Hurricane Preparedness: What You Need to Know

Hurricane Irene is the first, of what may be many, storms that blow through the South and East coasts this year. Although no hurricane has hit U.S. soil since 2008, our neighbors to the south in Mexico and the Caribbean are once again preparing for the annual events.
Hurricanes, also called typhoons and cyclones, are a type of tropical cyclone. They are powered by heat from the sea that develops in warm weather, or tropical, areas. The winds produced from a hurricane can be deadly, as well as destructive to property. In addition, hurricanes can cause storm surges, where ocean water is pushed toward land by the force of the wind. Add a storm surge to high tide, and you can have fifteen-foot swells that can obliterate coastal property and cause severe flooding. Heavy rains are also a byproduct of any tropical storm, and Irene was no different.
No state is immune to natural disasters, be it tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, or flooding. There are basic steps to take to prepare yourself and your home, and they should be reviewed and updated annually.
The good news is that with hurricanes, you will get a 24-36 hour warning ahead of time, giving you time to review plans and make any necessary alterations. In the case of a hurricane, the CDC suggests the following steps:

• Review your emergency plans and supplies, checking to see if any items are missing. (see completed lists below and on page 2).
• Fill your automobile's gas tank or make arrangements for transportation.
• Fill your clean water containers. Fill sinks and bathtubs with water as an extra supply for washing.
• Tune in the radio or television for weather updates and listen for disaster sirens and warning signals.
• Secure any items outside which may damage property in a storm, such as bicycles, grills, propane tanks, etc. Place vehicles under cover, if possible.
• Cover windows and doors with plywood or boards or place large strips of masking tape or adhesive tape on the windows to reduce the risk of breakage and flying glass.
• Put livestock and family pets in a safe area.
• Adjust the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the coolest possible temperature.

Advance Preparation:
Documents: It is wise to have all important paperwork in one place. This would include birth certificates, immunization records, marriage licenses, social security cards, wills, trusts, insurance documents, passports, and copies of your driver’s license and all credit cards. It can be a simple binder or accordion file, or cardboard or plastic box. Keep it in a safe but accessible place. In the same vein, it is wise to have a record of your personal belongings, particularly those of value. It is recommended that you use a video camera and walk through each room, panning slowly all four walls, all furniture, and the inside of closets. Digital cameras make taking photos of individual items easy. Make sure you get both the front of an item, such as a TV, as well as the serial number on the back. Transfer both video and digital images to a CD or DVD and keep with your documents. It is wise to have a stash of cash here as well. Without electricity, ATMs and credit card processing machines do not work and cash can mean the difference between eating and going hungry, buying gas or running out of it.
Exit Strategy: Know where you will go. In some instances it would be a fortified community shelter, or it could be a relative’s home that is outside the danger zone. Make sure everyone in the household knows where to go and how to get there. If driving, make sure you are aware of alternate routes to take, as road closures or a mass exodus can make traditional routes unpassable or impractical.
Point of Contact: Often times family members become separated and cell phones are lost, left behind in the rush, or lose battery power. Make sure you identify a relative who lives in a different part of the state—or even a different state, to act as a point of contact. Make sure all family members know their full names, the city they live in, and their landline number (cell phones cannot accept collect calls).
Utility Shut-off: In the event of a disaster, you may need to shut off the utility service at your home (gas, electric, water). Gas mains are typically located outside a home with the meter. Water mains are also located outside, often in sunken concrete boxes. You should find and identify the shut-off valve for both, providing instructions for family members on how to operate. In the case of electricity, FEMA advises that you always shut off all the individual circuits before shutting off the main circuit breaker.Source:healthnews