• WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A HURRICANE •
The three main safety measures to be taken during a Hurricane are-
Get BACK HOME IMMEDIATELY if you are outdoors
Take COVER if near a beach or an ocean body
Stay CALM and COMPOSED
DON’T PANIC
And don’t forget, be away from all ocean bodies.
BEFORE a hurricane-
1. As a "Hurricane Watch" and a “Hurricane Warning” are issued whenever a hurricane becomes a threat to coastal areas or even the inland, keep tuned to further updates on the same.
1. Plan a place to meet your family in case you are separated. Choose an out-of-state contact for everyone to call to say they are okay.
2. Develop a hurricane plan and a kit at home, in your neighborhood, at school, and at the office.
DURING A Hurricane-
If you are indoors and a Hurricane occurs-
1. Just be inside the building and ensure there is no panic in the house.
2. Stay away from windows.
3. Keep a track on the local situation through the television and the radio.
4. Don’t bother the police, the fire brigade and the local authorities for situations like tree falls as they are bound to happen, to save the emergency lines for actual and dangerous emergencies.
If you are outside-
Rush back to your home as fast as possible. If you are at a location far away from your house, try to get to your friend’s or relative’s house to avoid dangers to self and panic in the family.
If you are driving-
- Stop immediately at a place away from the ‘eye’ of the hurricane and beware of objects taken over by the strong marine winds, that may fall on your vehicle.
- If your destination is in the opposite direction and at a quickly reachable distance, you may continue and finish your journey.
- Beware, looters start functioning in such chaos. So, keep your vehicles and houses locked.
If you are near mountains or other unstable areas-
1. Be alert for falling rock and other debris that could be left free due to the hurricane.
2. If the ‘eye’ of the hurricane is heading your way rush to the opposite direction and take cover in a deep way or move down the mountain as fast as possible as there is no place where water is unreachable.
If you are at the beach-
Move quickly to higher ground or several hundred yards inland.
AFTER A hurricane-
1. If you are in a public shelter, remain there until informed by those in charge that it is safe to leave.
2. Safety checks:
- Fire or fire hazards.
- Stay away from river banks and streams until potential flooding has passed.
- Shut off power at the control box and stay away from downed power lines and report them to the power company.
- Report- broken gas, sewer and water mains too.
- As mentioned before keep a close look on the news on the radio.
3. If on road, avoid overhead pavements and bridges, as the soil supporting them might just slip down causing it to collapse.
4. Take photos or shoot videos of the condition in your house and around you, this would help you later for an insurance claim.
5. Even take care of your necessary certificates such as the Registeratiion Certificate of your car, property and other important belongings.
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