HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS ARE YOU REALLY READY?

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS ARE YOU REALLY READY?

WHAT IS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS? IN ORDER FOR A COMMUNITY TO BE PREPARED FOR A DISASTER, EVERYONE NEEDS TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO BECOME DISASTER-READY. - STATEMENT BY DHS AND AMERICAN RED CROSS

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? FIRST LETS ADDRESS WHO EVERYONE IS FROM THEIR STATEMENT EVERYONE TRULY MEANS EVERYONE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO EACH ONE OF YOU

WHAT DO WE DO AS A CITY? KEEP IN MIND THESE ARE JUST A FEW. CITY IN GENERAL STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TAKE THE PROPER STEPS TO BECOME DISASTER READY EACH YEAR ANNUAL HURRICANE EXERCISES PREPLANNING FOR DIFFERENT SCENARIOS STOCKING SURPLUS MATERIALS DURING SEASONAL TIMES CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS TO STREETS, DRAINAGE, ELECTRIC AND WATER SUPPLY PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL COURSES POLICE DEPARTMENT ENSURING EVACUATION ROUTES ARE LABELED AND PREPLANNED EACH OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO HAVE FOUR DAYS WORTH OF FOOD CLOTHING AND WATER IN A HURRICANE KIT DURING HURRICANE SEASON PREORDER SUPPLIES (FIX-A-FLAT, MRE S, ATV S, ETC) ENSURE SCHEDULES AND STAFFING PLANS ARE CURRENT ENSURE COUNTY PLANS ARE CONCURRENT WITH OUR LOCAL PLANS MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALTERNATE LOCATIONS TO HOUSE OFFICERS DURING AND POST STORM OPERATIONS

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? IT ALL STARTS WITH EDUCATION (WEBSITES SUCH AS READY.GOV, FLORIDADISASTER.ORG, MYSAFEFLORIDA.ORG, NHC.NOAA.GOV/PREPARE/READY.PHP, AND SAVETHECHILDREN.ORG) CREATE AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN AND COMMUNICATE THAT PLAN TO YOUR FAMILY (THIS CAN BE MULTIPURPOSE AND SHOULD BE IN WRITTEN FORM) CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS TO ENSURE THEY ARE PLANNING PREPARE YOUR HOME (INSURANCE, LOOSE BOARDS, CHECK ROOF, GENERATORS, LOOSE DEBRIS, ETC) PREPARE A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT INCLUDING FLASHLIGHTS, BATTERIES, CASH, FIRST AID SUPPLIES AND COPIES OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO AND YOU PLAN NOT TO EVACUATE, HAVE FOUR DAYS WORTH OF FOOD CLOTHING AND WATER AND A HURRICANE KIT DURING HURRICANE SEASON FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

LETS TALK ABOUT EDUCATION MY MOTTO IS : YOU PLAY AS YOU PRACTICE, SO PRACTICE OFTEN! KNOW YOUR FLOOD / EVACUATION ZONE ( JAXREADY APP, COJ.NET ) SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR LOCAL ALERT SYSTEM (CODE RED, ALERTJAX, ETC.) OTHER ALERTS SUCH AS WEATHER APPLICATIONS ON YOU SMART PHONE OR DEVICE ARE ALSO GOOD TO UTILIZE SUCH AS MYRADAR PRO AND OTHER APPS OFFER ALERT SYSTEMS KNOW WHAT SHELTERS ARE AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA SEVERE WEATHER & TROPICAL STORMS, WHAT ARE THEIR POTENTIAL LOCAL IMPACTS

EDUCATION CONTINUED HURRICANE WATCH CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS HURRICANE WARNING CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN 36 HOURS STORM SURGE VS STORM SURGE PLUS WAVE ACTION ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION METHODS, DURING A CRISIS TEXTING IS OFTEN MORE RELIABLE THAN MAKING PHONE CALLS

EMERGENCY / DISASTER EVACUATION PLANS GOOD PLANS ALREADY EXIST ( READY.GOV, FLORIDADISASTER.ORG, ETC) HTTP://WWW.FLORIDADISASTER.ORG/GETAPLAN/FAMILY.ASPX INVOLVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY COMMUNICATE YOUR PLANS TO FAMILY PRIOR TO A STORM OR EVENT ONCE COMMUNICATED, FOLLOW YOUR PLANS UNLESS EMERGENT CHANGES ARE NECESSARY REVIEW YOUR PLANS AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SEASON TO ENSURE THEY ARE STILL ACCURATE

NEIGHBORS! CHECK WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS TO SEE IF THEY ARE PLANNING ENCOURAGE THEM TO IF NOT! WHERE ARE THEY FROM, DO THEY HAVE FAMILY IN THE AREA EXPERIENCES HAVE THEY EXPERIENCED AN EVENT LIKE A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE CAN YOU & YOUR FAMILY COMBINE EFFORTS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS PRE OR POST STORM DO YOU KNOW THEM WELL ENOUGH TO SHARE FAMILY CONTACT INFORMATION WITH EACH OTHER?

PREPARING YOUR HOME HURRICANE WINDS CAN CAUSE TREES AND BRANCHES TO FALL, SO BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON TRIM OR REMOVE DAMAGED TREES AND LIMBS TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY SAFE SECURE LOOSE RAIN GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS AND CLEAR ANY CLOGGED AREAS OR DEBRIS TO PREVENT WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY REDUCE PROPERTY DAMAGE BY RETROFITTING TO SECURE AND REINFORCE THE ROOF, WINDOWS AND DOORS, INCLUDING THE GARAGE DOORS PURCHASE A PORTABLE GENERATOR OR INSTALL A GENERATOR FOR USE DURING POWER OUTAGES. REMEMBER TO KEEP GENERATORS AND OTHER ALTERNATE POWER/HEAT SOURCES OUTSIDE, AT LEAST 20 FEET AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND PROTECTED FROM MOISTURE; AND NEVER TRY TO POWER THE HOUSE WIRING BY PLUGGING A GENERATOR INTO A WALL OUTLET

DISASTER SUPPLY KITS WATER, ONE GALLON OF WATER PER PERSON PER DAY FOR AT LEAST FOUR DAYS, FOR DRINKING AND SANITATION FOOD, AT LEAST A FOUR-DAY SUPPLY OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD BATTERY-POWERED OR HAND CRANK RADIO AND A NOAA WEATHER RADIO WITH TONE ALERT AND EXTRA BATTERIES FOR BOTH FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES FIRST AID KIT WHISTLE TO SIGNAL FOR HELP

DISASTER SUPPLY KITS DUST MASK TO HELP FILTER CONTAMINATED AIR AND PLASTIC SHEETING AND DUCT TAPE TO SHELTER-IN-PLACE MOIST TOWELETTES, GARBAGE BAGS AND PLASTIC TIES FOR PERSONAL SANITATION WRENCH OR PLIERS TO TURN OFF UTILITIES MANUAL CAN OPENER FOR FOOD LOCAL MAPS CELL PHONE WITH CHARGERS (HOME & CAR), INVERTER OR SOLAR CHARGER

ITEMS OFTEN LEFT OUT OF SUPPLY KITS PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AND GLASSES OR CONTACTS INFANT FORMULA AND DIAPERS PET FOOD AND EXTRA WATER FOR YOUR PET IMPORTANT FAMILY DOCUMENTS SUCH AS COPIES OF INSURANCE POLICIES, IDENTIFICATION AND BANK ACCOUNT RECORDS IN A WATERPROOF, PORTABLE CONTAINER CASH OR TRAVELER S CHECKS AND CHANGE FUEL IN VEHICLES CAMP STOVES AND FUEL OR STERNO

ITEMS OFTEN LEFT OUT OF SUPPLY KITS FIRE EXTINGUISHER MATCHES IN A WATERPROOF CONTAINER FEMININE SUPPLIES AND PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS MESS KITS, PAPER CUPS, PLATES AND PLASTIC UTENSILS, PAPER TOWELS CLEANING SUPPLIES (CHLORINE BLEACH DISINFECTANT & WATER TREATMENT) PAPER AND PENCIL BOOKS, GAMES, PUZZLES OR OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN TV ANTENNA (CABLE OR SATELLITE TV MAYBE OUT)

36 HOURS BEFORE A STORM TURN ON YOUR TV OR RADIO IN ORDER TO GET THE LATEST WEATHER UPDATES AND EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS BUILD OR RESTOCK YOUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KIT. INCLUDE A FLASHLIGHT, BATTERIES, CASH, AND FIRST AID SUPPLIES PLAN HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IF YOU LOSE POWER. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN CALL, TEXT, EMAIL OR USE SOCIAL MEDIA. REMEMBER THAT DURING DISASTERS, SENDING TEXT MESSAGES IS USUALLY RELIABLE AND FASTER THAN MAKING PHONE CALLS BECAUSE PHONE LINES ARE OFTEN OVERLOADED REVIEW YOUR EVACUATION PLAN WITH YOUR FAMILY. YOU MAY HAVE TO LEAVE QUICKLY SO PLAN AHEAD KEEP YOUR CAR IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION, AND KEEP THE GAS TANK FULL; STOCK YOUR VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AND A CHANGE OF CLOTHES

18-36 HOURS BEFORE A STORM BOOKMARK YOUR CITY OR COUNTY WEBSITE FOR QUICK ACCESS TO STORM UPDATES AND EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS BRING LOOSE, LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS INSIDE THAT COULD BECOME PROJECTILES IN HIGH WINDS (E.G., PATIO FURNITURE, GARBAGE CANS); ANCHOR OBJECTS THAT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO BRING INSIDE (E.G., PROPANE TANKS); AND TRIM OR REMOVE TREES CLOSE ENOUGH TO FALL ON THE BUILDING COVER ALL OF YOUR HOME S WINDOWS. PERMANENT STORM SHUTTERS OFFER THE BEST PROTECTION FOR WINDOWS. A SECOND OPTION IS TO BOARD UP WINDOWS WITH 5/8 EXTERIOR GRADE OR MARINE PLYWOOD, CUT TO FIT AND READY TO INSTALL

6-18 HOURS BEFORE A STORM TURN ON YOUR TV/RADIO, OR CHECK YOUR CITY/COUNTY WEBSITE EVERY 30 MINUTES IN ORDER TO GET THE LATEST WEATHER UPDATES AND EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS CHARGE YOUR CELL PHONE NOW SO YOU WILL HAVE A FULL BATTERY IN CASE YOU LOSE POWER

6 HOURS BEFORE A STORM IF YOU RE NOT IN AN AREA THAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR EVACUATION, PLAN TO STAY AT HOME OR WHERE YOU ARE AND LET FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE CLOSE STORM SHUTTERS, AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. FLYING GLASS FROM BROKEN WINDOWS COULD INJURE YOU TURN YOUR REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER TO THE COLDEST SETTING AND OPEN ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. IF YOU LOSE POWER, FOOD WILL LAST LONGER. KEEP A THERMOMETER IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO BE ABLE TO CHECK THE FOOD TEMPERATURE WHEN THE POWER IS RESTORED TURN ON YOUR TV/RADIO, OR CHECK YOUR CITY/COUNTY WEBSITE EVERY 30 MINUTES IN ORDER TO GET THE LATEST WEATHER UPDATES AND EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS

DURING THE STORM FILL YOUR BATHTUB WITH WATER SO YOU HAVE CLEAN WATER FOR CLEANING OR FLUSHING TOILETS SHOULD YOU LOSE WATER ACCESS SET UP "CAMP" IN A SECURE, INTERIOR AREA OF YOUR HOUSE AWAY FROM GLASS DOORS AND WINDOWS KEEP FLASHLIGHTS HANDY FIND A FEW ACTIVITIES FOR EACH OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT DON'T REQUIRE ELECTRICITY TUNE IN TO WEATHER UPDATES AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE DON'T TRY TO MOVE TO ANOTHER LOCATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM. YOU EXPOSE YOURSELF TO FLYING DEBRIS AND ROADS COULD BE BLOCKED BY WATER OR DEBRIS REMAIN CALM

AFTER THE STORM LISTEN TO LOCAL OFFICIALS FOR UPDATES AND INSTRUCTIONS CHECK-IN WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS BY TEXTING OR USING SOCIAL MEDIA RETURN HOME ONLY WHEN AUTHORITIES INDICATE IT IS SAFE WATCH OUT FOR DEBRIS AND DOWNED POWER LINES AVOID WALKING OR DRIVING THROUGH FLOOD WATERS. JUST 6 INCHES OF MOVING WATER CAN KNOCK YOU DOWN, AND FAST-MOVING WATER CAN SWEEP YOUR VEHICLE AWAY AVOID FLOOD WATER AS IT MAY BE ELECTRICALLY CHARGED FROM UNDERGROUND OR DOWNED POWER LINES AND MAY HIDE DANGEROUS DEBRIS OR PLACES WHERE THE GROUND IS WASHED AWAY PHOTOGRAPH THE DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN FILING AN INSURANCE CLAIM DO WHAT YOU CAN TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY, (E.G., PUTTING A TARP ON A DAMAGED ROOF), AS INSURANCE MAY NOT COVER ADDITIONAL DAMAGE THAT OCCURS AFTER THE STORM

REFLECT ON LESSONS YOU LEARNED FROM MATTHEW & IRMA WERE YOUR SUPPLIES ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN YOU THROUGH THE EVENT WERE YOU MISSING SOMETHING YOU NEEDED OR WANTED DID YOU INCLUDE YOUR MEDICATIONS IN YOUR SUPPLIES WERE YOUR FAMILIES SUPPLIES SUFFICIENT TO LAST THEM THROUGH THE EVENT DID YOU COMMUNICATE WELL WITH YOUR FAMILY OR DID YOU HAVE ISSUES