Hurricane Preparation Safety Tips

Hurricane Preparation TIPS -- Metro Insurance Center (703) 420-8133September has historically been a time when Hurricanes hit Virginia and a good time to review the following Virginia Hurricane Preparation and Safety Tips.   The following information is intended to help to reduce the severity of property damage and bodily injury during and after a major storm.  Please share.The National Hurricane Center has some of the best information on how to prepare and recover after a major storm.    They provide important storm safety information during the Hurricane Preparedness Week usually at the end of May each year.  The following information is a re-post of their Hurricane Preparedness “Be Ready” page.   Please share.   

Hurricane Preparedness – Be Ready


 Virginia Hurricane Preparation and Safety Tips by Metro Insurance Center (703) 420-8133

 

Please be Prepared for Hurricane Season.

Preparedness Week | Hazards | Watches & Warnings | Be Ready | Marine Safety


Two keys to weather safety are to prepare for the risks and to act on those preparations when alerted by emergency officials. These are essential pieces to the Weather-Ready Nation.

Refer to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Ready.gov/hurricanes for comprehensive information on hurricane preparedness at home and in your community.

Some highlights on how to prepare and take action are available below:

Gather Information

Know if you live in an evacuation area. Assess your risks and know your home’s vulnerability to storm surgeflooding 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.

Hurricane Preparedness Checklist posted by Metro Insurance Center (703) 420-8133

  • 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.

 

Plan & Take Action

 Example Disaster Supply Kit post by Metro Insurance Center (703) 420-8133

Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected. Your friends and family may not be together when disaster strikes. 

Protect Your Home services are shut off?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

The Insurance Information Institute provides a video named Making Your Home More Hurricane Resistant: Five Steps.

Supplies Kit

Put together a basic disaster supplies kit (http://www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit) and consider storage locations for different situations.  Help community members do the same.

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Manual can opener for food
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Once you have gathered the supplies for a basic emergency kit, you may want to consider adding the following items:

  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Cash or traveler’s checks and change
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit – EFFAK (PDF – 977Kb) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information.
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or free information from this web site. (See Publications)
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
  • Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Emergency Plans

Develop and document plans for your specific risks.

Health & Environment

Follow guidelines to guard your community’s health and protect the environment during and after the storm.

Evacuation

Image of Interstate Traffic in an Evacuation post by Metro Insurance Center (703) 420-8133

  • 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.

When waiting out a storm be careful, the danger may not be over yet…

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

About 

Metro Insurance Center is a full service independent insurance agency representing over 3 dozen carriers. Although Roger manages all insurance products and services, he specializes in commercial insurance.

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