HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TIPS
by Kathy Broyard, Executive Director/Emergency Management Specialist, FLAPDAN
The 2023 Hurricane Season, which begins June 1st, is predicted to be above average again and it’s time to begin our preparations. Here are a few tips...
Determine your risk: Is your neighborhood prone to flooding? Storm surge? Tornado or wind damage? With soaring construction prices, do you have enough insurance coverage?
STORM SURGE
FLOOD
Hurricane supplies: Restock your family hurricane kit. Don’t forget your pets!
Special Needs Registry: If you or someone you know has needs such as oxygen, medical equipment, refrigerated medications or other special requirements, help them to register NOW with their county’s Special Needs Registry. This gives officials important information to use in planning for vulnerable populations as well as allows first responders to provide special assistance during a disaster. Transportation to shelters can be provided.
Listen to your local authorities: Every county will have different plans and protocols best suited to their populations, communities and geography. Your local officials have updated hurricane plans, evacuation routes and shelter information, including which shelters are pet friendly. Listen to your local weather, emergency management and city/county officials. Heed their advice.
Churches: Check and update your disaster plan. If you don’t have one, start HERE. Make sure contact numbers for staff and others are current. Know your presbytery’s disaster protocol. Review your insurance policies. Do you have enough church coverage? Assist the vulnerable people in your congregation and surrounding community by helping them gather hurricane supplies, sign up on the Special Needs Registry or putting up storm shutters and then checking on them after a storm.
Churches are a vital part of a community’s response and recovery! Can you offer your building or grounds as a secondary post-storm shelter space, a point of distribution for supplies or a respite center for response workers? If so, please contact your local emergency management office and American Red Cross to let them know. They will work with you to determine if using your facility would be a possibility.
Please contact FLAPDAN with questions or if you need help creating or updating your disaster plan. We are here for you. Thank you for your continued support of FLAPDAN!
Determine your risk: Is your neighborhood prone to flooding? Storm surge? Tornado or wind damage? With soaring construction prices, do you have enough insurance coverage?
STORM SURGE
- Is the water that is pushed onto land as a hurricane makes landfall.
- Can range from a few feet to over 30 feet.
- Impacts coastal areas first, then moves inland.
- Is life threatening.
- Is fast moving, fast rising.
- Can wash away buildings and roadways.
- Know your evacuation zone. Know Your Zone
FLOOD
- Flooding can occur anywhere where topography and drainage patterns cannot efficiently move and store water away from development or other areas.
- Are you in a flood zone? Flood Maps
Hurricane supplies: Restock your family hurricane kit. Don’t forget your pets!
Special Needs Registry: If you or someone you know has needs such as oxygen, medical equipment, refrigerated medications or other special requirements, help them to register NOW with their county’s Special Needs Registry. This gives officials important information to use in planning for vulnerable populations as well as allows first responders to provide special assistance during a disaster. Transportation to shelters can be provided.
Listen to your local authorities: Every county will have different plans and protocols best suited to their populations, communities and geography. Your local officials have updated hurricane plans, evacuation routes and shelter information, including which shelters are pet friendly. Listen to your local weather, emergency management and city/county officials. Heed their advice.
Churches: Check and update your disaster plan. If you don’t have one, start HERE. Make sure contact numbers for staff and others are current. Know your presbytery’s disaster protocol. Review your insurance policies. Do you have enough church coverage? Assist the vulnerable people in your congregation and surrounding community by helping them gather hurricane supplies, sign up on the Special Needs Registry or putting up storm shutters and then checking on them after a storm.
Churches are a vital part of a community’s response and recovery! Can you offer your building or grounds as a secondary post-storm shelter space, a point of distribution for supplies or a respite center for response workers? If so, please contact your local emergency management office and American Red Cross to let them know. They will work with you to determine if using your facility would be a possibility.
Please contact FLAPDAN with questions or if you need help creating or updating your disaster plan. We are here for you. Thank you for your continued support of FLAPDAN!