[MR] Hurricane Irene: Are you prepared? - Capital Weather Gang - The Washington Post

[David Chessler]

Note that you can keep your cell phone running if 
you have a car-charger adapter, Even if you can't 
get the car out of the driveway, or out from 
under a fallen tree (that has happened to me 
twice, neither time in a severe storm). If you 
have an "inverter" (available in many truck 
stops), you can run a computer or the 
refrigerator, etc. A full tank of gas should last 
several days with the car just idling. If you 
store gas (in an outbuilding, I hope), use a 
stabilizer to keep it good (available in marine supply stores).


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/hurricane-irene-are-you-prepared/2011/08/24/gIQAgC3xgJ_blog.html
Posted at 05:08 PM ET, 08/26/2011

Hurricane Irene: Are you prepared?

By Washington Post editors

[]

A satellite image of Hurricane Irene approaching 
the Bahamas on Aug. 23. (HO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

This post has been updated.

As the Washington region braces for Hurricane 
Irene, a Category 2 storm that is 
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/east-coast-braces-for-hurricane-irene-warning-area-expanded/2011/08/26/gIQAOMxFgJ_story.html>expected 
to wreak havoc on the East Coast, 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/outreach/prepare.shtml>NOAA’s 
National Hurricane Center and local agencies 
offer tips on preparing for this weekend’s high 
winds, heavy rains and potentially devastating flooding.

YOUR TAKE: How are you preparing for #Irene

How are you and your family preparing for 
Hurricane Irene? Are you loading up on supplies? 
Staying with friends? If you’re not making 
special plans, tell us why. Use #IrenePrep on 
Twitter and we’ll post some responses right here.

1. Develop a family plan

­ The NHC suggests locating a safe room or area 
for each hurricane hazard, including storm surge, 
flooding and wind, and planning an escape route 
and meeting place in case you must evacuate. 
(Remember to include pets in this plan.)

­ Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones 
and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.

2. Create a disaster supply kit

Your supply kit should include:

­ Water (at least one gallon daily per person for 
three to seven days, according to the NHC);

­ Non-perishable packaged or canned foods

­ Non-electric can opener and disposable plates and utensils

­ Blankets and pillows

­ Clothing, including rain gear and sturdy shoes

­ First aid kit and prescription medications

­ Flashlight, radio and batteries

­ Fully charged cell phone with an extra battery

­ Cash and credit cards

­ Important documents such as Social Security 
cards, insurance, and medical records in a watertight plastic bag

­ Tools

­ Keys

­ Special items for infants, the elderly and pets.

3. Secure your home

The NHC advises protecting your home from wind 
and wind-strewn debris by reinforcing five areas: 
the 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/retrofit/roof.shtml>roof, 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/retrofit/straps.shtml>straps, 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/retrofit/shutters.shtml>shutters, 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/retrofit/entry_doors.shtml>doors 
and <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/retrofit/garage_doors.shtml>garage.

Also note that flood damage is often not covered by homeowners insurance.

4. Determine your vulnerability

There are resources online ­ including 
<https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/wps/portal>maps 
and 
<http://www.csc.noaa.gov/products/nchaz/startup.htm>assessment 
tools ­ to help determine how vulnerable you are 
to hurricane and tropical storm hazards.

ADDITONAL TIPS:

Here are the FCC’s tips for communications during an emergency:

­ Limit non-emergency phone calls. This will 
minimize network congestion, free up “space” on 
the network for emergency communications and 
conserve battery power if you are using a wireless phone.

­ Keep all phone calls brief. If you need to use 
a phone, try to use it only to convey vital 
information to emergency personnel and/or family.

­ Try text messaging, also known as short 
messaging service (SMS) when using your wireless 
phone. In many cases text messages will go 
through when your call may not. It will also help 
free up more “space” for emergency communications on the telephone network.

­ If possible, try a variety of communications 
services if you are unsuccessful in getting 
through with one. For example, if you are 
unsuccessful in getting through on your wireless 
phone, try a messaging capability like text 
messaging or email. Alternatively, try a landline 
phone if one is available. This will help spread 
the communications demand over multiple networks 
and should reduce overall congestion.

­ Wait 10 seconds before redialing a call. On 
many wireless handsets, to re-dial a number, you 
simply push “send” after you’ve ended a call to 
redial the previous number. If you do this too 
quickly, the data from the handset to the cell 
sites do not have enough time to clear before 
you’ve resent the same data. This contributes to a clogged network.

­ Have charged batteries and car-charger adapters 
available for backup power for your wireless phone.

­ Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers in your phone.

­ If in your vehicle, try to place calls while your vehicle is stationary.

­ Have a family communications plan in place. 
Designate someone out of the area as a central 
contact and make certain all family members know 
who to contact if they become separated.

­ If you have Call Forwarding on your home 
number, forward your home number to your wireless 
number in the event of an evacuation. That way 
you will get incoming calls from your landline phone.

­ After the storm has passed, if you lose power 
in your home, try using your car to charge cell 
phones or listen to news alerts on the car radio. 
But be careful – don’t try to reach your car if 
it is not safe to do so, and remain vigilant 
about carbon monoxide emissions from your car if 
it is a closed space, such as a garage.

­ Tune-in to broadcast and radio news for important news alerts.

Related:

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/fcc-questions-cell-carriers-about-post-/2011/08/24/gIQAnTR6bJ_blog.html>FCC 
questions carriers about post-earthquake outages

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/cellphone-service-falls-short-after-earthquake/2011/08/23/gIQAnl52ZJ_story.html>Cell 
phones down after earthquake
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/cellphone-service-falls-short-after-earthquake/2011/08/23/gIQAnl52ZJ_story.html>
­ Cecilia Kang

For preserving your cell phone/smartphone battery:

­ Reduce screen brightness.

­ Turn off Bluetooth.

­ Turn off 3G.

­ Turn off WiFi.

­ Turn off location services like built-in GPS.

­ Check e-mail accounts less often.

­ Limit video, games, Web browsing and other apps.

­ Keep your phone dry.

­ Be prepared to charge your phone in your car in case the power goes out.

­ Have a spare, charged battery on hand.

­ June Wu, Apple, AT&T, Verizon

For the elderly:

­ Decide what your senior family member, friend 
or neighbor can and can’t do during an emergency 
event. For example, consider evacuation 
strategies for those who are wheelchair-bound. 
Also, older adults, especially those who require 
special assistance, should evacuate sooner rather than later.

­ Put together an emergency contact list that 
includes doctors and other health-care professionals.

­ If you don’t live near your elderly loved one, 
enlist help of family members or friends, or 
contact a professional caregiving company.

­ Home Instead Senior Care

To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning:

­ Never use portable generators indoors, in garages or near open windows.

­ Do not siphon gasoline by mouth to fill a generator with fuel.

­ Use battery-operated (or battery-backup) carbon 
monoxide alarms. Be sure to test the batteries.

­ If you experience sleepiness, dizziness, 
headaches, confusion, weakness or your carbon 
monoxide alarm sounds, immediately seek fresh air 
and call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222.

­ American Association of Poison Control Centers

For expecting moms:

Women who are due to give birth in the next week 
or so may want to have their hospital bags packed 
a little early. The drop in barometric pressure 
associated with the hurricane could cause a 
woman’s water to break early, and some 
obstetricians have warned patients that they may 
end up going to the hospital sooner.

Hospital officials say they are aware that 
lowering of atmospheric pressure tends to result in a spike in births.

­ Lena H. Sun

For stocking up on water and supplies:

­ Go to grocery stores Saturday morning instead 
of late Friday night since shelves are more likely to be stocked then.

­ June Wu

For dealing with traumatic events:

To help deal with a traumatic event or life disruption:

­ Follow a normal routine, if possible.

­ Eat healthy meals and stay active.

­ Keep busy by volunteering and helping others in your community.

­ Talk about your feelings and be willing to accept assistance.

Ask for help in handling the stress if you:

­ Are unable to care for yourself (or your children)

­ Are unable to work.

­ Use drugs or alcohol to deal with the stress.

­ Deal with sadness or depression for more than two weeks after the event.

­ Contemplate suicide.

­ 
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/dealing_with_traumatic_events.pdf>Click 
here for more advice.

­ Maryland Department of Health