Fact Sheet: Hurricanes & other weather events

Severe weather events, particularly hurricanes, can be dangerous killers. Learning the warning messages and planning ahead can reduce the chances of injury or major property damage. Hurricane Fran was a category two when it hit the coast and it was a tropical storm when it crossed Wake County. What you need to be aware of is the possibility of a hurricane like Fran but at the strength of category five.

Before

Plan an evacuation route if you live in a flood prone area. Contact the local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter, and ask for the community hurricane preparedness plan. This plan should include information on the safest evacuation routes and nearby shelters. Have disaster supplies on hand.

• Make arrangements for pets.
• Pets may not be allowed into emergency shelters for health and space reasons. Contact your local humane society or veterinarian for information on local animal shelters.
• Make sure that all family members know how to respond after a hurricane.
• Teach family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water.
• Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department and which radio station to tune to for emergency information. Also, you can call 644-6800 and dial extension 7344(SEII) for recorded updates about opening and closing times. Lastly, if you have access to the internet, you can go to soccer.com, click on the Sports Endeavors link at the bottom of the page and then click on Weather at the bottom of that page.
• Protect your windows.
• Permanent shutters are the best protection. A lower-cost approach is to put up plywood panels. Use 1/2 inch plywood--marine plywood is best--cut to fit each window. Remember to mark which board fits which window. Pre-drill holes every 18 inches for screws. Do this long before the storm.
• Trim back dead or weak branches from trees.
• Check into flood insurance. You can find out about the National Flood Insurance Program through your local insurance agent or emergency management office.
• There is normally a 30-day waiting period before a new policy becomes effective. Homeowners polices do not cover damage from the flooding that accompanies a hurricane.
• Develop an emergency communication plan.
• In case family members are separated from one another during a disaster (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.
• Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance(even better if out of state). Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.

Hurricane Watches and Warnings

A hurricane watch is issued when there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24-36 hours. A hurricane warning is issued when hurricane conditions (winds of 74 miles per hour or greater, or dangerously high water and rough seas) are expected in 24 hours or less.

During a Hurricane Watch

• Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for hurricane progress reports.
• Check emergency supplies.
• Fuel car and spare gas containers at the beginning of a watch. If you wait until a warning is issued, the lines can get very long and some gas transfer companies may stop their deliveries.
• If you have a chainsaw, don't forget to have plenty of bar oil and gas/oil mix.
• Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys, and garden tools and anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
• Secure buildings by closing and boarding up windows. Remove outside antennas if possible.
• Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings. Open only when absolutely necessary and close quickly.
• Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, clean trash cans, jugs, bottles, and cooking utensils.
• Review evacuation plan.
• Unplug your computer and disconnect its phone line to reduce the possibility of lightning traveling into this device.
• Try not to use phones with cords, a cordless phone is best. Lightning can travel through a phone cord.
• Moor boat securely or move it to a designated safe place(even on a lake, a boat can get damaged). Use rope or chain to secure boat to trailer. Use tie downs to anchor trailer to the ground or house.

During a Hurricane Warning

• Listen constantly to a battery-operated radio or television for official instructions.
• If in a mobile home, check tie downs and evacuate immediately.
• Store valuables and personal papers in a waterproof container on the highest level of your home.
• Avoid elevators.
• Stay inside, away from windows, skylights, and glass doors.
• Keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries handy. Avoid open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light. Anything with a flame uses oxygen and produces deadly carbon monoxide.
• If power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce power "surge" when electricity is restored. Particularly furnaces, heat pumps, well pumps and any other large items with electric motors.

If officials indicate evacuation is necessary:

• Leave as soon as possible. Avoid flooded roads and watch for washed-out bridges. Just 12 inches of fast moving water can push a car. One of the greatest losses of life in a Hurricane is caused by people drowning while trying to drive through deep water.
• Secure your home by unplugging appliances, turning off electricity, shutting off the main water valve and gas valve.
• Tell someone outside of the storm area where you are going.
• If time permits, and you live in an identified flood zone, elevate furniture to protect it from flooding or better yet, move it to a higher floor.
• Bring pre-assembled emergency supplies and warm protective clothing.
• Take blankets and sleeping bags to shelter.
• Lock up home and leave.

After

• Stay tuned to local radio for information.
• Help injured or trapped persons.
• Give first aid where appropriate.
• Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.
• Return home only after authorities advise that it is safe to do so.
• Avoid loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company, police, or fire department. Even lines that may appear safe may not be. With portable generators so popular, many people forget to turn off their main breaker - thus putting power back to an outside power line.
• Enter your home with caution.
• Beware of snakes, insects, and animals driven to higher ground by flood water.
• Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.
• Check refrigerated foods for spoilage.
• Take pictures of the damage, both to the house and its contents and for insurance claims.
• Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges. Many people have lost their lives because they have driven across roads that have been damaged and then collapse when a car drives across.
• Use telephone only for emergency calls.

Inspecting Utilities In a Damaged Home

Check for gas leaks

If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company(or 911) from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

Look for electrical system damage

If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.

Check for sewage and water lines damage

If you suspect sewage lines are damaged avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company(or plumber) and avoid the water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes. Remember, if you didn't turn off your main water supply line before the storm, the water in the water lines and the refrigerator lines may be contaminated (this includes your ice maker).

Mitigation

Mitigation includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or lessen the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies. Investing in preventive mitigation steps now such as strengthening unreinforced masonry to withstand wind and flooding and installing shutters on every window will help reduce the impact of hurricanes in the future. For more information on mitigation, contact your local emergency management office.

Three-Day Emergency Kits

The best time to assemble a three-day emergency supplies kit is well before you'll ever need it. Most people already have these items around the house and it is a matter of assembling them now before an evacuation order is issued. If space allows, expand your kit so you will have enough for 7 days. Start with an easy to carry, water tight container - a large plastic trash can will do, or line a sturdy cardboard box with a couple of trash bags. Next gather up the following items and place them in your kit:

Water

Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more.

Store one gallon of water per person per day.

Keep at least a three-day supply(a weeks is preferable) of water per person (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for each person in your household for food preparation/sanitation).*

Water purification kit or bleach. If you have water but are unsure if you can drink it, you can add plain bleach, non-scented. Use 4 drops of bleach per quart(or 16 drops/gallon) of water and let stand for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the water should have the slight smell of bleach. If it does not, repeat the process until you get a very slight smell.

Food

Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight.

Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supplies Kit:

• Mess kits or similar
• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
• Canned juices
• Staples (salt, sugar, pepper, spices, etc.)
• High energy foods
• Vitamins
• Food for infants
• Comfort/stress foods
• Non-electric can opener and utility knife

First Aid Supplies

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.