JUNE IS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS MONTH

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.