Preparing For A Storm

• Use hurricane shutters or board up windows and doors with 5/8 inch plywood
• Bring outside items in if they could be picked up by the wind
• Clear gutters of debris
• Reinforce the garage door
• Turn the refrigerator to its coldest setting in case power goes off. Use a cooler to keep from opening the doors on the freezer or refrigerator
• Fill a bathtub with water
• Get full tank of gas in one car
• Go over the evacuation plan with the family, and learn alternate routes to safety
• Learn the location of the nearest shelter or nearest pet-friendly shelter
• Put an ax in your attic in case of severe flooding
• Evacuate if ordered and stick to marked evacuation routes, if possible
• Store important documents — passports, Social Security cards, birth certificates, deeds — in a watertight container
• Have a current inventory of household property
• Leave a note to say where you are going
• Unplug small appliances and electronics before you leave