Keys to Hurricane Survival

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Keys to Hurricane Survival

This material is provided as a public service. Its purpose is to increase hurricane awareness. The key to survival is advance preparation.

1) Before a Hurricane Threatens	2) Evacuation Routes
3) When a Watch is Issued	4) When a Warning is Issued
5) If You Stay At Home	6) If You Must Evacuate
7) After The Hurricane	8) The Recovery

BEFORE A HURRICANE THREATENS…

Elevation Of Your Home Above Sea Level
Get this information from the office of the Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC). Your nearest Weather Service office can supply flood-stage data for area streams and waterways. Find out if your home is subject to storm surge (tidal) flooding.

Maximum Storm Surge Which Might Occur
Information about the potential for inland flooding and storm surge is available through EMC.

Pamlico County Evacuation Routes Route To Safety If You Have To Leave
Plan your escape route early. Check with EMC or this web site for low points and flooding history of your route.
Check the number of hours it could take you to evacuate to a safe area during peak evacuation traffic.

Location of Nearest Official Shelter
Pamlico Community College, located on NC Route 306 in Grantsboro is the central evacuation shelter for Pamlico County, North Carolina. Check with your EMC for the location of the shelter nearest your home. They can explain what you should bring with you.
Plan for your family's safety. Know how to contact family members should the need arise.

How Safe is Your Home?
Near the ocean, creeks, bays, sounds and streams, plan to relocate during a hurricane emergency. If you live in a mobile home, always plan to relocate.

The Inventory of Your Property
A complete inventory of personal property will help in obtaining insurance settlements and/or tax deductions for losses. Inventory checklists can be obtained from our insurance representative. Don't trust your memory. List descriptions and take pictures. Store these and other important insurance papers in waterproof containers or in your safety deposit box.

What Your Insurance Will Cover
Review your insurance policies and your coverage to avoid misunderstanding later. Take advantage of flood insurance. Separate policies are needed for protection against wind and flood damage, which people frequently don't realize until too late.

WHEN A WATCH IS ISSUED

	Monitor storm reports on radio and television. If considering moving to a shelter, make arrangements for all pets. Pets are not allowed in shelters. Refill needed prescriptions. If evacuation has not already been recommended, consider leaving the area early to avoid long hours on limited evacuation routes.
	Check Supplies- Transistor Radio with Fresh Batteries Radio will be your most useful information source. Have enough batteries to last several days. There may be no electricity.
	Flashlights, Candles or Lamps, Matches Store matches in waterproof container. Have lantern fuel for several days. Know how to use safely.
	Full Tank of Gasoline Never let your vehicle gas tank be less than half-full during hurricane season; fill up as soon as a hurricane watch is posted. Remember: when there is no electricity, gas pumps won't work.
	Canned Goods and Non-Perishable Foods Store packaged foods which can be prepared without cooking and need no refrigeration. There may be no electricity or gas.
	Containers for Drinking Water Have clean, airtight containers to store sufficient drinking water for several days. The local water supply could be interrupted or contaminated.
	Material for Protecting Glass Openings Have shutters or lumber for protecting large windows and doors and masking tape for use on small windows.
	Materials for Emergency Repairs Your insurance policy may cover the cost of materials used in temporary repairs, so keep all receipts. These will also be helpful for any income tax deductions.

WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED

Remember
--- the coordinates of a hurricane given by the weather service is the location of the eye. The average storm is 250 miles in diameter: thus the danger zone extends some 100 miles on either side of the coordinates.
If a storm is projected to hit our area, maximum conditions would exist if the storm eye crossed over us, or to the immediate south. Lessor conditions would be expected if it crossed to the north of our area.

Listen Constantly to Radio or TV
Keep a log of hurricane position, intensity and expected landfall. Discount rumors. Use telephone sparingly.

If You Live In A Mobile Home
Check tie-downs and leave immediately for a sager place. Mobile homes are not safe in hurricane force winds.

Prepare for High Winds
Brace your garage door. Lower antennas. Be prepared to make repairs

Anchor Objects Outside
Garbage cans, awnings, loose garden tools, toys and other loose objects can be deadly missiles. Anchor securely or bring indoors.

Protect Windows and Other Glass
Board up or shutter large windows securely. Tape exposed glass to reduce shattering. Draw drapes across windows and doors to protect against flying glass if shattering does occur.

Move Boats on Trailers Close to House
Fill boats with water to weight them down. Lash securely to trailer and use tie-downs to anchor trailer to the ground or house.

Check Mooring Lines and Chafe Gear of Boats in Water, Then Leave Them

Store Valuables and Personal Papers
Put irreplaceable documents in waterproof containers and store in highest possible spot. If you evacuate be sure to take them with you.

Prepare for Storm Surge, Tornadoes and Floods
Storm surge, tornadoes and flash floods are the worst killers associated with a hurricane. In a tornado warning, seek inside shelter away from windows and doors. If outside, move away at right angles from tornado; if escape is impossible, lie flat in a ditch or low spot. The surge of ocean water plus flash flooding of streams and rivers due to torrential rains combine to make drowning the greatest cause of hurricane deaths.

Check Your Survival Supplies Once Again

[ Continued Hurricane Survival Tips ]

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