Develop an
Emergency Plan
· Include answers
to questions like: What do I need to do
to secure my home, car and boat, and who will help me? Where am I going to
stay during the hurricane and what are the evacuation routes? Where will my pets
stay? If I plan to stay at
home, what do I need to do to be prepared and where in my home will I ride out
the storm? Emergency operations officials urge residents to prepare to be
self-sufficient for up to 14 days – without running water or electricity. Review your emergency
plan with your family. Photograph or
videotape your home – inside and outside – for insurance purposes.
Address Special
Needs
If you or anyone you
know has special needs in case of evacuation, contact your local emergency
management office. Find the phone number at FEMA.gov. If someone
in your home is dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining medical
equipment, review your family emergency plan for back-up power or make
arrangements to relocate when a storm warning is issued.
Gather Documentation
Gather
important documents and put them in a waterproof container.
·
Insurance policies
·
Health cards
·
List of medications
·
Birth certificates
·
List of important phone numbers
·
Your FPL account number
Gather Supplies
·
Purchase bottled water.
·
Gather supplies such as: non perishable food, non electric can
opener, disposable utensils, matches, lighter, medications and prescriptions,
personal hygiene supplies, baby supplies, pet food, trash bags, paper towels,
tissues, toilet paper, soaps and detergent.
·
Check radio and flashlight batteries
·
Obtain cash in case ATM’s are not working
·
Fill up your car with gas
·
Charge your cell phone
Make Safety a Top Priority
If you use
a portable generator, read and follow all the manufacturer’s instructions. Be
sure to set it up outside – not in your home or garage – and connect appliances
directly to it. Do not wire your generator directly to your breaker or fuse
box, because the power you generate may flow back into power lines and cause
injuries.
Do not
travel until it is safe to do so.
Immediately
call 911 to report dangerous or hazardous conditions. To report downed power
lines or damage to FPL poles, wires or transformers call FPL at 800-4-OUTAGE.
Stay far
away from downed power lines, and flooded and debris-laden areas that may be
hiding downed power lines. Do not touch anything that may be touching a downed
power line.
If your
roof or windows leak, water in your walls and ceiling may come into contact
with electrical wiring. Immediately turn off your circuit breakers, disconnect
all electrical appliances that are still plugged in and turn off all wall
switches. Remember, never stand in water while operating switches or unplugging
any electrical device.
Don’t use
candles; use battery-operated flashlights and lanterns instead.
Be
cautious when using a grill, portable stove or other emergency cooking devices.
Make
emergency repairs only when it is safe to do so. Repairs that prevent looting
or further damage should have top priority, but only if the repair can be done
safely.