It's Hurricane Season: Are You Ready? --Part 1

It’s difficult to believe that almost a year has passed since our encounter with Super Storm Sandy. For many Long Islanders, it has been a year of rebuilding and getting back to normal, a costly year of work and strategic planning. All of us now have a much more heightened awareness of just what the fall hurricane season can thrust upon us.

We’re lucky that the media gives us a pretty good idea of when a major storm is headed our way, and that gives us time to prepare. We’ve compiled some “lessons learned” from Super Storm Sandy, which should help all of us be more prepared this hurricane season

Things to handle no later than when a storm watch or warning is issued:

· Fill your vehicle with gas.

· Have extra cash on hand, preferably in small bills.

· Fill prescriptions.

· Bring in loose objects from your yard and tie down larger ones that must remain outside.

· Purchase non–perishable food and bottled water, and have a manual can opener on hand.

· Ensure you have ample batteries for flashlights/radios.

· Fill propane tanks.

· Set up a family emergency plan, paying particular attention to relatives with special needs, small children and pets.

· Set up an emergency phone list of people and organizations that family members may need to contact.

· Store important documents and valuables in waterproof containers and place on highest floor of home.

· Set up a “to go” box.  Plan ahead, and include a list, in a plastic, water-tight container, that details the items you cannot leave behind should you need to evacuate. We often lose our “level” head when situations escalate, so this enables you to simply collect what is on the list and be ready to go!

· Obtain and store plywood to secure doors and windows if the storm rating is high.

· Have plastic bags and ties on hand (for sanitation).

· Notify someone unaffected by the storm of your whereabouts during a storm, whether you are remaining in your home, or moving to an alternate location.

Check back next week, when we will discuss what to do during and immediately after a major storm.

By Nancy Geiger

Nancy is the Director of the Gurwin Home Care Agency, where many staff spent days, weeks and months assisting clients with their recovery after Super Storm Sandy devastated Long Island. For information on Gurwin Home Care, visit www.gurwin.org.