Hurricane Preparedness Week

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

Hurricanes brew in the South and travel North, there is time to prepare so be smart and do it before the season starts.

This week SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann is focusing on what you can do to prepare your home or business for a giant storm front that can wipe out utilities as well as making it very dangerous to travel. New England’s hurricane season does technically start around June 1^st and ends around November 30^th but being prepared is vital in surviving this season unscathed. Here are some great tips to get ahead of the game and be ready for any type of storm, from a Tropical Storm to a classic Northshore Hurricane.

We at SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann are here 24/7 for your storm/water/fire damage needs call us today at (978) 927-8665 or https://www.SERVPRObeverlycapeann.com/

Risk Assessment:

Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. Find out how rain, wind, water and even tornadoes could happen far inland from where a hurricane or tropical storm makes landfall.

Stay Informed

• Pay attention to Emergency Information and Alerts.
• If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone and local officials tell you to evacuate, do so immediately

There are plenty of Weather Websites that also have corresponding applications for all of your devices to help you keep up to date with emergencies and intense weather with alerts you can set up for your area. Check out: https://weather.com/ or https://www.noaa.gov/ or your favorite local news channel to keep up do date when there is threat of an oncoming Hurricane and suspicious storm fronts.

Covering all your bases are important, so have SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann in mind when there is unfortunate damage to your home or business due to storm/water/fire damage. Save our number in your phone at (978) 927-8665 or in your browser at https://www.SERVPRObeverlycapeann.com/

Make an Emergency Plan:

Make sure everyone in your household and Business knows and understands your emergency storm plan. The best way to familiarize yourself and others with a plan is to have a meeting or brainstorming session to answer these questions:

• How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
• What is my shelter plan?
• What is my evacuation route?
• What is my family/household communication plan?
• Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?
• Check with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)and update my emergency plans due to Coronavirus. Get masks (for everyone over 2 years old), disinfectants, and check my sheltering plan.

Consider the specific needs of your household when making an Emergency Plan and be sure to include:

• Different ages of members within your household
• Responsibilities for assisting others
• Locations frequented
• Dietary needs
• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
• Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
• Languages spoken
• Cultural and religious considerations
• Pets or service animals
• Households with school-aged children

Here is a great fillable Emergency and Continuity plan from https://www.ready.gov/ to check out: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/family-emergency-communication-plan.pdf

Have Questions? Feel free to give SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann a call at (978) 927-8665 or check us out on our website: https://www.SERVPRObeverlycapeann.com/

Be a Good Neighbor:

Be one of the good guys and check on those in your neighborhood that might need some extra help during a storm emergency. Check with neighbors, senior adults, or those who may require extra help if there is need to be evacuated from the area. It only takes a little action to help those in need. Prepare a Neighborhood wide plan to make sure everyone is safe a prepared for Hurricane/Storm Season.

Supplies:

Build an Emergency Preparedness Kit with essential supplies incase Evacuation from your home or business is imminent:

• Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
• Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
• Manual can opener (for food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:

• Masks (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces
• Prescription Medication. About half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. An emergency can make it difficult for them to refill their prescription or to find an open pharmacy. Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins to prepare for an emergency.
• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids, or laxatives
• Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash or traveler's checks
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children

As well as having an emergency kit, you should also have all tech ready, keeping your cell phone charged when you know a hurricane is in the forecast and purchase backup charging devices to power electronics is just a smart idea.

Covering all your bases are important, so have SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann in mind when there is unfortunate damage to your home or business due to storm/water/fire damage. Save our number in your phone at (978) 927-8665 or in your browser at https://www.SERVPRObeverlycapeann.com/

Evacuation:

You may have to evacuate quickly due to a hurricane if you live in an evacuation zone. Learn your evacuation routes, practice with your household and pets, and identify where you will stay. Follow the instructions from local emergency managers, who work closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies, and partners. They will provide the latest recommendations based on the threat to your community and appropriate safety measures.

When dealing with weather:

• Determine how best to protect yourself from high winds and flooding.
• Take refuge in a designated storm shelter or an interior room for high winds.
• Go to the highest level of the building if you are trapped by flooding. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising flood water.
• Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.

To make an evacuation less stressful, plan and strengthen your home by de-cluttering drains and gutters, bring in outside furniture. If your home or business is in a frequent hurricane path, try to consider hurricane shutters or have plywood to be able to board up windows on hand.

We at SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann are here 24/7 for your storm/water/fire damage needs call us today at (978) 927-8665 or https://www.SERVPRObeverlycapeann.com/

Returning Home:

• Pay attention to local officials for information and special instructions.
• Be careful during clean up. Wear protective clothing, use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning growth or debris. People with asthma, lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or growth that can be seen or smelled, even if these individuals are not allergic to it. Children should not help with disaster cleanup work.
• Wear protective clothing and work with someone else.
• Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box to prevent electric shock.
• Do not wade in flood water, which can contain dangerous pathogens that cause illnesses. This water also can contain debris, chemicals, waste, and wildlife. Underground or downed power lines also can electrically charge the water.
• Save phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems often are down or busy after a disaster. Use text messages or social media to communicate with family and friends.
• Document any property damage with photographs. Contact your insurance company for assistance.

When you come home to storm damage call the professionals to take care of it so you don’t put yourself or family at risk. We at SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann are here 24/7 for your storm/water/fire damage needs call us today at (978) 927-8665 or https://www.SERVPRObeverlycapeann.com/

Being prepared is so important if you know that you live in an area like the Northshore, where storms can happen frequently one year and barely the next. Its just smart to have contingencies in place and save SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann’s number (978) 927-8665 or our website https://www.SERVPRObeverlycapeann.com/ in your emergency plan for the unfortunate aftermath.