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Essential Safety Tips for Those in Hurricane
Areas
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Advance
Preparations |
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Keep
your home in good repair
- Make
sure your address number is clearly marked on
your home.
- Check
and secure all of your manufactured home's tie-downs.
- Secure
any loose roofing and siding.
- Trim
dead or broken branches from trees.
- Purchase these
materials to secure your home:
- Plywood
- Shutters
and/or protective window film
- Plastic
sheeting
- Nails
Become
familiar with your insurance
- Do
you have homeowners and flood insurance? You'll
need coverage for the kinds of damage that you
may suffer. Check with your insurance representative
if you are unsure about the coverages you have.
Most homeowners insurance policies do not include
flood insurance, but many areas are eligible
for a flood policy through the government's
National
Flood Insurance Program.
- Inventory
your property. You'll need proof of ownership
if you have to file a claim. Use a video recorder
or a camera to take an inventory of both the
inside and outside of your home. Store the information
with your insurance policy in a safe deposit
box, and send a copy to a relative who lives
out of the local area. Update your inventory
regularly.
- When
a disaster threatens, most insurance companies
will not issue any new policies. The time to
buy insurance is before a disaster strikes,
not when a severe weather update is broadcast
over the radio.
Build
a survival kit
- Food.
Store at least a two-week supply of non-perishable
foods and special dietary foods, if necessary.
Store a manual can opener with the food supply.
- Drinking
water. Have at least one gallon per person per
day for two weeks.
- Flashlights
for each person in your family.
- Portable
radio and batteries.
- First
aid book and kit.
- Two
coolers. One for food, the other to hold ice.
Ice is a precious commodity before and after
a storm.
- Plastic
tarp for roof or window repair, screening, garbage
bags and tools.
- Water
purification tablets, plain chlorine and iodine.
- Infant
necessities, such as diapers, formula and plastic
bags.
- Sleeping
gear. Include pillows, blankets, sleeping bags,
air mattresses or cots.
- Extra
clothing, shoes and a spare pair of eyeglasses.
Include
last-minute survival kit items
- Cash.
With no power, banks may be temporarily closed,
checks and credit cards may not be accepted,
and ATMs may not be in operation.
- Prescription
medicines. Have at least a four-week supply.
- Batteries
for flashlights and portable radio.
- Important
papers: drivers' licenses, special medical information,
insurance policies, personal belongings' inventories,
titles and social security cards.
- Camera
with film or video recorder.
Plan
ahead for evacuation
- Decide
ahead of time where you'll go when you evacuate.
If you don't go to an official shelter, map
out your evacuation route. Evacuation route
signs might not be posted.
- If
your children are in school, find out where
they will be sent when an evacuation is announced.
- Ask
a friend or relative outside your area to be
your family's contact person. If the situation
is grave enough where your family can't evacuate
together, have everyone call the contact person
to say they are safe.
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Hurricane winds and rain can cause
major damage when they come ashore. If you live in a vulnerable
area, follow these important safety tips.
Prepare in advance
It's important to plan an emergency strategy ahead of time
and talk about it with your family. Preparing ahead of time
helps you avoid the panicked rushes to buy basic supplies
when a severe storm threatens an area.
Prepare your home and familiarize yourself
with your insurance coverage. Also build a basic survival
kit and make evacuation plans long before a storm hits. It's
especially important to make your evacuation plans early if
you or a family member have a disability or special medical
needs, or if you have young children or pets that must be
cared for if you evacuate your home.
When disaster approaches
Remain calm and follow your emergency strategy. Listen to
your radio for weather updates and check your survival kit.
If you have time, purchase your last-minute survival items.
Things to do before the storm strikes
include:
- Fill your car's gas tank and check
the oil, water and tires.
- Get cash if you need to. ATMs are
often shut down by storms for a few days.
- Make sure your home is prepared.
Walk around the yard and pick up all loose objects, like
lawn ornaments and furniture.
- Protect your windows.
- Lower or remove TV and radio antennas
if you can.
- Place valuable belongings on tables
or higher pieces of furniture to protect them from any post-storm
flooding.
Evacuate if necessary
Almost every year some people along the Gulf and Atlantic
coasts are evacuated because of an approaching hurricane.
Know what your local emergency management or civil defense
office recommends for your community. Let friends or family
members know in advance where you will go if you have to evacuate.
Follow the emergency information instructions
on your radio or television. You may have to move quickly,
so pack your emergency supplies and be ready to leave when
instructed. As you leave your home, unplug all appliances
like your TV, DVD player, computer, stereo and microwave. If you've
been instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity.
Finally, lock your windows and doors.
Pre-storm preparations are especially
important for special needs individuals. For example:
- Home health care patients should
let their health agency know where they will be during a
disaster and find out when care can be re-established. Patients
who are homebound and under a doctor's care should contact
their physician to discuss emergency planning.
- Make prior medical arrangements if
you require respirators or other electricity-dependent medical
equipment. If you require oxygen, check with your supplier
about emergency plans.
- Take identification, medications,
written instructions regarding your care, special equipment
and bedding when you evacuate.
- If you are disabled or will otherwise
need assistance during an evacuation, register now with
your local emergency management office.
Protect your pets
Most shelters can't accept pets. The exceptions are guide
or leader dogs. You'll need to make arrangements for your
pet, so talk with your veterinarian, Humane Society or Animal
Control office to find out if there are pet shelters in your
community.
Create a Pet Survival Kit. Include:
proper ID collar and rabies tag, carrier or cage, leash, at
least a two-week food supply, water and food bowls, any necessary
medications, specific care instructions, newspapers and plastic
trash bags for handling waste. Make sure your pets have up-to-date
shots, and make sure you have proof of vaccinations.
Keep your family safe
Remember, when a hurricane threatens, the most important thing
you can do is follow emergency management instructions for
your area. Protecting your possessions is important, but it's
most important to get yourself and your family to safe shelter
before the storm hits.
For additional information on Hurricane
Isabel, check out the National
Hurricane Center's site.
Find
out more!
You can pick up free copies of the latest
Foremost Insurance safety guides from your local Foremost
agent. For the name of the authorized agent nearest you, call
1-800-237-6136.
Supplies
for your survival kit |
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Food
items:
- Baby
food
- Bottled
water
- Bread
- Crackers
- Cookies,
snacks
- Canned
fruits and vegetables
- Canned
meat, fish
- Apples,
bananas
- Dried
fruit
- Canned/boxed
beverages
- Fruit
drinks
- Peanut
butter
Non-food
items:
- Ice
- Plastic
forks and cups
- Napkins
- Diapers
and formula
- Can
opener (non-electric)
- Batteries
for flashlights and radio
- Plastic
trash bags
- Charcoal
- Water
purifying tablets
- Flashlights
- Candles
and matches
- Clothing
and bedding
- Extra
socks and underwear
- Pillows
- Sleeping
bag and blankets
- Washcloth
and towel for each person
- Soap
- Toothbrushes
and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Shaving
kit
- Contact
lens solution
- Hair
care items and mirror
- Dentures
- Sanitary
napkins and tampons
- Paper
towels, toilet paper
- Hearing
aid batteries
- Watch
or clock
- Paperback
books, decks of cards or small games
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First-aid
kit:
Keep contents of first aid kit in a waterproof
metal or plastic box.
- Prescription
medicines (four-week supply)
- Bandages
- Antiseptic
- Adhesive
tape rolls
- Aspirin
or acetaminophen
- Children's
aspirin or acetaminophen
- Insect
repellent
- First
aid handbook
- Scissors
- Antibacterial
soap
- Safety
pins
- Thermometer
- Needle
(for splinters)
Baby
items:
- Small
toys -- don't forget favorite stuffed
animals
- Clothes
- Diapers
and baby wipes
- Milk
or formula
- Powders,
creams or ointments
- Bottles
and nipples
- Baby
food
- Sheets,
blankets, rubber pads
- Portable
crib
- Plastic
bags
- Pacifiers
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