Guest Column - Make your emergency plan now

Monday, 23 August 2010 22:28

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September is National Preparedness Month

By the staff of the Hampton Emergency Preparedness Bureau

Hurricane Season is gearing up. Are you prepared?

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) has found that over the last 100 years August through the end of October tends to be when most Hurricanes occur. NOAA’s 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook is predicting an above normal season. Are you ready for the heavy rain, high water and winds that normally accompany a hurricane?  

There is no better time for Hampton residents to get ready for emergencies than September, which is National Preparedness Month and the height of hurricane/flood season.

• Make a family emergency plan 
  In a recent survey, just 15% of Virginia respondents had a written family emergency plan. 
  
  This may be the single most important thing you can do for your family. Sit down as a family and plan in advance what you will do in an emergency and how you will get in touch with each other. Write it down. 
  
  Get a family emergency plan worksheet at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.  Making a plan is free and simple and will make a difference. 
  
  
  
• Choose an out-of-town emergency contact 
  The same survey showed that 56% of Virginia respondents said they have not identified an out-of-town person for family members to contact in case of emergency. 
  
  It’s very important to choose an out-of-town relative or friend for your family to call because families may not be together when an emergency happens, and often it’s easier to make a long distance call than a local call during emergencies. 
  
  So choose someone now as your family’s emergency contact, and make sure each person in your family has that phone number.  When an emergency happens, no matter where your family members are, they each should call the out-of-town contact and say they are OK.  Then the out-of-town contact can in turn call the other family members to relay messages.
  
  
  
• Assess your surroundings
  Do you live next to a small stream? Do you have lots of trees surrounding your house? Does the street in front of your home flood in a normal rain event?
  
  These are all examples of questions you should ask yourself when making your family emergency plan. The answer to these and similar questions will allow you to make appropriate plans based on your answers to these questions.
  
  If you have a stream next to your house you most likely will encounter flooding during a hurricane. If you have lots of trees around your house your house has a good possibility of getting hit by one of the trees due to the strong winds associated with hurricanes. If the streets that allow you access to your home flood in a normal rain storm you need to think about how early you would need to leave so you can plan out your evacuation route.
  
  The Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Guide can be found at: http://www.virginiadot.org/alpha/2010hurricaneswf/10015_newguide.html
  
  
  
• Store a three-day supply of water 
  About 90% of those who took the survey said they have a three-day supply of canned and packaged food on hand, but only 57% had enough water. 
  
  The rule of thumb is to store one gallon of water per person per day. It’s best to plan to be self-sufficient in an emergency for a minimum of three days. So if there are four in your family, you need to stock 12 gallons of water.  This is enough for drinking and personal hygiene.
  
  

The creation of an emergency kit can be expensive but if you start out with essential items such as:

• * Food that won’t spoil, such as canned goods and packaged foods
• * Water, one gallon per person per day, for 3 days
• * A hand-crank or battery-powered radio and extra batteries
  
  

And then add at least one additional item per week to your kit this will help with the cost of creating a kit. Other items that are useful in an emergency supply kit are:

• * Flashlights with extra batteries
• * First aid kit* List of prescriptions and doctors
• * Special items for young children and disabled or older family members
• * Food and water for pets

Emergency preparedness is everyone’s responsibility.  If you’re not ready, make your plan during National Preparedness Month.  For more information, go to http://www.ReadyVirginia.gov, the website for the Hampton Emergency Preparedness Bureau at http://hampton.gov/eoc or contact Hampton’s Office of Emergency Management at 757-727-1208.