Hurricane Preparation
Planning Ahead
To make sure everyone knows how to respond in the event of a hurricane, you might want to convene a family meeting or meetings. Topics of discussion should include:
Emergency Management Coordinators advise that no one should return to town until a safe return order is issued. Do not depend on your friend’s or neighbor’s assessment. Take advantage of your city’s web site and Connect CTY Service to keep track of your city’s status. If necessary call your city’s Emergency Management director. If these options do not work, you can call Bell County (254) 933-5587.
Authorized emergency workers can come back 48 hours after the storm passes. These people will help their communities assess damage. They are prepared to live without city services and utilities. No restaurants or grocery stores will open until utilities are operating. All utilities are dependent on electricity for safe delivery. Water and sewer services must be operating before citizens can return. Even natural gas service may be shut off due to leaks a storm. Potentially no utilities or city services will be available after a severe storm.
Other Links to check out:
http://www.brazoria-county.com/em/index.asp
http://www.angleton.tx.us/index.cfm
http://www.alvin-tx.gov/default.aspx?name=homepage
http://www.ci.clute.tx.us/pages/emergency-management.php
http://www.freeport.tx.us/
http://www.lakejackson-tx.gov/pages/emergency-management.php
http://www.cityofmanvel.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=77&Itemid=92
http://www.ci.pearland.tx.us/
http://www.richwoodtx.gov/
http://www.ci.sweeny.tx.us/emergency_mgmt.htm
http://www.westcolumbiatx.org/index.aspx?NID=27
http://www.angletonisd.net
http://www.cbisd.com
http://www.brazosportisd.net
http://www.sweenyisd.org
http://www.alvinisd.net
http://www.danburyisd.net
Getting
your food supply ready
Have at least a three-day
supply of nonperishable food on hand. Focus on high-nutrition foods that require
no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. Your foodstuffs
might include:
Optimally, a two-week supply
of nonperishable food is recommended. Though it is unlikely that an emergency
would cut off your food supply for that long, such a stockpile can relieve a
great deal of inconvenience and uncertainty until services are restored. You
don’t need to go out and buy unfamiliar foods to prepare an emergency food
supply. You can use the canned foods, dry mixes and other staples on your
cupboard shelves.
Keep canned foods in a dry
place where the temperature is fairly cool. To protect boxed foods from pests
and extend their shelf life, store the boxes in tightly closed cans or metal
containers.
Rotate your food supply. Use
foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies, dated with ink
or marker. Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in
front.
Keep a supply of cooking and
eating implements that can be used in the absence of running water or
electricity, including:
Securing
your home
Board up windows or attach
storm shutters. Taping windows will not prevent breakage, but will help reduce
shattering. Electric power may be off, so have a supply of extra food,
especially things that can be eaten without cooking, and a hand-operated can
opener. Thoroughly clean the bathtub, jugs, bottles and cooking utensils, and
fill containers with drinking water. Allow a minimum of 3 gallons of water for
each person. Check flashlights and radios. Make sure you have batteries. Check
trees and shrubbery, and remove limbs that could damage your house or utility
lines. Secure anything that might tear loose or blow away, including garbage
cans, grills, potted plants, garden tools, toys, signs, porch furniture,
awnings. Do not lower the water level in your swimming pool, or it may pop out
of the ground. Remove pumps from underground pits after all valves have been
closed and the electricity has been shut off. If the filter pump is exposed,
wrap it in a waterproof material and tie it securely. Add extra chlorine to the
pool to help prevent contamination (3 gallons of chlorine per 5,000 gallons of
water). Fill your car’s gas tank.
Is your home safe to stay
put?
If you don’t live in a
mobile home and your house is structurally sound and in a non-evacuated zone,
you should ride out the storm there.
Leaving your home when it
isn’t necessary adds to traffic congestion and makes it tougher on those who
must evacuate.
During the storm, it is
safest to use a battery-powered radio or television to monitor developments. If
you lose power, turn off major appliances such as the air conditioner and water
heater to reduce damage.
Stay inside and keep away
from windows or glass doors. Stay on the leeward, or downwind, side of the
house. If the wind direction changes, move to the new downwind side.
If the storm center passes
over your area, there will be a short period of calm. The wind and rain may
cease, but do not go outside. Remember, at the other side of the eye, the wind
speed rapidly increases to hurricane force and will come from the opposite
direction.
Wait for official word
before you leave your home.
During
the storm
Monitor your radio or TV for
the latest weather advisories and other emergency information.
Do not use electrical
appliances. Stay inside and keep away from windows. Stay on the downwind side of
the house. If the wind direction changes, move to the new downwind side. Find a
safe area in your home — an interior, reinforced room, closet or bathroom on the
lower floor. If the storm center passes over your area, there will be a short
period of calm. Do not go outside. At the other side of the eye, the wind speed
rapidly increases to hurricane force and will come from the opposite direction.
Wait for official word
before you leave your home.
Source: Federal
Emergency Management Agency, University of Florida Cooperative Extension
Service, American Red Cross, Tampa Bay Regional Planning
Council
Planning Ahead
To make sure everyone knows how to respond in the event of a hurricane, you might want to convene a family meeting or meetings. Topics of discussion should include:
- What to do about power outages.
- How to deal with personal injuries.
- How to turn off the water, gas and electricity at main switches.
- What to do if you have to evacuate.
- Where to meet and whom to contact if you get separated.
- Post emergency telephone numbers by the telephones.
- Teach children how and when to call 911 for help.
- Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class.
- Make arrangements for your pets.
Emergency Management Coordinators advise that no one should return to town until a safe return order is issued. Do not depend on your friend’s or neighbor’s assessment. Take advantage of your city’s web site and Connect CTY Service to keep track of your city’s status. If necessary call your city’s Emergency Management director. If these options do not work, you can call Bell County (254) 933-5587.
Authorized emergency workers can come back 48 hours after the storm passes. These people will help their communities assess damage. They are prepared to live without city services and utilities. No restaurants or grocery stores will open until utilities are operating. All utilities are dependent on electricity for safe delivery. Water and sewer services must be operating before citizens can return. Even natural gas service may be shut off due to leaks a storm. Potentially no utilities or city services will be available after a severe storm.
Other Links to check out:
http://www.brazoria-county.com/em/index.asp
http://www.angleton.tx.us/index.cfm
http://www.alvin-tx.gov/default.aspx?name=homepage
http://www.ci.clute.tx.us/pages/emergency-management.php
http://www.freeport.tx.us/
http://www.lakejackson-tx.gov/pages/emergency-management.php
http://www.cityofmanvel.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=77&Itemid=92
http://www.ci.pearland.tx.us/
http://www.richwoodtx.gov/
http://www.ci.sweeny.tx.us/emergency_mgmt.htm
http://www.westcolumbiatx.org/index.aspx?NID=27
http://www.angletonisd.net
http://www.cbisd.com
http://www.brazosportisd.net
http://www.sweenyisd.org
http://www.alvinisd.net
http://www.danburyisd.net
Getting
your food supply ready
Have at least a three-day
supply of nonperishable food on hand. Focus on high-nutrition foods that require
no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. Your foodstuffs
might include:
Ready-to-eat canned meats,
fruits, vegetables
Canned juices, milk, soup
Staples, including sugar,
salt, pepper
High energy foods, including
peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix
Vitamins
Foods for infants, the
elderly or people on special diets
Comfort/stress foods,
including cookies, hard candy, instant coffee, tea
Optimally, a two-week supply
of nonperishable food is recommended. Though it is unlikely that an emergency
would cut off your food supply for that long, such a stockpile can relieve a
great deal of inconvenience and uncertainty until services are restored. You
don’t need to go out and buy unfamiliar foods to prepare an emergency food
supply. You can use the canned foods, dry mixes and other staples on your
cupboard shelves.
Keep canned foods in a dry
place where the temperature is fairly cool. To protect boxed foods from pests
and extend their shelf life, store the boxes in tightly closed cans or metal
containers.
Rotate your food supply. Use
foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies, dated with ink
or marker. Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in
front.
Keep a supply of cooking and
eating implements that can be used in the absence of running water or
electricity, including:
Plastic utensils, paper cups
and plates
Manual can and bottle
openers
A heating source, such as a
camp stove or canned heat stove, and extra fuel.
Securing
your home
Board up windows or attach
storm shutters. Taping windows will not prevent breakage, but will help reduce
shattering. Electric power may be off, so have a supply of extra food,
especially things that can be eaten without cooking, and a hand-operated can
opener. Thoroughly clean the bathtub, jugs, bottles and cooking utensils, and
fill containers with drinking water. Allow a minimum of 3 gallons of water for
each person. Check flashlights and radios. Make sure you have batteries. Check
trees and shrubbery, and remove limbs that could damage your house or utility
lines. Secure anything that might tear loose or blow away, including garbage
cans, grills, potted plants, garden tools, toys, signs, porch furniture,
awnings. Do not lower the water level in your swimming pool, or it may pop out
of the ground. Remove pumps from underground pits after all valves have been
closed and the electricity has been shut off. If the filter pump is exposed,
wrap it in a waterproof material and tie it securely. Add extra chlorine to the
pool to help prevent contamination (3 gallons of chlorine per 5,000 gallons of
water). Fill your car’s gas tank.
Is your home safe to stay
put?
If you don’t live in a
mobile home and your house is structurally sound and in a non-evacuated zone,
you should ride out the storm there.
Leaving your home when it
isn’t necessary adds to traffic congestion and makes it tougher on those who
must evacuate.
During the storm, it is
safest to use a battery-powered radio or television to monitor developments. If
you lose power, turn off major appliances such as the air conditioner and water
heater to reduce damage.
Stay inside and keep away
from windows or glass doors. Stay on the leeward, or downwind, side of the
house. If the wind direction changes, move to the new downwind side.
If the storm center passes
over your area, there will be a short period of calm. The wind and rain may
cease, but do not go outside. Remember, at the other side of the eye, the wind
speed rapidly increases to hurricane force and will come from the opposite
direction.
Wait for official word
before you leave your home.
During
the storm
Monitor your radio or TV for
the latest weather advisories and other emergency information.
Do not use electrical
appliances. Stay inside and keep away from windows. Stay on the downwind side of
the house. If the wind direction changes, move to the new downwind side. Find a
safe area in your home — an interior, reinforced room, closet or bathroom on the
lower floor. If the storm center passes over your area, there will be a short
period of calm. Do not go outside. At the other side of the eye, the wind speed
rapidly increases to hurricane force and will come from the opposite direction.
Wait for official word
before you leave your home.
Source: Federal
Emergency Management Agency, University of Florida Cooperative Extension
Service, American Red Cross, Tampa Bay Regional Planning
Council
