs

Different family members have different needs. Remember such things as baby formula, food and diapers, prescription medications and glasses, and favorite stuffed animals for children.

HOW TO PURIFY DRINKING WATER

BOILING METHOD:

Boiling is the preferred way to purify water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before drinking.

Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth between two clean containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water.

BLEACH METHOD:

When boiling water is not possible, filter water, letting particles settle out. Pour off clear water. Add regular household liquid bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite, such as Clorox bleach-not scented or colorsafe), as follows:

4 drops regular liquid bleach per quart of water
16 drops regular liquid bleach per gallon of water
1 teaspoon regular liquid bleach per 5 gallons of water

Mix well; wait 30 minutes. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat and wait 15 more minutes.