|
MEMA
OFFERS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TIPS
What Families Need To Do To Prepare For The
Hurricane Season
Framingham, MA - As we enter the 2008 Hurricane Season,
which experts are predicting to be very active, the Massachusetts
Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is offering personal preparedness
tips for the all of the citizens of the Commonwealth.
“Every home and business should have a basic supply kit that
could be used for any emergency, regardless of the time of year,”
states MEMA Director Don Boyce. “Everyone should keep certain
items asround the house in the event of a hurricane or other severe
weather. A portable radio, flashlight, extra batteries extra non-perishable
food, water and a first aid kit are all essential to help your family
weather the storm.”
Each household should have a supply of canned goods and other non-perishable
foods that do not need cooking, along with bottled water, extra
prescription medication, and extra food and supplies for infants
and pets. A manual can opener and a basic first aid kit are also
essential.
“All families should develop a ‘Family Emergency Communication
Plan’ to help ensure everyone is safe. You should contact
your local authorities to learn about potential evacuation routes
and the location of emergency shelters in your community,”
said Boyce. “It is important to familiarize yourself with
your Community’s Emergency Plans before an emergency situation
occurs.”
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state
agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary
and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for
effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency
personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry;
and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to
mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies,
both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA
and Hurricane Preparedness Month, go to www.mass.gov/mema.
HURRICANE DISASTER SUPPLY KIT
•
Canned goods and nonperishable foods that do not need cooking:
• Canned meats and fish
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Canned soups and puddings
• Canned fruit juices
• Dried fruit and nuts
• Bread, cookies and crackers
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Coffee and tea
• Manual can opener
• Bottled water (1 gallon per person/per day)
• Prescription medication (2 week supply)
• Extra eyeglasses
• Pet food/supplies
• Water purification tablets (halazone)
• Disposable plates, cups, and utensils
• Infant care items:
• Disposable diapers
• Baby wipes
• Baby food
• Formula
• First aid supplies
• Masking and duct tape
• Flashlight or lantern, with extra batteries
• Battery operated radio, with extra batteries
• Watch or battery operated clock
• Ice chest
• Matches
• Canned heat (sterno)
|
•
Portable outdoor camping stove or grill with fuel supply
• A certain amount of cash
• Important documents (Such as wills, deeds, prescriptions,
passports, birth certificates, health record, proof of address,
Social Security number)
• Plastic trash bags
• Plastic sheeting or tarp
• Chlorinated bleach
• Personal hygiene items
• Other useful items:
• Work gloves
• Sun lotion
• Insect repellent
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Pliers
• Wrenches
• Handsaw
• Razor knife
• Ax or chainsaw
• Rope caulking
• Nails and screws
• Rope and wire
• Broom, mop and bucket
• All-purpose cleaner
• Ladder
• Sandbags
• Portable generator
• Tree pruner
• Shovel, rake and wheelbarrow
• Sheets of plywood |
FAMILY
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
Develop a Family Emergency Communications Plan in case family members
are separated from one another during an emergency (a real possibility
during the day when adults are at work and children are at school,
camp or at a friend’s house). This plan should also address
reunification after the immediate crisis passes.
• Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the Family
Emergency Communications Plan contact person. During and immediately
after a disaster occurs, it is often easier to access a long distance
telephone number than a local one. Also, calling outside a disaster
area is usually easier than calling into the same area.
• Make sure everyone knows the name, address and telephone
number of the Family Emergency Communications Plan contact person.
• Designate two meeting areas for family members – one
within your community (your primary location), and one outside of
your community (your alternate location). Sometimes an emergency
could impact your neighborhood or small section of the community,
so a second location outside of your community would be more accessible
to all family members.
• Be familiar with the Emergency Plans at your children’s
school and camp, as well as your place of business.
A Family Emergency Communications Plan can help reassure everyone’s
safety and minimize the stress associated with emergencies
MEMA
OFFERS TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM HURRICANES
During this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season (June 1-November
30), the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) urges
homeowners to protect their property from strong winds, damaging
rains, and flooding that hurricanes or tropical storms can bring
to New England.
“There are several steps which we can all take to help make
our homes more storm resistant,” said MEMA Director Don Boyce.
“Early planning and preparation can be the key to your safety.”
Here are some examples of how to protect your property:
• Learn the particular hurricane risks for your area. Find
out if your home is subject to storm surge or inland flooding.
• Make a record of your personal property. Keep an itemized
list of your furniture, clothing and valuables to assist adjusters
in case of a claim. Back it up with photographs or video.
• Protect your insurance policies and other important documents
in a secure place like a safe deposit box or a watertight box.
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Remove diseased or damaged
tree limbs that could be blown down during a storm.
• Clear clogged rain gutters. Hurricanes/tropical storms often
bring heavy rain. Providing clear drainage will help prevent misdirected
flooding.
• Make sure storage sheds or other outbuildings are securely
anchored, either to a permanent foundation or with straps and ground
anchors.
• Make temporary plywood covers to protect windows and sliding
doors. Drill holes for screws or lag bolts in each cover and around
each window. Use a numbering or lettering system that shows which
cover goes with which window. Store the mounting screws or lag bolts
with the covers in a place where they are readily accessible. Note:
Taping of windows does not prevent them from breaking.
• Make
a list of outdoor items to bring inside in case of a storm, such
as lawn furniture, trash barrels, hanging plants, toys and awnings.
A list will help you remember anything that can be broken or picked
up by strong winds and used as a missile.
• Learn to safely shut off utilities, as well as where gas
pilots and water mains are located.
• Close and lock doors and windows to ensure that they are
closed tight to help protect against strong winds and rain.
• Buy Flood Insurance. Unlike damage from hurricane winds,
water damage from coastal or inland flooding is not covered by homeowners
insurance. Contact your local insurance agent or contact the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).The Massachusetts Emergency Management
Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal,
state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies
and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides
leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards,
disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public;
provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families,
businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and
respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made.
For additional information about MEMA and Hurricane Preparedness,
go to www.mass.gov/mema.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
