Severe Weather Preparedness - Your Family Plan

Your family needs to be prepared with a disaster plan at the beginning of hurricane season. Taking time now to develop your plan will save time, stress, even lives. Use the resources in this guide to develop your family plan.

Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan

• Decide ahead of time where to go if you are told to evacuate. Due to the unpredictability of storm tracks, choose several places; a friend's or relative’s home in another town, a motel, or as a last resort, a Red Cross shelter.
• Keep handy the telephone numbers of these places as well as a road map. You may need to take alternate routes if major roads are closed or clogged.
• Take these items with you when evacuating:
  • Prescription medications and medical supplies
  • Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows
  • Bottled water, battery-operated radio and extra batteries, first aid kit, flashlight
  • Car keys and maps
  • Documents, including driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit for Your Home Including the Following Items:

• First aid kit and essential medications.
• Canned food and can opener.
• At least three gallons of water per person.
• Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags.
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
• Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members.
• Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas and water if authorities advise you to do so.

Prepare for High Winds

• Locate your hurricane shutters, installation hardware, and tools or purchase precut 1/2"-5/8” outdoor plywood boards for each window of your home. Install anchors for the plywood and pre-drill holes in the plywood so that you can put it up quickly.
• Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through.

Know What to Do When a Hurricane WATCH Is Issued

• Prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.
• Prepare to cover all windows of your home. If shutters have not been installed, use precut plywood as described above. Note: Tape does not prevent windows from breaking, so taping windows is not recommended.
• Fill your car's gas tank.
• Recheck manufactured home tie-downs.
• Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.

Know What to Do When a Hurricane WARNING Is Issued

• Listen to the advice of local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so.
• Complete preparation activities.
• If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows.
• Be aware that the calm "eye" is deceptive; the storm is not over. The worst part of the storm will happen once the eye passes over and the winds blow from the opposite direction. Trees, shrubs, buildings, and other objects damaged by the first winds can be broken or destroyed by the second winds.
• Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during a hurricane and after it passes over. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows.
• 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.

Evacuating

Make plans to leave as early as possible.

By Car – Bring maps or navigation system. Hurricanes are very unpredictable. If you drive out, the storm could change direction and you could be driving into the path of the storm. Be prepared to re-direct your evacuation. The later you leave, the more likely you will encounter long delays & traffic jams. Leave early and have a backup plan.

Air Travel – Be prepared for delays, airport closings, full or cancelled flights.

If You Do Not Evacuate

• Install shutters or check shutters to ensure they are operable
• Stock up on hurricane supplies on the list in this guide.
• Identify a safe room in your house. A safe room has no windows and will protect your family if your house should sustain damage. Large interior closets, hallways, bathrooms, or stairwells make good safe rooms.

Hurricane Supply List

Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days

Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days

• non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
• foods for infants or the elderly
• snack foods
• non-electric can opener
• cooking tools / fuel
• paper plates / plastic utensils

Blankets / Pillows, etc.

Clothing -

• seasonal clothing
• rain gear
• sturdy shoes

First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs

Special Items - for babies and the elderly

Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes

Flashlight and Batteries

Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio

Cash (with some small bills) - Banks and ATMs may not be open or available for extended periods.

Keys

Toys, Books and Games

Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag

• insurance documents
• medical records
• bank account numbers
• Social Security card

Tools - keep a set with you during the storm

Vehicle fuel tanks filled

Pet care items

• proper identification / immunization records / medications
• ample supply of food and water
• a carrier or cage
• muzzle and leash

Important Topics

Your Family Plan
Hurricane Supply List
Important Phone Numbers
Generator Safety
Keeping Your Pets Safe
Eye on the Storm Blog