As I’m sure many of you already know, Hurricane Irene is scheduled to wreak havoc throughout the Eastern Seaboard all the way from North Carolina to New England this weekend. Since we live in New York City, it definitely looks like we will not be dodging this bullet. Even as I am writing this post, I am going over in my mind all of the preparations that we need to make before this storm hits our area as expected on Sunday Morning.
If you reside in an inner city like I do, you are probably as puzzled about emergency preparation as we are. The only difference is that New Yorkers have been hit with a couple of emergency doozies in the past couple of decades so we don’t take emergencies lightly. Despite this level of awareness, I am ashamed to say that I really do not have much of an emergency plan in place should a real catastrophe occur.
In an attempt to make myself feel better and to get a better idea regarding what emergency supplies we need to prepare, I have been doing a little research online today. The following list includes some of the more important items that you should have on hand should you find yourself in trouble during and after the storm:
-You cannot have too much fresh water stored. This water will be needed to drink, to cook, to clean wounds, flush toilets, and to wash with. I realize that everyone is running out to the store to buy bottled water but, filling up empty soda bottles or juice bottles with tap water is just as good.
-Make sure you have matches or a lighter. You will need it to light candles should the power go out and also to be able to cook your food if you have access to a grill or a BBQ pit.
-Keep all of your pertinent and life-saving medications in a sealed plastic baggie so they do not ruined by water. You can add this baggie to your emergency bag and make sure it is close by should you need to quickly evacuate.
-Do not open a window to try to equalize the wind pressure. Leaving a window open can endanger you and your family by allowing debris to enter your home and hurt someone. Also, some say that the added wind pressure inside your home can contribute to making your roof blow off.
-Make sure you have a first-aid kit on hand to deal with scrapes and cuts. A first-aid kit should contain the following items: Antiseptics, bandages, pain relievers (aspirin or ibuprofen), tweezers, scissors, thermometer, and petroleum jelly to keep injured areas moist.
-Stock up on canned foods that you won’t have to worry about spoiling should the electricity go out. Even if things don’t get too bad, you can still use that canned food at a later time so it is not a waste of money.
-Have your cell phone car charger handy in case the power goes down and keep a lot of batteries on hand to power little radios and flashlights.
-Your important documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and financial papers should also be wrapped in plastic and held in your emergency bag with your medications and valuables should you have to leave quickly.
-Have cash on hand because most of us use our debit cards for the majority of our transactions but ATM machines will not be working if the power goes down.
-Keep all of your pets indoors and make sure you have plenty of food and water for them too.
-Be safe and stay away from the windows in your house and resist the urge to look outside. Those winds can be dangerous and deadly.
Obviously, this was not a comprehensive list of things to do to prepare for an emergency. The best thing you can do is remain calm, listen to instructions from your local government, and use your common sense. If you are told to evacuate, do it! Material things and buildings can always be replaced but the lives and safety of you and your loved ones cannot…
© 2011, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.
I was born in Louisiana and lived most of my life in southeast Texas–hurricanes and tropical storms are kind of a way of life. My son and his family had to evacuate Galveston for hurricane Ike–it was 3 or 4 months before they could move back into their home. Before that, it was hurricane Rita.
I have a tip that might come in handy. Freeze a couple of plastic buckets/containers so that you have blocks of ice for your refrigerator and freezer. If you lose power having the large blocks of ice will buy some time for your cold foods. It sort of makes your refrigerator act as a big cooler.
I hope that all goes well up in NY!! I am much further south and closer to where some damage could quite possibly by…but I really think that some folks are over-analyzing things. Living in Miami is one thing – further up the coast is quite another. Hopefully you won’t see anything more than a little wind and a few rain drops.
WM
Great list, we are doing most of these and still need to do a few more. Thanks, and stay safe!
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