The following information is provided by the National Hurricane Center, a division of the National Weather Service.
Hurricane Preparation
- A hurricane watch is when hurricane conditions are possible in a specified area, usually within 36 hours
- As with any storm, it’s a good idea to be prepared for potential outages
- Extensive hurricane information is available, while basic information follows for preparing for a hurricane
- Store your outage preparedness kit in a designated place so it is easy to find should the need arise
Some things to do or include:
- Store canned or package foods, powdered milk and beverages, dry cereal, canned tuna fish, peanut butter, crackers, etc. (at least a three-day non-perishable food supply)
- Water (for drinking purposes, one gallon per person per day; fill bathtub and other containers)
- A first aid kit
- Water purification tablets (these can be purchased at your local pharmacy)
- Bleach (without lemon or any other additives)
- Refill prescription medicine and/or medical supplies
- Candles, matches, and lantern
- Fuel (be sure to fill up your car’s gas tank when storm warnings are set)
- Fire extinguisher
- A battery-operated radio
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Toiletries
- A can opener (non-electric)
- Disposable plates and eating utensils
- Emergency cooking facilities
- Baby food, diapers, and formula
- A portable cooler
- Extra blankets or sleeping bags
- North Carolina has had more than its share of natural disasters and storms, including hurricanes, over the past few years
- The best way to survive and endure a hurricane is to prepare for it before hand
Your North Carolina Touchstone Energy cooperative offers the following tips to help you prepare your family for a hurricane:
- Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family
- Know your home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind
- Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard
- In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be in your home but within your community
- Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet
- These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles
- Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact
- Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate
- Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones, and make sure your children know how and when to call 911
- Check your insurance coverage – flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance
- Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a disaster supply kit
- Monitor the radio and make sure you have plenty of batteries in case the power goes out
- Replace its battery every six months, as you do with your smoke detectors
- Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes