Hurricane Season: Getting Prepared, Part II

This week we will help you apply your knowledge to a safety action plan during hurricane season.

Basic preparation involves a simple kit of emergency supplies. You should include the following items in a secure container in an easily accessible spot in your home:

•Flashlight and supplies

•Radio (that doesn’t need to be connected to a power supply)

•Lanterns and other alternative light sources

•Batteries of different sizes for various appliances

•Matches

•First-aid supplies

•Clocks (battery operated or charged)

•Garbage bags

•Fire extinguishers

•Duct tape

•Waterproof/resistant clothing

•Can opener

•Bottled water for 3 days

•Clothes

•Blankets

•Work gloves

You may want to make more than one kit for a different location in your home in case you can’t access one of them.

After you assemble your emergency supply kits, create a plan you and your family build together so everyone is aware of what you should do. FEMA has a helpful guide here. Don’t forget to think through what you’ll do if you are not at home when the storm hits. Consider your pets and their needs, too (put dog and cat food in emergency kits and know the pet rules for local storm shelters). It’s okay to call your child’s school, daycare and aftercare facilities to make sure they have plans in place, as well. If they don’t, help them create one.

If evacuation is required, follow all of the instructions given by local authorities. Don’t wait around if ordered to leave the area; this not only puts you in danger, but also endangers the people charged with community safety. Wait for authorities to declare the area safe before returning home or venturing out.

If it is an option to wait out the storm, be aware of other dangers such as additional storms, like tornadoes, which can be spawned by hurricanes, and the continuation of the storm after the “eye” passes.