Matzav.com Hurricane Coverage: As Hurricane Irene makes its way towards the U.S. and eventually up the East Coast, Tri-State residents are being urged to get ready.
So what do you need to do to protect your home and your family if Irene hits? Here are some hurricane preparedness tips everyone should know.
Stay Informed
You always want to stay ahead of the storm when it comes to information.
- Listen or watch local news for the latest updates.
- Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latestemergency weather information.
- Track the stormto see where it’s headed and how strong it will be when it gets there.
Protect Your Family
Every family should have an emergency supply kit ready to go in case disaster strikes. The Red Cross says there are several essential items that should be included in any emergency supply kit.
- Water – At least a three-day supply ofone gallon per person, per day.
- Food – At least a three-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-make food.
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
- Extra batteries.
- Flashlights.
- First aid kit.
- Medications – at least aseven-day supply. Your should also include other medical items like hearing aids, glasses, contacts, syringes.
- Multi-purpose tool.
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items.
- Cell phone with chargers.
- Copies of personal documents: passports, birth certificates, etc.
- Family and emergency contact information.
- Extra cash.
- Baby supplies.
- A whistle to signal for help.
- Local maps.
Protect Your Home
There are several things you can do to protect your home from damage during a hurricane, according to Ready.gov.
- Cover your windows with plywood or hurricane shutters to keep high winds from breaking windows.
- Bring all outdoor furniture or otherloose items inside.
- Reinforce garage doors.
- Install a backup generator for emergencies.
- Make sure you haveextra water on hand for cleaning, bathing andflushing toilets. Ready.gov recommends filling the bathtub and other large containers with water.
- Turn off propane tanks.
For more tips about protecting your home, click here.
Know Your Evacuation Route
In case you need to evacuate, you should know the best and most direct way out-of-town.
Below are resources to help find evacuation routes and other emergency information for your area:
- New York City
- Westchester County
- Nassau County
- Suffolk County
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
Stay Calm
People tend to fight over supplies and panic before storms hit. Keep your cool and plan in advance. Lend a helping hand and ask for what you might need without fighting for it.
After The Storm
After any severe storm, there could be damage, including flooding, downed trees, power outages, broken glass and more. The Red Cross says there are several things you should do after a hurricane hits.
- Stay informed – keep listening to NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts oryour local news for the latest updates
- Only return home when officials say it’s safe
- Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads
- Stay away from loose or dangling power lines and report any you may see to local power companies.
- Inspect your home for damage.
- Take pictures of the damage for your insurance company
- Avoid drinking or cooking food with tap water until you know it’s safe.
- Wear protective clothing.
- Be careful walking around damaged areas in your home.
- Throw away any spoiled food.
{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
dont fill bathtubs with water if you have little kids