Be Prepared For Hurricane Related Emergencies

When a hurricane or severe weather threatens your home, it’s important to have a plan in place to ensure that you and your loved ones remain safe until the threat has passed. Follow these emergency tips to help stay safe in these extreme weather situations:

• If you have advance notice, remove and store all outdoor furniture, bicycles, or other items that could be picked up by high winds.
• Be sure to bring pets indoors at the first sign of a storm or severe weather. In the event of lightning or storms, pets can become disoriented or agitated, and can wander or run off.
• If you have time, take a detailed inventory of your valuables, including photos or video of possessions that might be lost or damaged.
• Plan how to communicate with friends and family if you lose power, and notify contacts in safe areas of your whereabouts.
• Ensure that you have a list of important contacts handy, including those for family members, neighbors, insurance company contact info and emergency numbers.
• Unplug small appliances in the event that a power surge occurs.
• Fill your car’s gas tank, and make sure your fuel supply for generators and other equipment is adequate.
• Ensure that you have your insurance information readily available, in the event that you need to file a claim following the storm.
• If shutters are installed, be sure they are secured. If needed, board up large windows and draw drapes across windows and doors.
• Take shelter in an interior room or other safe place away from windows and glass doors.
• Stay informed of weather developments and listen for emergency information and alerts.
• If you are instructed to evacuate, do so quickly and safely. Be sure to lock all windows and doors before leaving, and bring all important documents with you (including birth certificates, passports, etc.).
• Following the storm, watch for outdoor hazards, including fallen tree limbs and other debris.
• If you are using a generator, be sure to set it up in a dry, well-ventilated area. Prioritize what should be plugged into generators, and take care not to overload them.
• Be aware of flood warnings, even after the storm has passed.
• Stay away from loose or damaged power lines, and report them to the proper authorities.
• Check refrigerated food for spoilage.
• Boil water before drinking until you have been notified that it is safe to consume.