Hurricane Watch
•
Review your evacuation route(s) & listen to local officials.
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Review the items in your disaster supply kit; and add items to meet the household needs for children, parents,
individuals with disabilities or other access and functional needs or pets.
•
Now is the time to stock up on bottled water, juices, bottled drinks, non-perishable foods, bread, gasoline, and other
items. If you lose power, remember that you will need a hand operated can opener.
•
Consider purchasing a propane cooker for making quick meals, coffee, and other easy to cook items.
•
Consider purchasing several large tarps. These may come in handy for damaged roofs, or broken windows or doors.
Hurricane Warning
•
Follow evacuation orders from local officials, if given.
•
Check-in with family and friends by texting or using social media.
•
Follow the hurricane timeline preparedness checklist, depending on when the storm is anticipated to hit and the impact
that is projected for your location.
•
Buy several large plastic storage containers to store your precious pictures, documents, deeds, titles and other
important papers. Put these containers inside a closet located in the center part of your home. If you roof begins to leak,
these containers will keep your items dry and safe.
•
Have your evacuation supply kit put together and ready to grab should you be instructed to leave the area. This kit should
include: Cash, Insurance information, debit/credit cards, Picture IDs, Prescription meds (make sure you have filled prescriptions,
with enough medicine to last several days), GPS or map, Important phone numbers, enough clothes to last several days
for each member of the family, hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, brush and comb, razor and blades,
cell phone chargers, laptop or tablet and charger, OTC medicines, and any other items you use on a daily basis.
•
If you plan to ride out the storm, make sure you have plenty of gasoline for the generator and the auto. Buy several large
gasoline containers, and fill them up. 20 to 30 gallons is not too much. Store them away from the house, in a shed or
outbuilding. If it turns out you don’t need them, keep in mind gasoline can be used anytime in your auto. But, if the area
loses power, gas stations will be closed too.
•
Fill several ice chests with ice. This can be kept inside, and will be valuable during hot days.
What To Do When a Hurricane
Is 6 Hours from Arriving
•
Turn your refrigerator or freezer to the coldest setting and open only when necessary. If you lose power, food will last longer. Keep a thermometer
in the refrigerator to be able to check the food temperature when the power is restored. If you plan to evacuate, empty your refrigerator
and freezer of food. If the power is off for several days, rotting food can destroy an appliance. It’s best to dispose of the food rather than replacing
the appliance.
•
Turn on your TV/radio, or check your city/county website every 30 minutes in order to get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Hurricane watch = conditions possible within the next 48 hours
Steps to take:
Hurricane warning = conditions are expected within 36 hours
Steps to take:
•
If you’re not in an area that is recommended for evacuation, plan to stay at home or where you are and let friends
and family know where you are.
•
Close storm shutters, and stay away from windows. Flying glass from broken windows could injure you. If you don’t
have storm shutters, consider installing plywood over windows and glass doors. As a last resort, taping windows
will help. Although it will not keep windows from breaking, it will keep glass from flying.
•
Fill any large container with water. A bathtub full of water will allow you to flush your toilet for several days. Clean
garbage cans filled with water will not only keep them from blowing away during high winds, but will also give you
clean water to bath, wash clothes or dishes, or for pets. Large clean storage containers filled with water will give
you enough drinking water to last for several days.
After a Hurricane
•
Listen to local officials for updates and instructions.
•
Check-in with family and friends by texting or using social media.
•
Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.
•
Watch out for debris and downed power lines.
•
Avoid flood water as it may be electrically charged from underground or downed power
lines and may hide dangerous debris or places where the ground is washed away.
•
Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just 6 inches of moving water can
knock you down, and fast-moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
•
Photograph the damage to your property in order to assist in filing an insurance claim.
•
Do what you can to prevent further damage to your property, (e.g., putting a tarp on a
damaged roof), as insurance may not cover damages that occurs after the storm.
These ads cost
per
month
actual size:
7.125 inches x 2.75 inches
253 Frontage Road • Picayune, MS
601-798-8493
www.
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ms.com
