Maverick Disaster Services

Be Ready

Even if there’s no risk of a hurricane right now, make sure you and your family are prepared.

• Stock up on emergency supplies for your home and car.
• Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them near every phone in your house or on the refrigerator. Program them into your cell phone, too.
• Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it. Read the National Fire Protection Association’s tips for using fire extinguishers.
• Find out where the nearest shelter is and the different routes you can take to get there if you have to leave your home.
• Make sure that everyone in your family knows what the warning sirens in your area sound like — and what to do if they go off.

What’s next?

• Make sure you have all the health and safety supplies you need before the storm. Check out Family, Health, and Safety Preparationfor a guide on what you’ll need to prepare for the storm.
• If you are in a disaster or emergency, it’s important that you take steps to prevent illness from unsafe food and water.

PREPARE BEFORE A HURRICANE OR SEVERE FLOODING

During and after a hurricane, you may need supplies to keep your family safe and healthy. Remember that a hurricane could cut off your power and water supply. You also may not be able to drive because of damage to your car. Roads may be flooded or blocked.

Make a plan Even if there’s no risk of a hurricane or severe storm right now, make sure you and your family are prepared.

â–  Stock up on emergency supplies for your home and car.

â–  Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them near every phone in your house or on the refrigerator. Program them into your cell phone, too.

â–  Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it.

â–  Find out where the nearest shelter is and the different routes you can take to get there if you have to leave your home.

â–  Make sure that everyone in your family knows what the warning sirens in your area sound like—and what to do if they go off. For more information on how to make an emergency plan, Visit ….Are You Prepared?

Prepare an emergency food supply A disaster can easily disrupt the food supply at any time, so plan to have at least a three to five day supply of food on hand. Keep foods that:

â–  Have a long storage life (like canned food)

â–  Require little or no cooking, water, or refrigeration, in case utilities are disrupted

â–  Meet the needs of babies (baby food or formula, if needed) or other family members who are on special diets

■ Meet pets’ needs

â–  Are not very salty or spicy, as these foods increase the need for drinking water, which may be in short supply How to store emergency food When storing food, it is not necessary to buy dehydrated or other types of emergency food.

â–  Check the expiration dates on canned foods and dry mixes. Home-canned food usually needs to be thrown out after a year.

â–  Use and replace food before its expiration date.

Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters

Certain storage conditions can enhance the shelf life of canned or dried foods. The ideal location is a cool, dry, dark place. The best temperature is 40° to 70°F.

â–  Store foods away from ranges or refrigerator exhausts. Heat causes many foods to spoil more quickly.

â–  Store food away from petroleum products, such as gasoline, oil, paints, and solvents. Some food products absorb their smell.

â–  Protect food from rodents and insects. Items stored in boxes or in paper cartons will keep longer if they are heavily wrapped or stored in waterproof, airtight containers.

Preparing food

Preparing food after a disaster or emergency may be difficult due to damage to your home and loss of electricity, gas, and water. Having the following items available will help you to prepare meals safely:

â–  Cooking utensils
â–  Knives, forks, and spoons
â–  Paper plates, cups, and towels
â–  A manual can- and bottle-opener
â–  Heavy-duty aluminum foil
â–  Propane gas or charcoal grill; camp stove
â–  Fuel for cooking, such as charcoal. (CAUTION: Only use charcoal grills or camp stoves outside of your home to avoid smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning.)

For more information on food and water need before a disaster, visit the CDC Website.

Prepare an emergency water supply

â–  Store at least 1 gallon of water per day for each person and each pet. Consider storing more water than this for hot climates, for pregnant women, and for people who are sick.
â–  Store at least a 3-day supply of water for each person and each pet. Try to store a 2-week supply if possible.
â–  Observe the expiration date for store-bought water; replace other stored water every 6 months.
â–  Get supplies to make your drinking water safe (like iodine tablets or chlorine bleach).
â–  Gather clean containers for water.

A bottle of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach can be used to disinfect your water and for general cleaning and sanitizing. Try to store bleach in an area where the average temperature stays around 70°F (21°C). Because the amount of active chlorine in bleach decreases over time due to normal decay, consider replacing the bottle each year.

Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters

Water containers (cleaning and storage)

Unopened commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable emergency water supply. Use of food-grade water storage containers, such as those found at surplus or camping supply stores, is recommended if you prepare stored water yourself. Before filling with safe water, use these steps to clean and sanitize storage containers:

Wash the storage container with dishwashing soap and water and rinse completely with clean water. 2. Sanitize the container by adding a solution made by mixing 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in one quart of water.

Cover the container and shake it well so that the sanitizing bleach solution touches all inside surfaces of the container. 4. Wait at least 30 seconds and then pour the sanitizing solution out of the container.

Let the empty sanitized container air-dry before use OR rinse the empty container with clean, safe water that already is available.

Avoid using the following containers to store safe water:

â–  Containers that cannot be sealed tightly

â–  Containers that can break, such as glass bottles

â–  Containers that have ever held toxic solid or liquid chemicals, such as bleach or pesticides

â–  Plastic or cardboard bottles, jugs, and containers used for milk or fruit juices For proper water storage:

■ Label container as “drinking water†and include storage date.

â–  Replace stored water that is not commercially bottled every six months.

â–  Keep stored water in a place with a fairly constant cool temperature.

â–  Do not store water containers in direct sunlight.

â–  Do not store water containers in areas where toxic substances such as gasoline or pesticides are present.

To learn more about how to prepare an emergency water supply, visit CDC Healthy Water.

Safety and personal care products Gather any prescription medicines. Gather safety items, including:

 ■ First aid kit and instructions
â–  Fire extinguisher
â–  Battery-powered radio
â–  Flashlights
â–  Extra batteries
â–  Sleeping bags or extra blankets

Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters

Gather personal care products, including:

â–  Hand sanitizer
■ Wet cleaning cloths (like baby wipes) in case you don’t have clean water
â–  Soap
â–  Toothpaste
â–  Tampons and pads
■ Diapers What’s next?
â–  Make sure you have all the health and safety supplies you need before the storm.

For more information on what you will need to prepare for the storm, visit CDC SUPPLIES.

Prepare your family for the storm

Know the difference between a hurricane “watch†and “warningâ€. If you hear that there’s a hurricane or flood watch or warning in your area, you can take steps to get ready.

Get your family ready

â–  Go over your emergency plan with your family. Make sure you have the supplies you need.
â–  Keep checking for updates about the storm. Watch TV, listen to the radio, or check online.
â–  Listen for disaster sirens and warning signals.
â–  Pack important documents (like wills or passports) with you.
■ Call the hospital, public health department, or the police about special needs. If you or a loved one is older or disabled and won’t be able to leave quickly, get advice on what to do.
â–  Check your carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly.

For more information about how to get your family ready for a disaster,

visit https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/plan.html.

Put pets and farm animals in a safe place Keep in mind emergency shelters and many hotels may not let you bring animals with you if you need to evacuate. Ask your local public health department if pets are allowed in shelters. For more information about pet safety,

visit https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/petprotect.html.

Get your home ready for the storm.  Clear your yard. Make sure there’s nothing that could blow around during the storm and damage your home. Move bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, and building material inside or under shelter.

Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters

â–  Cover up windows and doors outside. Use storm shutters or nail pieces of plywood to the window frames to protect your windows. This can help keep you safe from pieces of shattered glass.

â–  Be ready to turn off your power. If you see flooding, downed power lines, or you have to leave your home, switch it off.

■ Fill clean water containers with drinking water. You’ll want to do this in case you lose your water supply during the storm. You can also fill up your sinks and bathtubs with water for washing.

â–  Check your CO detector to prevent CO poisoning.

â–  Lower the thermostat in your refrigerator and freezer to the coolest possible temperature. If your power goes out, your food will stay fresh longer. For more information about how to get your home ready for a disaster,

visit https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/preparedness.html

Prepare your car for the storm

■ Fill your car’s gas tank. You may also want to consider making plans with friends or family to get a ride.
■ Double check your car’s emergency kit.
â–  Move cars and trucks into your garage or under cover.
â–  Have an emergency water supply. Make an emergency car kit Always keep an emergency kit in your car in case you need to leave quickly during a hurricane. Make sure you include:

■ Food that doesn’t go bad (like canned food)
â–  Flares
â–  Jumper cables (sometimes called booster cables)
â–  Maps
â–  Tools, like a roadside emergency kit
â–  A first aid kit and instructions
â–  A fire extinguisher
â–  Sleeping bags
â–  Flashlight and extra batteries
■ Having a GPS—either in your car or on your smartphone—can help during an emergency too. 

For more information on how to get your car ready for a disaster

 visit https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/preparedness.html 

Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters

Evacuate or stay at home?

If a hurricane or severe flooding is coming, you may hear an order to evacuate (leave your home). Never ignore an order to evacuate. Even sturdy, well-built houses may not hold up against an extreme storm with strong wind and high water. Staying home to protect your property is not worth risking your health and safety. You may also hear an order to stay at home. Sometimes, staying at home is safer than leaving.

If you need to evacuate:

â–  Only take what you really need with you, like your cell phone, chargers, medicines, identification (like a passport or license), and cash.

â–  Make sure you have your car emergency kit.

â–  If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water. Also unplug your appliances.

■ Follow the roads that emergency workers recommend even if there’s traffic. Other routes might be blocked. If you need to stay home:

â–  Keep listening to the radio or TV for updates on the hurricane or flooding.

■ Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message that the storm is over. Sometimes, weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but then gets worse again quickly.

â–  Stay away from windows. You could get hurt by pieces of broken glass during a storm. Stay in a room with no windows, or go inside a closet.

■ Be careful. Winds can blow debris—like pieces of broken glass and other objects—at high speeds. Flying debris is the most common cause of injury during a hurricane. You’re also at a higher risk of breaking a bone or cutting yourself on loose nails, metal, or other objects.

■ Be ready to leave. If emergency authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go to a shelter or a neighbor’s house. For more information about emergency evacuations,

visit https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/evacuate.html

What to do After A Disaster

• Food:Throw away food that may have come in contact with flood or storm water; perishable foods that have not been refrigerated properly due to power outages; and those with an unusual odor, color, or texture. Unsafe food can make you sick even if it looks, smells, and tastes normal. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Water: Do not use water you suspect or have been told is contaminated to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula. Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled, or treated water. Your state, local, or tribal health department can make specific recommendations for boiling or treating water in your area.
• Diarrhea diseases: Eating or drinking anything contaminated by flood water can cause diarrhea disease (such as E. coli or Salmonella infection). To protect yourself and your family:
  â–  Practice good hygiene (hand washing with soap and water) after contact with flood waters.
  â–  Do not allow children to play in flood water areas.
  ■ Wash children’s hands with soap and water frequently (always before meals). ■ Do not allow children to play with toys that have been contaminated by flood water and have not been disinfected.For information on how to prevent diarrheal diseases,

visit https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/disease/diarrhea-evac.html

For information on disinfecting certain nonporous toys,

visit https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/index.html.