As we enter hurricane season everyone should have a plan in place... Find this and more information emergency.portal.texas.gov/en/Pages/Hurricane.aspx Preparing for a Storm Have a Family Plan It’s important to plan now to protect your families, business, and property. Discuss evacuation plans with your family, friends and relatives BEFORE hurricane season begins, and review your plans from time to time. Here are some planning tips: •Start putting an emergency supply kit together and double check to ensure supplies are fresh. •Make a checklist of what you must do before you leave and review it. •Make sure you and your family members know how to get in touch with each other. Remember that phone service could be disrupted, so have a back-up plan such as an assigned meeting place, use of pagers, e-mail or other technology that does not depend on phone lines. In case telephones and cell towers are not operational, you may want to make a list of contact information on paper that you normally store in electronic devices. •If you plan to stay in a hotel or motel, make reservations and confirm your reservations before you leave. •Learn evacuation routes from your area before storm season. Plan for delays and longer drive-times than normal. •Call 2-1-1 to find out if you live in an evacuation area or you need transportation during a disaster. •Plan what you are going to do with pets and livestock. •FEMA for Kids •Texas Cooperative Extension: Preparing for the Unexpected Back To Top Have an Emergency Kit Having emergency supplies on hand in easy-to-carry containers will serve you well no matter what kind of hazard or emergency you may face. Supplies should include: •Non-perishable food •Water (one gallon per person per day) •Cash (remember that ATMs may be unavailable) •First-aid kit •Prescription medications and copies of prescriptions •Special medical items, such as eyeglasses and hearing aids •Toilet paper and other personal hygiene products •Photo identification •Copies of important documents and records, information to process insurance claims. Maintain in a waterproof container •Battery-operated radio, flashlight, batteries, NOAA weather radio •Road maps •List of phone numbers of family and friends •Blankets, pillows, sleeping bags •Pet supplies •If there is a baby, include formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk, medications, baby wipes, and diaper rash ointment. •If you have access and functional needs or have special healthcare needs, you may require additional items. •More instructions and guidelines for how to assemble your Emergency Kit. Back To Top Prepare Your Home Steps you can take NOW Here are some steps you can take to protect your property before a storm hits: •Find out the elevation of your property and check floodplain maps. •Check your insurance coverage. Most homeowner insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Learn about the National Flood Insurance Program. •Find out if your home meets current building code requirements for high winds. Structures that meet current high-wind provisions have a better chance of surviving violent windstorms. •Install commercial shutters or prepare 5/8 inch plywood panels for your windows. •Garage doors are frequently the first feature in a home to fail. Reinforce garage doors so that they are able to withstand high winds. •If you do not live in an evacuation zone or a mobile home, designate an interior room with no windows or external doors as a safe room. •Assess your property to ensure that landscaping and trees do not become a wind hazard. Trim all dead wood, and weak branches or overhanging branches from all trees. Certain trees and bushes are vulnerable to high winds and any dead tree near a home is a hazard. •Consider landscaping materials other than gravel or rocks. Back To Top Before the storm hits •Put up shutters or plywood on windows and openings. Remember that winds are stronger at higher elevations, like high-rises. •Move outside items to safety, such as patio furniture, plants and grills. •If your home is in a floodplain, move valuables and furniture to a higher level. •Put valuable documents in waterproof containers, and take them with you if evacuate. •Turn off electricity at the main circuit breaker or fuse box to protect appliances from power surges and reduce the risk of live dangling wires after the storm. •If the house is supplied with natural or propane gas, turn it off at the meter or tank. •Remove perishable items from your refrigerator and freezer if you evacuate. •Make a final walk-through inspection before closing the door. Back To Top Prepare Your Vehicle •Fill up with gasoline before you leave town. It’s smart to keep your tank full during hurricane season. •Check your vehicle’s fluid levels and ensure there is adequate coolant in the radiator. •Don’t forget your tires. Check for proper air pressure because hot road surfaces are rough on tires. Be sure that your spare tire has air and that you have the proper equipment to change your tire. Ensure you have a jack and lug wrench in your vehicle and know where they are in the vehicle. Your owner’s manual should have instructions for changing tires and flats. •Make sure to carry water and non-perishable food for you and your passengers in case you become stranded. •If you are stranded, stay with your vehicles and use emergency flashers. Tie a white cloth on antenna or door handle and raise the hood. •Carry a cell phone. You may need assistance. DPS help line is 1-800-525-5555 or * DPS (on certain wireless carriers). •Have a working flashlight and extra batteries in your vehicle.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 19:54:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015