Hurricane Season Starts June 1? Are You prepared?
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009
by Laura Trahan
It is that time of the year again where we sit in wonder of how many storms are coming to the states and how big will they be this time.
After surviving Ike, I am starting early to be prepared. Ike taught me a lot in terms of preparing for hurricanes, but it also taught me a lot about compassion and the importance of caring for others.
Do you have your emergency supply kit? Is it stocked with items such as: water, food, hand-cranked or battery operated radio, flashlight, whistle, batteries, first aid kit, cell phone with car chargers, pliers, can openers and local maps.
You might be asking why in the world you would need a whistle? It is to signal for help if the worse happens and you find your family trapped.
Also, do you know how much water and food you should have stored? A good rule of thumb is to have one gallon of water per person for three days. Also a three day supply of perishable food is suggested. Since we are discussing food, it is not a bad idea to have charcoal stored for grills. You will be surprised when there is no electricity or distractions how much fun it is to have a neighborhood party grilling out all the food about to go bad in your refrigerator and freezer.
Another tip is to have your camping gear accessible. You will be surprised how much you can do with your camping equipment. Get out the lanterns, cooking accessories and have a fun neighborhood camp out or head to drier ground and have a family camp out.
You may also want to put prescriptions, clothes, games, personal items in an easy place to get to. You will be surprised how fast your kids get bored with no electronic technology working.
Do you have a stocked to-go bag? A to-go bag is necessary in case the need does arise to evacuate. If it does, make sure you know the routes assigned so you are not holding up traffic. Items in this bag should include water, food, clothes, important documents such as insurance, pictures of family and pets, flashlights, maps, etc.
Finally, do you and your family have an emergency plan in place? When a hurricane hits, do you know how to get in touch with family members? Do you have a meeting place planned? Do you know your children's emergency plans at school? Do you know yours at work?
June 1 is coming quickly. Are you ready for hurricane season? Is your family? Maybe now is the time to meet and start stocking up on supplies. For a complete list of suggested actions, visit the government site, www.ready.gov
Hope this hurricane season is a hurricane free one, but I haven't experienced one of those yet. Be prepared!
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