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 Storm
Survival
Center
Under threat - the storm's on its way
A hurricane watch activates emergency officials from the
federal, state, county and city governments, who begin putting their hurricane
plans into action. It should get you going, too.
A hurricane watch doesn't guarantee you will get hit by a
hurricane, but the probability is getting uncomfortably high.
Your chances of getting walloped are about one in four if
you live along the edges of the watch area; one in three if you are in the
center of the watch area. You probably have 24 to 36 hours before the storm
hits. Monitor the storm by television, radio, weather radio, or here.
If a hurricane watch becomes a hurricane warning, you are
most likely going to feel a storm within 18 to 24 hours. It may be a direct hit
or a glancing blow.
If you are going to a shelter, wait for radio or TV
announcements that the shelters are open. If you're staying home, finish all
your indoor and outdoor preparations right away and then hunker down.
Prepare the inside of your house as the storm approaches:
- Check medical supplies. If you don't have enough, go to the pharmacy now.
- Top off your food supplies, you should
need only perishable goods at this point to complement your staples and
canned goods.
- Check the first-aid kit, replenish any
missing items.
- Check your tools. Put them all in one place.
- Scrub your plastic water containers with household soap, swab with
bleach, rinse thoroughly, let dry. Then fill containers with water.
- Turn refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings. Start freezing
plastic gallon-size freezer bags and 2-liter soda bottles filled with
water. Do not open the refrigerator unless you absolutely must. A portable
ice chest can be used as a substitute to keep food and beverages cool.
- Identify where to shut off electricity, water and gas.
- Put valuables and documents, including a list of possessions, in a
waterproof container. Place your videotape or photographs of valuables in
there, too.
- Bring in pets. Make sure they have a two-week supply of food and are
wearing identification.
- To sterilize the bathtub, scrub with household soap, swab with bleach,
rinse thoroughly, and let dry. Seal the drain with a silicone caulking
that you can easily remove later. Fill the tub with water.
- Stock your safe place with a first-aid kit, small supply of food and
water, flashlight, games for the kids, blankets and a mattress.
- Review with family members escape routes out of the house.
- Make sure everyone knows where the fire extinguisher is.
- Stay indoors unless you absolutely must go out.
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Last Revised: October 27, 2007 05:01 PM. |
