As we near hurricane season in the Atlantic, there should be one thing in mind and that is safety. After the devastating disaster of Hurricane Harvey that hit Texas many were in disbelief of the horrible trail that he left behind. As we still prepare for more hurricanes to pass, here are some tips to keep you and your family safe during this time.
- Seek Shelter.
Evacuation is the first and most important key to maintaining safety in natural disasters. Find the safest place to take your family and keep them there until the hurricane has passed. Remember to take pictures of your household before leaving and try to take as many personal belongings with you. The American Red Cross also offers shelters nation-wide to help protect you and your family during this time.
- Stock up on non-perishable food and water.
If you do decide to stay in your home make sure your family has food to eat. Stocking on up on items such as canned foods, bread, chips, granola bars, cereal and especially water can ensure you that your family will have food as you all wait the storm out. Make sure you contact your local grocery stores to double check on their hours of business.
- Stay Informed.
Technology helps us each and every day. Monitor these natural disasters as they come closer to you. You have the news, radio stations and social media to help keep you updated on all things that will be occurring during this time.
- Secure Your Home.
Board up those windows and pull out those sandbags. Make sure that your house is hurricane ready. And if you do plan on leaving, look into a security system that will inform you if there are suspicious activities going on while you are gone. You can visit www.adt.com to find out more information on home security systems.
- Stay In Contact
Many have family and friends far and near that care about them, make sure to keep them updated on your well-being. Even if it is just a text message to make sure you are okay. Zello is a new walkie-talkie app that serves as a way of communication when service towers are down. Use this app to keep everyone on the same page. You can find this app in your app store.
- Stay In Doors
Be sure to stay away from windows and glass doors. Take refuge in a small room, closet or hallway on the lowest level. Lie on the floor under a sturdy object.
- Survival Emergency Kit
Make sure you keep a well-stocked emergency survival kit in case you are injured or lose power. Be sure to keep the basic medical tools that are found in first aid kits. Also thing od the things you would need if you were isolated for or number of days or without power.
- Stay Prepared
Always know what is going to happen next. Expect the worst even when others think differently. Year round we should be always stocking up and taking great measures to make sure our home is ready for any natural disaster that is going to hit.
Aleya Bradley, Jennifer Coley and Sarrah Lewis contributed to this article.
