Creating a Hurricane Preparedness Plan

Hurricanes cause enormous damage from dozens and sometimes hundreds of miles away. With hurricane season blowing in June 1, Daytona Beach residents can follow these three steps in creating a basic plan to keep their families safe during a tropical storm or hurricane.

Assemble the Essentials

FEMA provides a list of essential items that you need to ride out a hurricane and its aftermath for 10 days. You’ll want to include water, food, clothing and medical supplies along with a battery-powered radio and flashlight in your basic kit. A favorite toy can give comfort to frightened children while a deck of cards can stave off boredom. Keep your pets safe by updating identification tag information and packing a bag with pet supplies.

Establish a Family Communication Command Center

Severe storms can wipe out phone lines and cell towers, cutting you off from your loved ones. Your family’s hurricane preparedness plan should establish a meeting place, preferably the nearest emergency shelter, in case anyone gets separated. Everyone should also check in with a designated relative who lives out of town. Have children carry their own backpack filled with a bottle of water and snack as well as emergency contact information if they get separated from an adult. Every phone and tablet should have the FEMA app downloaded to receive real-time weather alerts, locate emergency shelters and share updates on social media.

Be Prepared for Flooding

When a natural disaster damages your home, it is critical to contact your insurance companies as soon possible. Collect copies of your important household documents and phone numbers for insurers, banks and creditors, and seal everything in a waterproof bag. You must also act quickly to prevent further damage to your home if it is affected by floodwaters or a storm surge. Contact the water damage experts at ServiceMaster Restoration at (386) 267-5806 to ensure that all moisture is thoroughly removed so a dangerous mold situation doesn’t develop.