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What do I do in a hurricane?
By Pastor Fred Greco | September 12, 2008
With this storm headed our way, I trust everyone has or will be making preparations to sustain your families for at least 5 days. Things you should think about:
- We will likely loose electrical power for several days - for those who have generators - READ your safety section of the manual - know what you can and cannot plug into that generator based on it KV size. For the rest of us, batteries for flashlight, radio’s, etc…
- For those living around overhead electric lines - falling trees will likely knock these lines down. Please do not go out riding or walking to see damage, as you could put yourself in danger from fallen trees and power lines - A wooden limb can conduct electricity, so in no way use a stick broom handle, etc.. to try and move a downed power line. Leave it to the professionals!
- Use your ice chest or any big containers (bathtubs) to store water. Used to flush toilets, if you have camping stoves, used for cooking if needed.
- Charcoal & lighter fluid for BBQ grills if you should need to cook meats that maybe in your freezers. (NOTE: if you limit opening freezers doors, they will maintain coolness for several days)
- Those who have homes should store large tarps, 1×4 boards and nails to patch any holes in roofs that could be damaged. (Please do not climb on your roof while it is still storming - wait till it passes and do this only if you have experience and are able)
- If you were able to purchase plywood for doors and windows, know how your home is oriented (North, S, E, W) to put protected where needed the most. EX: My front door faces East. At the current path of Ike, the east and north sides will likely be the hardest hit, so cover those areas where you could see the potential for most damage.
- Likely most will struggle to get a cell phone call through. What most people don’t realize is that a cell text message will sit in cue and whenever a signal opens it will drop the text to your cell phone designation. During Katrina, I worked on the BP Emergency Team and this is how I communicated and found all BP employees who had not checked in before the storm hit. So if you need to reach someone and can’t get a call thru, text them over your cell phone.
NOW - Once this storm passes, I will be available to help anyone in need. I have tools and some supplies if you need a roof patched, window covered, etc… You can call me on my cell or text me and I’ll get back to you. If there are those who make it through the storm OK and are able to assist me, then please let me know.
Daryl Brister
Topics: Hurricanes |
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