CERO- Hurricane What to Do Information

Useful Supplies:

Ensure that there is a reserve supply of tinned milk and food.

Hurricane Lanterns filled with kerosene.

Flashlight,extra batteries and matches.

Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries.

First aid kit and manual.

Keep supplies of clean drinking water to hand.

Non-electric can opener.

Essential medicines.

Cash and credit cards.

Sturdy shoes.

Ensure that roofs and foundations are secure.

Make sure that roof covering is properly fixed to the rafters. Roof sheetings must be properly fixed, preferably with long drive screws. Spaces between the roof and the support should be sealed off during hurricane periods. A high wind will lift a roof if it gets into the air space between the roof and the support.

Frames of Wooden Houses.

Wooden corner posts of houses should be secured to stone blocks by fixing stakes to the posts and driving them well into the ground. If the posts are resting on concrete blocks they should be firmly fixed to the blocks with iron strips embedded in the concrete. Houses should be protected against wood ants. Houses infected by these termites very often collapse in a hurricane.

Make sure that all family members know how to respond after a hurricane.

Teach family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water.

Teach children how and when to call 2-1-1 (Police), 3-1-1 (Fire Service) or 5-1-1 (Ambulance), and which radio station to tune to for emergency information.

Trim back dead or weak branches from trees.

Check into flood insurance.

You can find out about the National Flood Insurance Program through your local insurance agent. There is normally a 30-day waiting period before a new policy becomes effective.

Develop an emergency communication plan.

In case family members are separated from one another during a disaster (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.

During a Hurricane Watch: **A Hurricane Watch is issued when there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24-36 hours.

Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for hurricane progress reports.

Check emergency supplies.

Fill your car with fuel.

Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys, and garden tools, and secure objects that cannot be brought inside.

Secure buildings by closing and boarding up windows. Remove or call cable agencies to remove outside antennas.

Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings. Open only when absolutely necessary and close quickly.

Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles, and cooking utensils.

Store valuables and personal papers in a waterproof container on the highest level of your home.

Review evacuation plan.

Moor boat securely or move it to a designated safe place. Use rope or chain to secure boat to trailer. Use tiedowns to anchor trailer to the ground or house.

During a Hurricane Warning: **A Hurricane Warning is issued when hurricane conditions (winds of 74 miles per hour or greater, or dangerously high water and rough seas) are expected in 24 hours or less.

Listen constantly to a battery-operated radio or television for official instructions.

Avoid elevators.

If at home:

Stay inside, away from windows, skylights, and glass doors.

Keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries handy. Avoid open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light.

If power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce power "surges" when electricity is restored.

If officials indicate evacuation is necessary:

Leave as soon as possible. Avoid flooded roads.

Secure your home by unplugging appliances and turning off electricity and the main water valve.

If time permits, and you live in an identified surge zone, elevate furniture to protect it from flooding or better yet, move it to a higher floor.

Take pre-assembled emergency supplies, warm protective clothing, blankets and sleeping bags to a shelter.

Lock up home and leave.

After the Storm:

Stay tuned to local radio for information.

Help injured or trapped persons.

Give first aid where appropriate.

Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.

Return home only after authorities advise that it is safe to do so.

Avoid loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company, police, or fire department.

Enter your home with caution. Beware of insects and animals driven to higher ground by flood water.

Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.

Check refrigerated foods for spoilage.

Take pictures of the damage, both to the house and its contents for insurance claims.

Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads.

Use telephone only for emergency calls.

Inspecting utilities in a damaged home:

Check for gas leaks--If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

Look for electrical system damage--If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.

Check for sewage and water lines damage--If you suspect sewage lines are damaged avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid the water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.