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Thursday, September 8, 2005

Safety Tips for Hurricane Storms & Disaster Survival

 Here are some safety and survival tips to keep in mind
during serious disaster causing storms. Best policy is to plan ahead
and act
sooner rather than later. If one waits until the last minute, it can be
too late.

1. Put Aside Money.
Have some cash, and carry all your credit cards.
Also be sure to get a copy of your homeowner's insurance policy, take
all valuable documents
with you when you evacuate or seek safety shelter.

2. Plan Your Escape Routes.
Have multiple escape routes and know the proper government evacuation
route.
Make sure you car's fuel tank is filled and your mobile phone is
charged. Again, better to do this in advance
than wait until the last minute as fuel is often hard to get in areas
under immediate danger.

3. Plan Escape Trip.
Identify ahead of time where you could go if told to evacuate. Choose
several places,
like a friend's home in another town, a motel or a shelter.

4. Prepare An Emergency Supply Kit.
Assemble a disaster supplies kit including the following items:
• First-aid kit and any essential medications.
• Canned food and can opener.
• At least three gallons of water per person.
• Protective clothing, rainwear and bedding or sleeping bags.
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
• Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.
• Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas and water
if authorities
advise you to do so. (Remember, you'll need a professional to turn
them back on.)

5. Prepare Interiors Of Homes.
If evacuating, unplug all electrical devices. Shut off natural gas if
local officials advise it
and make sure to have a sufficient supply of batteries for
battery-powered equipment.

6. Prepare Exteriors Of Homes.
Secure your home by boarding over windows or putting up hurricane
shutters.
If you use boards, purchase precut one-half-inch outdoor plywood boards
for each window
of your home. Install anchors for the plywood and drill holes in the
plywood ahead of time,
so it can be installed quickly.

7. Clear Dead Trees Around Your Home & Property.
If you live in a wooded area, make trees more wind-resistant by taking
out diseased and
damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can
blow through.

8. Avoid Highest Danger Areas.
Move to safe shelters. Low-lying areas and mobile homes should be
evacuated.
Low Lying areas will flood, cutting off escape routes and emergency
help also.
Mobile Homes can not withstand high winds and flooding. If you live in
a mobile home, evacuate
and seek high ground and safe shelters.

9. Keep Informed.
Stay informed by monitoring weather advisories on radio and television.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Don not play hero or
stupidly ignore safety advisories,
most deaths from tropical storms & hurricanes are incurred by such
people.

10. Clean Up & Prepare Your Home's Yard & Property.
If a hurricane watch is issued, prepare to bring inside any lawn
furniture, outdoor decorations or
ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be
picked up by the wind. In a strong
hurricane's winds, any object can become a flying and deadly object and
can cause incredible amounts
of damage to even strong structures.

Always think safety first, above all else.

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