I now live in Charleston, South Carolina and my friends in New York are calling me how am I faring with Irene. I told them I’m fine. Luckily we missed the whole thing. We have some rain for maybe 10 minutes and some wind strong enough but not too strong to make you panic.
When hurricane strikes, high wind can cause downed power lines which disrupt communication for days. Supplies may take several days to come by because road can be impassable. So preparations are very important. For New Yorkers, you don’t have much time so get going.
Before The Hurricane - Assemble a Disaster Kit which includes the following:
Important family documents kept in a waterproof portable condition - Home Ownerhip Deeds, Insurance policies, insurance cards, wills, tax returns, birth and marriage certificates, passport numbers, social security cards, credit card account numbers, photo IDs, proof of address and home inventory list.
First aid kit plus any special needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities.
7-day supply of medication - essential prescription and information. Keep lists of the medications each household member takes, the reason and their dosages, and of all doctors' names and their phone numbers.
Battery-powered flashlight, a battery-operated AM/FM radio and/or hank-crank radio and extra batteries.
Food - non-perishable items that you would want to eat - energy bars or granola bars, canned goods (and a manual can opener), peanut butter or anything that does not require refrigeration and cooking with very little water. Have canned goods on hand with a manually operated can opener.
Water - at least 1 gallon per day for each person. Consider filling up jugs of tap water in advance in case stores are sold out of bottled water. If the power goes out, you may not have tap water access. You may need water to flush the toilet so keep gallons of water in your bath tub.
Clothing - a change of clothing including rainwear, sturdy shoes and protective gloves for each person.
Maps - regional road maps and evacuation routes. Make sure your car has a tank full of gas. Have an extra set of car and house keys.
Personal items - eyeglasses, contact lenses and solution, personal care and hygiene items, cell phones, few toys for kids and books to read in case you end up in a shelter for days.
Copies of credit/ATM cards and $50-$100 cash in small denominations. ATM and credit cards won't work in case there is power outage.
Pets - Assemble a Pet Disaster Kit to include medications, food, water, veterinarian contact info, collars, leashes, etc. Portable crates are a good way to transport small pets.
In addition to the above, make sure you have an emergency contact card and family disaster plan. Include a communication plan where members of your family can communicate with a contact person to let them know of your whereabouts. Understant that phone lines and email service may be overwhelmed so keep on trying. Have photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes.
Secure loose items in your yard, such as potted plants, lawn furniture and trash cans. Not only are you at risk for losing them, but they may end up being blown through your window or your neighbor's.
Keep storm drains open if you can safely do so. This may help keep water out of your basement.
Close blinds and curtains on windows, and stay away from them when the high winds hit.
Unplug unused appliances, routers, computers, TVs, etc. Power could cycle on and off a few times before failing completely, and when power is being restored, these surges could fry your equipment!
If you are well prepared, you'll be in a better position to handle a crisis of magnitude proportion.
During the Hurricane -
Listen to the advice of local officials - evacuate if instructed to do so.
Stay indoors, away from windows.
Be aware that the calm (the "eye") is deceptive; the storm is not over. (The worst part occurs after the eye passes over).
Trees, shrubs, buildings, and other objects damaged by the "first winds" can be broken or destroyed by the "second winds."
If outside, stay away from flood waters.
If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way.
If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car and climb to higher ground.
After the Hurricane -
Keep listening to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for instructions.
If you evacuated, return to premises when local officials advise that it is safe to do so.
Inspect location for damage.
Use flashlights in the dark, do not use candles.
Take Power Outage Safety Precautions.
Copyright © 2011. By Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady". All rights reserved. *ARE YOU PREPARED FOR IRENE?"
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