If at the Shore
- Determine safe evacuation routes inland.
- Learn locations of official shelters.
- Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and battery-powered equipment such as cell phones and your radios.
- Buy food that will keep and store drinking water.
- Buy plywood or other materials to protect your home if you don’t already have it.
- Trim trees and shrubbery so branches don’t fly into your home.
- Clear clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
- Decide where to move your boat.
- Review your insurance policy.
- Find pet-friendly hotels on your evacuation route.
In a Hurricane Watch Area
- Frequently listen to radio, TV or Weather Radio for official bulletins of the storm’s progress.
- Fuel and service family vehicles.
- Inspect and secure mobile home tie downs.
- Ensure you have extra cash on hand.
- Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water and medications. (See below for more information.)
- Bring in light-weight objects such as garbage cans, garden tools, toys and lawn furniture.
In a Hurricane Warning Area
- Closely monitor radio, TV or Weather Radio for official bulletins.
- Close storm shutters.
- Follow instructions issued by local officials. Leave immediately if ordered.
- Stay with friends or relatives or at a low-rise inland hotel or designated public shelter outside the flood zone.
- Do not stay in a mobile or manufactured home.
- Notify neighbors and a family member outside of the warned area of your evacuation plans.
- Take pets with you if possible, but remember, most public shelters do not allow pets other than those used by used by people with disabilities.
- Identify pet-friendly hotels on evacuation route.
If Staying in a Home
- Turn refrigerator to maximum cold and keep it closed.
- Turn off utilities if told to do so by authorities.
- Turn off propane tanks.
- Unplug small appliances.
- Fill bathtub and large containers with water in case clean tap water is unavailable. Use water in bathtubs for cleaning and flushing only. Do not drink it.
If Winds Become Strong
- Stay away from windows and doors, even if they are covered. Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway.
- Close all interior doors. Secure and brace external doors.
- If you are in a two-story house, go to an interior first floor room.
- If you are in a multi-story building and away from water, go to the 1st or 2nd floor and stay in the halls or other interior rooms away from windows.
- Lie on the floor under a table or other sturdy object.
What an Emergency Supplies Kit Should Include
- A list of emergency phone numbers.
- At least a 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day).
- At least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food.
- At least, one change of clothing and shoes per person.
- One blanket or sleeping bag per person.
- First-aid kit.
- Battery-powered portable radio, fully charged cell-phone.
- Emergency tools.
- Flashlights and extra batteries.
- Extra set of car keys.
- Credit card and cash.
- Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
- Prescription and non-prescription drugs.
If a Power Outage Occurs
- Customers without power should contact their utlility company.
- PECO: 1-800-841-4141.
- PSEG: 800-436-7734.
- Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476
- Stay away from downed wires, damaged electric equipment and tree limbs and branches contacting electrical equipment. Always assume equipment is energized – even if there is an outage.
- Turn off and unplug appliances and other devices to prevent possible damage. Keep one light on so you know when service has been restored.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Move meats, cheese, milk, etc. into the freezer to stay colder longer. A partially full freezer can keep food frozen for up to 24 hours, and up to 48 hours when full.
- Customers with generators should never connect them directly to home wiring or plug them into household outlets. Generators connected to home wiring can ‘backfeed’ into the electric delivery system, risking serious injury or death to repair crews. Generators should always be placed outside to prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning.
Source: www.philly.com
