Submitted by shawn on 2 June 2010 - 9:26am
Hurricane Season officially started this week. Tampa usually doesn't get any major storms until late Summer but you should be planning for them now. Create an evacuation kit in advance and place it somewhere easy to get to. Stock your pantry with foods that can last without refrigeration. Even if you do not need to evacuate, you may still find yourself without power for days or longer. Consider that ATMs and credit card readers may not function during power outages.
Links, Checklist, and Tips to help get you through this season. Share your own tips with neighbors in the comments.
Useful Links:
NOAA National Hurricane Center tracks tropical storms and hurricanes.
Ready.gov for information on disaster preparedness in general.
Alert Tampa. The City of Tampa can now send urgent text messages and email alerts to residents and businesses. Emergency personnel will use Alert Tampa to notify citizens of mandatory evacuations, boil water orders, searches for missing persons and other critical incidents. Registering for the Alert Tampa is free and citizens who live or work in the city are encouraged to sign up at www.tampagov.net/alerttampa.
Quick Hurricane Checklist
Buy supplies early to prepare for the storm. When storms threaten, lines will be long and supplies short.
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FOOD SUPPLIES Water: 5 gallons per person Ice (as much as you can keep in coolers, freezer, etc.) HURRICANE KIT Flashlights and extra bulbs Copy of insurance policy
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MEDICAL NEEDS KITCHEN SUPPLIES Ice chests or coolers, jugs or pitchers to store water HARDWARE 1/4-inch machine screw sockets and screws, nails BABY NEEDS (if applicable) PET NEEDS (if applicable) |
Tips:
If you own a pool, consider tossing your non-glass, water-resitant yard furniture into it. Items that are susceptible to wind are save under all that water.
If you have an electric stove, you may not be able to cook during a power outage. A gas grill is a great substitute. Make sure your gas supply is full.
If you have a gas stove, your electric starter may not function. Keep matches nearby to light the burners.
Soy milk comes in paper box containers that are only a few servings and only require refrigeration after they are opened. Shelf life is logner than a single hurricane season. It makes a decent bowl of cereal. Try the vanilla flavor first if you do not normally use it.
Have your own tips? Share them with your neighbors in the comments below!
Our neighborhood dog expert sent me an email with the following information:
Right off the bat, I would say to have Rabies and Vaccination papers AND Microchip Info along with the home owner's policy. Pet pictures also, just in case you need to make a flyer.
Also, stockpile newspaper for the dogs to do their business. It can rain a long time before, during and after the hurricane.
The FEMA site http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/animals.shtm also says to confine the cats even when the dogs and cats get along because in unusual settings, panic can set in. So true! Even friendly dogs can attack each other in frustration.
If your dogs only go on the grass, bring in a fake grass mat, it helps a lot.