Deerfield Beach, FL Pier taking a beating during Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Preparedness will save you Time and Money
Keep this link handy for up-to-date weather
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at1+shtml/120644.shtml?cone#contents
If you are planning to evacuate, do so at least 48 hours in advance of landfall. The roads north are stop-and-go, cars overheat, run out of gas, break down, and people trailer everything but the kitchen sink.
The most important part of a hurricane plan is keeping track of your people.
Designate an out of the cone zone person to relay messages as they can, give them the list of names and phone numbers that need to be kept track of with directions of when to be in contact. Example: 1.)_________________________________ph____________________________
2.)_________________________________ph___________________________
3.)_________________________________ph____________________________
If separated, we will meet at ___________________________________________________________. (names)____________________________________________________________________________ must be accounted for at all times from the beginning of any HURRICANE WARNING until the time FPL turns the power back on. Keep all phones on a charger and turned on as much as possible during those times. Text messages often go through when cell service does not.
HURRICANE WATCH ISSUED
Trim coconuts from trees. These become missiles during hurricane force winds.
Photograph your house, and assets including the roof.
Prepare and freeze food portions (lasagna, cheese corn bread, soup, water for ice, etc).
Generator primed and checked.
Gasoline tanks (car and generator) filled and kept full.
Charge up portable generators.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED
Bring in loose outdoors objects; lawn chairs, garbage cans, plants, etc.
Set the refrigerator to coldest setting.
If evacuating, notify neighbors, family members of your plan. Leave phone numbers.
Collect valuables (computers, jewelry, photographs, etc.) put in high, dry place.
Decide where all vehicles will go.
Go help someone else.
OUTLASTING THE STORM
Close the shutters. Do NOT go outside.
Place towels along the front and back door bottoms keeping buckets, mops and rags handy.
Sanitize bathtub with bleach, and fill.
Put important papers and photos including Insurance info into a watertight case.
Plug small TV into a portable generator. Radio WIOD 610 AM, south Florida.
If the power goes out, unplug everything in the case of damage from a surge.
Designate 'safe space' in your house, pets too.
Place ladder next to the attic opening keeping a hatchet handy.
AFTER THE STORM
Don't drink tap water: boil 1 minute or use 8 drops bleach per gal, let stand 30 minutes. Repeat if water is still cloudy.
Treat all downed power lines as if they are live.
Standing water may have hidden downed power lines, keep out. Don't go out in the dark.
Poisonous snakes are homeless, need a home. Keep doors closed! Brown spiders too! Rats!
Protect and seal the house from further damage.
Take after pictures, inventory.
Separate debris into: yard debris, building debris, regular garbage, and trash.
Use repellent at dawn and dusk.
Plug in hardline telephone if you have one.
Dry everything possible, check for wet areas, dump standing water everywhere (mosquito breeding).
Go help someone else.
STORM 'CUPBOARD' SUPPLIES
$500. cash
First Aid kit and manual.
Chain saw (hard hat, goggles, gloves, shoes, tight clothes.) and special fuel.
Chain saw and generator manuals in plastic bags.
Hand saw and pruners.
Generator, cover, and lock, hard wire to the house.
15 gallons gasoline, oil.
2 tanks of propane.
4 large flashlights.
2 -5-gallon jugs of water.
Fan.
Canned, dry and pet foods.
Bottled water.
Dry matches.
Ice chest.
Heavy duty plastic bags.
Bleach, Peroxide, medicine dropper.
Toilet Paper and paper towels.
Throwaway camera.
Paper plates, bowls, napkins, towels and plastic eating utensils.
Manual can opener.
Rain gear, shoes.
Hardline telephone.
Extra set of eyeglasses.
Tarps, furring strips and nails.
nhc.noaa.gov
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