Hurricane Safety Factors

HURRICANE SAFETY FACTORS

DANGER - Storm Surge Kills! -- Take Appropriate Action

Hurricane preparedness is similar to most other precautions you might take for severe storms. It is a good idea to consider the following information regardless what time of year it is. Take a few minutes and check your supplies and make sure they are in good shape. If you have not made a survival kit, now is also the best time to do so. You should prepare a 72-hour survival kit consisting of items to help you and your family through the first few days following a disaster. Items for this kit are items that are easily stored and not perishable. Items should include:

Flashlights - with spare bulbs and batteries. If your batteries are over a year old, buy new ones.
Water - bottled water or water stored in milk jugs is good. It is recommended to store one gallon for each family member for each day. In other words, 3 gallons per person for 72 hours.
Food - food should be non-perishable items that require little or no preparation. Canned vegetables, canned meats, freeze dried and dehydrated foods make excellent choices (for freeze dried and dehydrated items remember to include extra water). Other foods to include are breakfast bars and cookies and crackers along with cereals. Don't forget the baby food and infant formulas if applicable.
Personal Items - other items to include would be prescription and non-prescription medicines, personal items for hygiene, and any comfort items for small children. Remember to include clothing for family members and a first aid kit.

The 72-Hour Survival Kit is designed to aid you and your family in the event of a disaster. With some disasters, it may be up to 72 hours before help can get to you, so it is important to protect you and your family.

hursmall.jpg (8540 bytes) Many folks become accustomed to storms of a lesser intensity and think that they can "ride it out". While it may not have high winds or rain, another danger factor to keep in mind is the issue of storm surge. Storm surge has killed more people in a hurricane than the winds and rains. People in areas that are along waterfront locations should be mindful of this situation and be ready to evacuate when advised.

The National Weather Service categorizes hurricanes by intensity on a scale of 1 to 5; which include:

Category	Wind	Storm Surge
I	74-95 mph	4-5 ft.
II	96-110	6-8
III	111-130	9-12
IV	131-155	13-18
V	156+	19+

If you have questions on this or any other emergency topic contact:

Pamlico County Emergency Management at (252) 745-4131

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