Community Corner
With Isaac Bearing Down, Tips for Hurricane Preparedness
The Mid-Atlantic may not be in the crosshairs now, but the hurricane season is far from over.
As local residents mark the one-year anniversay of Hurricane Irene's brush with the Mid-Atlantic region—and as newly-minted Hurricane Isaac churns toward the northern Gulf Coast—now's as good a time as any to revisit some tips for storm preparedness.
College Park , which wreaked havoc up and down the Eastern seaboard. But the 2012 hurricane season is far from over, and some precationary measures shouldn't wait until a storm is imminent.
Just before Irene arrived last year, Patch spoke with David Milligan—College Park chair of the Citizen Corps Council—about ways to prepare. He offered the following pre-storm tips:
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- Visit the ATM: Take out some extra cash from the ATM. If power goes out, that means stores won't be able to use their credit card machines.
- Fill up your tank: Power could go (and stay out) at gas stations after storm.
- Clear gutters: Make sure your downspout is pointed in the direction that gets the water as far away from your house as possible.
- Get flashlights: If the power goes out, you'll be glad you did. Milligan recommends getting an LED lantern or some other hand-cranked device that runs for hours. If you already have flashlights, make sure they are in working condition.
- Secure loose items outside or bring them inside. You'll want to make sure there is nothing outside that can blow away and damage homes, people, or animals.
- Stay inside. Even after a storm ends, you'll want to stay indoors for a bit due to trees and power lines that could topple.
- Don't drive: College Park has experienced flash floods in the past capable of carrying away cars.
The National Hurricane Center also has a long list of pointers and resources available for storm preparedness (many of which are useful for other types of natural disasters, as well).
Below, find the center's advice on what to do before, during, and after a hurricane arrives.
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BEFORE THE STORM
Gather Information
Know if you live in an evacuation area. Assess your risks and know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind. Understand National Weather Service forecast products and especially the meaning of NWS watches and warnings.
Contact your local National Weather Service office and local government/emergency management office. Find out what type of emergencies could occur and how you should respond.
Contacts
Keep a list of contact information for reference.
- Local Emergency Management Office
- County Law Enforcement
- County Public Safety Fire/Rescue
- State, County and City/Town Government
- Local Hospitals
- Local Utilities
- Local American Red Cross
- Local TV Stations
- Local Radio Stations
- Your Property Insurance Agent
Risk Analysis
Online hazard and vulnerability assessment tools are available to gather information about your risks.
- Check your hazards risks with FEMA's Map Portal.
- Rate your flood risk with the FloodSmart.gov portal.
Plan & Take Action
Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected. Your friends and family may not be together when disaster strikes. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children or parents are safe? You may have to evacuate or be confined to your home. What will you do if water, gas, electricity or phone services are shut off?
Supplies Kit
Put together a basic disaster supplies kit and consider storage locations for different situations. Help community members do the same.
Emergency Plans
Develop and document plans for your specific risks.
- Protect yourself and family with a Family Emergency Plan - [PDF] [Google Docs]
- Be sure to plan for locations away from home
- Business owners and site locations should create Workplace Plans
- Make sure schools and daycares have School Emergency Plans
- Pet owners should have plans to care for their animals. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention offer information on animal health impacts in evacuation shelters.
- Prepare your boat and be aware of marine safety if you are on or near the water.
Health & Environment
Follow guidelines to guard your community's health and protect the environment during and after the storm.
- Review the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) health considerations before, during, and after a storm.
- Remember to follow the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) food and water safety guidelines during disasters.
- Review the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggestions for health and environmental safety in disaster preparedness.
Evacuation
- Review the FEMA Evacuation Guidelines to allow for enough time to pack and inform friends and family if you need to leave your home. FOLLOW instructions issued by local officials. Leave immediately if ordered!
- Consider your protection options to decide whether to stay or evacuate your home if you are not ordered to evacuate.
DURING AND AFTER THE STORM
Be alert for:
- Tornadoes—they are often spawned by hurricanes.
- The calm "eye" of the storm—it may seem like the storm is over, but after the eye passes, the winds will change direction and quickly return to hurricane force.
Recover
- Wait until an area is declared safe before returning home.
- Remember that recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process.
RESOURCES
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