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Here is a scenario you might night want to envision. You've just gotten word: a hurricane is bearing down on our town. Now what? Although we haven't had a major hurricane event hit our shores in quite a while, it's no reason to assume a serious storm isn't a threat. The Boy Scouts have it right: Be prepared. If you are under a hurricane watch or warning, here are some proactive steps to take to prepare for the storm -- before it happens:
* Learn about your community's emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes, and locations of emergency shelters.
* Identify potential hazards in your home, and know how to secure or protect them before the hurricane strikes.
* Buy fire extinguishers and make sure your family knows where to find them and how to use them.
* Post emergency phone numbers at every phone, and load those numbers into family members' cell phones as well.
* Keep an old-fashioned landline phone in working order somewhere in your house. You can plug it into the wall and it will usually work even if the power fails. Many households have only cordless phones, which need electricity to work.
* Inform local authorities about any special needs, i.e., elderly or bedridden people, or anyone with a disability.
Visit the American Red Cross for more information about hurricane readiness.
(This is the first in a series of hurricane-readiness articles. Please click this box in upcoming days to read more.)
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