Lorrie Streeter

Hurricane Emergency Preparedness - Time to Come in Out of the Rain!



Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008

by
Survival Street

Hurricanes are powerful, violent tropical storms whose winds revolve counter-clockwise around a center of low pressure.&-; Hurricanes can be as large as 1000 kilometers (600 miles) across or only a few hundred kilometers (miles) across. They can bring high winds, heavy rains and widespread flooding to the areas where they occur. (A tornado is a smaller version of a hurricane and causes less damage.)

The center of a hurricane, called the eye of the storm, is a calm area of blue sky surrounded by strong winds (at least 120 kph or 72 mph) and torrential rains. Hurricanes can last for days or weeks and move huge distances. As a rule, hurricanes move slowly and stay in an area for several hours and therefore can often be predicted a day or two in advance of their landfall.

Most hurricanes weaken before they reach land or stay out over the ocean away from land. Tropical storms that do reach land usually hit the southeastern United States and the Caribbean between June and November, with September being the peak month.

When hurricanes do touch down on land they bring destruction in their wake. The most destructive effect of a hurricane is the storm surge, often causing serious damage due to flooding and high winds. The lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common problems among major hurricane disasters.

It is very important for families to prepare ahead when living in an area normally affected by hurricanes. The most important thing to remember when facing a hurricane threat is to use common sense. Prepare a family emergency plan so you and your family will know what to do in case of a tropical storm.

To prepare for a hurricane consider the following:
1. Safe exits from your home and neighborhood (practice once a month)
2. A meeting place to reunite with family or roommates
3. A designated person to pick up your children should you be unavailable to do so (have a secret phrase so children know when someone other than parents has authority to pick them up)
4. Contact persons close by and out-of-town (include name, address and phone number)
5. Health information (including medications)
6. Places for your pet to stay including vets, kennels, etc. (it is best to take them with you whenever possible)
7. Common risks in your area
8. Location of your fire extinguisher (know how to use it)
9. Location of your water valve, electrical box, gas valve and floor drain (have an appropriate wrench nearby for easy access)&-;

During a hurricane:
1. Stay calm and alert
2. Listen to weather forecasts/warnings (use a crank radio – no batteries needed)
3. Keep an easy to carry 72-hour emergency kit close at hand (near the door and in the trunk of your vehicle)
4. If necessary move inland and to higher ground
5. Stay away from the water to avoid being caught in a tidal wave
6. Stay in your safe place when in the eye of the storm
7. On a farm, it may be better to leave livestock unsheltered (so they are not stranded in a building when it collapses)
8. If you live in a mobile home seek shelter in a more secure building. If you cannot go to a safer place, go outside and lie down in a ditch or depression away from the mobile home and any vehicles

After a hurricane:
1. Check your property for damage and hazards
2. Make sure the building is structurally safe – watch for buckled walls or floors, holes in the floor, broken glass, etc.
3. Remove any debris that has collected
4. Check drinking water for contamination - don't drink it until you know it is safe
5. If flooding has occurred decontaminate your home (officials may provide advice on proper clean-up and decontamination and may assist if damage is serious)
6. Have the main electrical panel, appliances, and heating system cleaned and tested by a qualified technician before using them
7. Make any necessary revisions to your emergency plan to be better prepared the next time

By knowing your situation and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster.&-; Be Prepared – Before Disaster Strikes!


Lorrie Streeter, the lead partner in http:www.SurvivalStreet.com, a website offering high quality emergency survival kits, gear and information, has been involved in Emergency Preparednessfor over 25 years.  She originally became interested and involved in it through a program offered by her church.

Mrs. Streeter, desiring to raise her family in a safe environment, realized the need for emergency survival preparedness when she was first introduced to the idea. When health issues demanded she quit her job outside of her home, an internet business involving emergency preparedness seemed to be a perfect fit for her. So Survival Street was born.

Lorrie's motto:  Be Prepared - Before Disaster Strikes! - is one she continually strives to live by.  Through her website http://www.SurvivalStreet.com Lorrie continues to assist others in achieving this same goal.

This Article has been viewed 31 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Walter Rhett
 3 years 111 days ago.
40 fans.
Good list and a point-by-point guide! Have you experienced one--if so, add the spice of little bit of the personal/family/nieghbor's story!
» left by Sandra E. Graham
 3 years 109 days ago.
247 fans.
Great article, Lorrie. Some good information that we can all use. I live in 'Tornado Alley' so I know what it means to be weather wary.
 
thanks for sharing.
 
Sandra
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