“Thinking through how you would react to an approaching hurricane before it happens is probably the most important thing,” said Tom Heneghan, senior manager of Community Preparedness Education. “Being knowledgeable about where you would go, what you would take with you, and how you would leave your residence if you were forced to evacuate.”
The Red Cross recommends preparation in advance, including:
• Putting together an emergency kit
• Creating a household disaster plan and practicing it
• Being informed. Knowing the community’s evacuation plan and where to get information.
Heneghan said being ready to leave, knowing where you’re going and having friends and family know where you are going and how to reach you are some of the important things to remember.
Planning ahead of time is probably the No. 1 thing the Red Cross would encourage folks to do. Making decisions like that and trying to figure out information like that when the hurricane is 24 hours out is a little late and limits your options.”
The good news about hurricanes is that you do get that warning of a couple of days to execute the plan and evacuate if necessary.
“The thing about hurricanes is at least you do get that countdown, usually 24, 36, 48 hours, so you have a pretty good idea and you can start making decisions. If you have a plan already it moves so much smoother and faster,” Heneghan said.
It’s important to have a kit or supplies that you would need if forced to evacuate, such as three days of food and water, medications for seven days, a flashlight, batteries and battery-powered or hand-cranked radio and other personal items that you would need.
Heneghan said it’s not necessary to buy the expensive kit, but that they are a good starting point and should be customized to individual needs prior to an event.
“You need to think about what are the things that if you’re a way from home you would really want. Food and water is great, but you really need to customize it — medications, documents — those types of things. The last thing you want is to open up a kit and realize, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s stuff in here that I don’t need, and I wish I had brought this or that.”
Having a family plan is important, especially if family members are dispersed when the time comes to evacuate. “It’s prudent to have someone you could call, and have it prearranged and have people in your household know where you would evacuate to and where your contact point would be,” Heneghan said. “So even if traveling and not at home, everyone knows the plan is to go to Uncle John’s.”
Also, knowing where to get information and understanding certain things about a hurricane, such as the difference between a hurricane warning and a hurricane watch. A warning indicates a hurricane is expected and a watch means that a hurricane is possible.
He compared disaster preparation to exercising and eating right. Everyone knows they are good for you and you should do it, but getting started makes it difficult. That’s why the Red Cross urges just doing something, getting a start.
“You don’t have to have a comprehensive plan, but at least start something,” he said. “Even just a quick conversation over dinner goes a really long way. Don’t be intimidated into thinking you have to do everything.”
