Are you prepared for the hurricane season?

Hurricanes are strong storms that can be life-threatening as well as cause serious property-threatening hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes. Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane.

 

Be Red Cross Ready: Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

 

Here is the ‘Be Red Cross Ready’ Checklist: Your kit should contain items that provide comfort for a range of events from everyday scrapes to life-threatening emergencies.

1.                Prepare a kit with at least a 3-day supply of food, water and other items you will need in an easy-to-carry preparedness kit.

2.                Keep a 2-week supply at home in case stores are closed or you cannot leave the affected area.

3.                Remember to check your supplies every 3 months and replace expired or outdated items.

 

For a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children) for 3 days, you will need:

Water - 12 gallons

Food - 24 meals

Flashlight - 2

Radio - 1

First aid kit - 1

Medication - 2 sets

Batteries - 2 packs per kit

Multi-purpose tool - 1

Personal documents - 1 set

Cell phone and chargers - 2

Emergency contact info - 4 sets

Cash – estimate how much you would need without an ATM or credit card

Emergency blanket - 4

Map - 1

 

When preparing for a disaster:

-        Meet with your family and discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies most likely to happen where you live, work and play.

-        Learn where and how to turn off utilities like gas, water and electricity.

-        Identify responsibilities for each member of the household and plan to work together as a team.

 

Here are tips to take action now:

-        Prepare an emergency kit.

-        Identify a room or closet away from windows and glass where the family can take shelter.

-        Establish a plan with family members to meet somewhere following a disaster in case you are separated.

-        Keep a fireproof safe in a closet in your home or office. Label your safe with your name and phone number in case it is carried away by a storm. That will improve the odds of it being recovered.

-        Back up all of your important documents, both work and personal, in a cloud storage account. Keep hard copies in your safe, including financial records, insurance documents, passports, and irreplaceable keepsakes.

 

Know a Safe Place to Take Your Pets: Local and state health and safety regulations do not permit pets in disaster shelters. Exceptions are service animals.

-                  Check if friends or relatives, local animal shelters and hotels will accept your pet.

-                  Assemble a Pet Emergency Preparedness Kit that includes current photos of your pets in case they get lost.

-                  Help Emergency Workers Help Your Pets: The ASPCA recommends using a rescue sticker alert to let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers, and that it includes the types and number of pets in your household and your veterinarian's phone number. If you evacuate with your pets (and if time allows) write "EVACUATED" across the stickers so rescue workers don’t waste time looking for them.

 

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