Ramping Up Safety Measures for Hurricane Season

As summer moves into full swing, hurricane season is just beginning. Preparedness is a key part of any hurricane safety plan. You could experience power outages, damaged plumbing systems, limited transportation, or even personal injury. Don’t procrastinate or you may run out of time to collect necessary supplies. Waiting also means that you could be competing with others in your area for limited stock. It’s common for local stores’ shelves to be emptied and unable to get new supplies in before a hurricane arrives. Creating an emergency kit in advance with items such as flashlights, batteries, bottled water, blankets, matches, and non-perishable food can give you easy access to essentials and more time to get to safety.

Another easy step to take is to make sure that you have a NOAA weather alert radio. It will notify you when a hurricane or other hazard is approaching, and can continue to give you vital information about the storm’s location, winds, and future path. Not only can a weather radio provide you with important information before and during a hurricane, but it can also alert you to crucial projected path updates and post-hurricane announcements should the storm leave other communication channels unavailable. An emergency crank or a battery-powered weather alert radio is the most reliable option in this situation, as it will keep working even in the event of a power outage.

During a hurricane, it’s also important to take a few simple steps to protect your safety.  First and foremost, listen and follow all recommendations issued by local law enforcement. If you are not ordered to evacuate, weigh the pros and cons of staying in your home. If you decide to stay, make sure that you are fully prepared for every possible situation, including power outages, high winds, and flash flooding.

The 2013 hurricane season is predicted to be especially active so get ready now. Get your emergency kit stocked. Make sure you have plenty of fresh batteries on hand for your weather alert radios. And of course, pay close attention to local and national media since hurricanes can be predicted (and prepared for) days ahead of time.