Important Tips for Storm Success

Important Tips for Storm Success

Important Tips for Storm Success Do not wait: Start building your kit early in the season, as supplies run out quickly. Click here for a Disaster Supply Kit Checklist as published by FloridaDisaster.org Know your evacuation zone: Click here to find it Know your flood zone: Click here to find it Click here to find shelter information Check expiration dates: Replace stored food and water every six (6) months. Plan for pets: - Ensure you have enough food and medication for pets - Have carriers and leashes ready - Check which shelters accept pets (most do not) - Consider boarding pets at a kennel in a safe location - Keep up-to-date immunization records (required by many kennels) - Bring pets in a carrier with sufficient food - If not using a public shelter, take pets with you in a carrier - Pack a familiar toy, leash, and medications - Ensure pets have current identification in case of separation - Arrange for exotic pets (e.g., snakes, parrots) to stay with friends or relatives outside the area Plan for Your Business - develop a written hurricane plan including specific policies and procedures to protect employees and patrons. Let your employees know about the plan and where it is located. Practice it once before hurricane season begins. Resident evacuations–Evacuate mobile homes or manufactured homes. If you have special medical needs, you need to evacuate to a special needs shelter. Notify neighbors and family members outside of the warned area about evacuation plans. Food and drinking water - In an emergency, prioritize drinking bottled water and eating non-perishable foods. Keep refrigerator/freezer doors closed to preserve food; freezers stay cold ~2 days if full. Discard food contacting floodwater or that smells/looks unusual. Do not use water until the local water utility, through the media, says it is safe to do so. Drinking Water Safety Best Options: Use stored bottled water, aiming for one gallon per person per day. Alternative Water Sources: If bottled water is unavailable, you can use water from water heaters (not the tank itself, but the drain valve), melted ice cubes, or canned fruit juice. Purifying Water - Boiling: Bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1–3 minutes. - Disinfecting: Add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of unscented household bleach per gallon of clear water. Mix and let sit for 30 minutes. - Cloudy Water: If water is cloudy, filter it through a clean cloth or let it settle, then filter before boiling or sanitizing. - What to Avoid: Never drink water from radiators, boilers, or waterbeds. Do not rely on commercial filters alone; sanitize the water after filtering. Food Safety - Power Outages: Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A refrigerator keeps food cold for four (4) hours; a full freezer lasts forty-eight (48) hours. - After Floods: Discard any food that came into contact with floodwater, including canned goods, jars, and cardboard containers. - Safe Food Choices: Focus on canned goods, dry mixes, and energy bars. Clean and sanitize any food containers before opening. - Temperature Control: If safe to do so, keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood on ice to prevent spoilage. Hygiene & Preparation - Handwashing: Wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially before preparing food. If water is contaminated, use alcohol-based sanitizers. - Sanitize Utensils: Use boiled or treated water to wash dishes. - Baby Formula: Always use bottled or boiled water to prepare infant formula.