This material is provided as a public service. Its purpose is to increase hurricane awareness. They key to survival is advance preparation!

Monitor storm reports.

Monitor storm reports on local radio and television stations. Information also is available from the National Weather Service's Hurricane Center website.

Make arrangements for pets.

Make arrangements for the safety of your pets, in case you must evacuate. (Most shelters do not allow pets. If you are weathering the storm in a hotel, contact the front desk for their pet policy.) Call the local Humane Society or your veterinarian's office to ask about pet shelters. Or, ask a friend in a safer location to keep your pets during the storm. If you have no other choice but to leave them at home, bring the pet inside the house. Leave plenty of food and fresh water for them. DO NOT leave your pet tied up outside (or inside).
Be sure to put identification on your pet. If your pet does not have a collar with identification, make one. For cats in particular, make a 'collar' from a 1/4-inch piece of elastic. Sew it to a size that is tight enough to stay around neck, but large enough to slip off when stretched, in case the pet got hooked on something. Simply write your telephone number on the elastic with a Sharpie or indelible ink.

Check supplies.

Check to be sure you have the necessary supplies -- for both your home kit and your car kit. In particular, have a battery-powered radio and plenty of fresh batteries to last several days, as you may be without electricity. In addition, have candles, flashlights, and lanterns on hand. Have a supply of lantern fuel on hand for several days. Keep matches in a waterproof container. Use the items safely. Never leave burning candles or lanterns unattended.

Fuel automobile.

Never let your vehicle gas tank get below half a tank, during hurricane season. Fill up tank as soon as a hurricane watch is posted. Remember, when there is no electricty, gas pumps will not work.

Store non-perishable foods.

Store packaged foods that need no refrigeration and that can be prepared without cooking. You may be without electricity or gas.

Store fresh drinking water.

Have clean, air-tight containers to store sufficient supply of drinking water for several days (1 gallon per person, per day), as the local water supply could be interrupted or become contaminated during the hurricane.

Protect glass openings.

Have shutters or lumber available for protecting large windows and doors. Have masking tape for use on small windows.

Buy materials for emergency repairs.

Have materials -- such as lumber, plastic, tape -- on hand for emergency repairs. Keep all receipts, as your insurance company might cover the cost of these items. Also, these receipts might prove helpful for applicable tax deductions.

Monitor storm reports.

Constantly monitor storm reports on local radio and television stations. Information also is available from the National Weather Service's Hurricane Center website. Log hurricane position, intensity, and expected landfall time/place using a Hurricane Tracking Chart. Rely only upon factual information; discount rumors. Use telephone sparingly.

• Hurricane Tracking Chart

Leave mobile home.

If you live in a mobile home, secure tie-downs, shutoff your gas line, water, and electricity, and leave immediately for a shelter or other 'safe' place. Mobile homes are NOT safe in hurricane-force winds.

Prepare for high winds.

Securely latch and brace garage door(s). Lower outdoor antennas. Bring indoors or tie down yard garbage cans, furniture, tools, plants, toys, or any other loose objects in the yard. Secure or remove awnings. These items can become deadly projectiles in hurricane-force winds.

Protect windows.

Board up or shutter large windows. Tape exposed glass to reduce shattering. Draw drapes across windows adn doors to protect against flying glass, if shattering does occur.

Relocate boats on trailers.

Move boats on trailers close to the house. Lash boat securely to the trailer, and use tie-downs to anchor trailer to the ground or house. Fill boat with water to provide extra weight. If you do not have a garage, relocate automobiles to an open area with few nearby trees.

Check boat mooring lines.

Secure mooring lines on boats in the water, and then leave them.

Store valuables and paperwork.

Store irreplaceable documents in waterproof containers and put containers in the highest possible spot. If you evacuate, be sure to take them with you.

Prepare for "side effects".

Storm surge, tornadoes, and flash floods are the worst killers associated with a hurricane. In a tornado warning, seek shelter inside and below ground level, if possible. If outside, move away at right angles from tornado. If escape is impossible, lie flat in a ditch or low spot. The surge of ocean water plus the flash flooding of streams and rivers due to torreectial rains combine to make drowning the greatest cause of hurricane deaths. Do not try to drive your automobile through water that is higher than your knees.

Double-check survival supplies.

Once again, check to be sure that you have the necessary survival supplies in order.

Stay indoors.

Remain in an inside room away from doors and windows. Do not go out during the passing of the storm's eye. This is a brief period of calm, followed by strong winds returning from the opposite direction. Winds can come up suddenly, increasing to 75 mph or more within seconds. The "back half" of the storm can be every bit as severe as (or worse than) the "front half".

Monitor storm reports.

Continue to monitor storm reports on radio and television. Unexpected changes might call for last-minute relocation. Limit telephone use.

Store extra water.

In addition to storing fresh (drinking) water, fill bathtubs and all available containers with water. You may be without water for a long period of time. You will need this water for washing and for flushing toilets.

Protect property.

Without taking any unnecessary risks, protect your property from damage. Move furniture away from exposed doors and windows. Cover furniture, computers, and other electronics with plastic. Unplug all electric appliances that you do not need during the storm. This will eliminate the possibility of shock (should water leak into the area) and damage that might result from power surges of electricity going on and off.
If using a generator, never connect it to your house electrical system. This could endanger you, your neighbors, or utility workers. Connect appliances directly to the generator with properly-sized power cords. Make sure that the generator is grounded, and follow manufacturer's recommendations for safe use.

Protect perishable food.

Power outages are common during hurricanes. To help protect perishable foods, open refrigerator and freezer doors as little as possible, to keep in cold air. Also, pack frozen foods close together for maximum efficiency. Do not take risk in eating perishable foods that have been unrefrigerated (or unfrozen) for a long period of time.

Remain calm.

Stay away from doors and windows, and remain calm. Play games with children or read books to help them stay calm. Your ability to meet emergencies will help others.

NOTE: If you lose power, turn off major appliances (especially hot-water heater) at the breaker. This will help protect your appliances from a power surge when electricity returns, and it helps the power plant better handle the load of power coming on in many homes/businesses at once.

Secure your house.

Move valuables that you cannot take to the highest levels of your house. Unplug all appliances; disconnect antenna, satellite dish, and cable service. Turn off gas at outside tank, water at main, and electricity at fuse or breaker box. Lock windows and doors.

Leave early.

Plan to evacuate early -- in daylight, if possible, as roads are often jammed with traffic. Learn the best evacuation route before a storm forms, and make arrangements with friends or relatives inland to stay with them until the storm has passed. Decide precisely where you are going; do not travel farther than necessary. Also, let your emergency contacts know where you are going and when you are leaving.
Never attempt to drive during a hurricane.

Get out of a car in floodwaters.

Flash flooding can occur well before the eye of a hurricane has passed over the area. Avoid driving on coastal and low-lying roads. Storm surge and hurricane-caused flooding are erratic and may occur with little or no warning. Don't let your stranded auto become your coffin.
Never attempt to drive through water on a road. Water can be deeper than it appears, and water levels rise very quickly. Most cars will float dangerously for at least a short while. A car can be buoyed by floodwaters and then swept downstream during a flood. Floodwaters also can erode roadways, and a missing section of road -- even a missing bridge -- will not be visible with water running over the area. Wade through floodwaters only if the water is not flowing rapidly and only in water no higher than the knees. If a car stalls in floodwater, get out quickly and move to higher ground. The floodwaters still may be rising, and the car could be swept away at any moment. During Hurricane Floyd, many people died in North Carolina alone from trying to navigate flood waters!

Take survival supplies.

Remember to take your Survival Supplies, along with driver's license(s); map to your destination; insurance policies; property inventory; medic-alert or special medical information; prescription medications (such as inhalers); spare eyeglasses and hearing aids (and spare batteries), if required. Also, be sure to take warm clothing.

Determine shelter needs.

If you are going to a shelter, take blankets or sleeping bags; flashlights and extra batteries; special dietary foods; infant, elderly, and disabled persons needs; lightweight folding chairs. In addition, it is a good idea to bring along a few books, cards, or games to keep your children occupied and calm.
Register every person arriving with you at the shelter.
Do NOT take pets, alcoholic beverages, or weapons of any kind to shelters.
Be prepared to assist shelter workers, if necessary. Stress to all family members their obligations to keep the shelter clean and sanitary.

Following a direct hit of a hurricane, expect to find the following conditions:

• Flooding.
• Polluted water.
• Downed power lines.
• Building debris (e.g., shingles, roofs, signs).
• Fallen trees, branches, and debris.
• Displaced snakes, insects, and other critters.
• Backed up and overflowing sewer lines.
• Severe erosion to shorelines.
• Undermined structures.
• No electricity.
• Limited communications.

Delay return to home.

If you live in an evacuated area, do not return to your home until advised by local authorities. Also, because public utilities might have been disabled to evacuated areas, seek advice from local authorities about turning back on gas, electric, and water.

Beware of outdor hazards.

Many hazards exist after the hurricane. Beware of loose or dangling power lines, and report them immediately to proper authorities. Exercise caution when walking, as snakes and poisonous insects often are displaced from their habitats. Torrential rains can cause washouts and undermining of roads, ground, and trees. So, inspect the terrain. Be especially careful when crossing bridges and roadways. These structures, if weakened, could collapse under vehicle weight.

Do not drink water until safe.

Water and sewer systems can be broken or damaged during a storm. Report such failures to proper authorities immediately. Do not drink water until local authorities deem it safe to do so. Continue to use your stored drinking water, or boil water before drinking or using for cooking.

Guard against spoiled food.

Refrigerated food will spoil if power is off for more than approximately four hours. Discard refrigerated perishable items. Frozen food will keep for about 48 hours if freezer door is kept shut. However, do not refreeze food that has begun to thaw.

Be patient.

Local authorities will be working diligently to restore and repair utilities. And, emergency services will be taxed. Report damage to utilities immedately, then be patient while they are repaired.

Help displaced animals.

After a severe storm, wildlife often are displaced from their habitat. Beware of snakes and poisonous insects, and be cautious when approaching other animals. If you encounter baby birds that have been blown from their nest, try to return them to their nest, if possible. Handle the birds as little as possible. For displaced or injured animals, it is best to contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. Call your humane society or veterinarian for phone numbers of wildlife rehabilitators in your area.

Notify your insurance company.

Insurance representatives will be on the scene immediately following a major disaster to speed up the handling of claims. Notify your insurance agent or broker of any losses, and leave word where you can be reached. Take photographs or video of the damage, indoors and outdoors.
Hardship cases will be settled first. Don't assume that your claim will be the same as your neighbor's. Policy forms differ, and storm damage often is erratic.

Apply for relief with FEMA.

If applicable, immediately complete an application for relief with FEMA. Be sure and take photos and video of damage to the inside and outside of your property. Also, have all insurance paperwork handy. For more information about the application process, visit FEMA's website.

Protect property.

Take steps to protect your property. Lesser rains and wind may continue after the storm has passed. Make temporary repairs to protect property from further damage or looting. Use only reputable contractors. (Sometimes in the chaotic days following a disaster, unscrupulous operators will prey on the unsuspecting.) Check the Better Business Bureau for information on particular companies. Keep all receipts for materials used.

Remember, recover is a team effort.

Responsibility for the cleanup falls to numerous local, state, and federal agencies. A local disaster coordinator/director or his representative will be on hand to help residents in this effort. But, in the meantime, help your neighbors. Recovery quickens with cooperation from all.

[Hurricane Preparedness]

For more information about hurricane preparedness, survival, and relief, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.