It's hurricane season, y'all! I know, I know, up here in the Shreveport-Bossier Area, we don't have to worry all THAT much about hurricanes very often due to being literally nowhere NEAR the gulf coast.
That being said, occasionally, hurricanes really do make it up this far. Before you start to panic, DON'T! Even the bigger ones don't make it up here in anywhere near the same intensity as they do in South Louisiana.
Rita & Gustav both were hurricanes that made it up this far. By the time we saw them, they had been downgraded from their previous categories and were for the most unusually heavy rain and a lot of wind. We also have to watch for the double whammy (NOT Marco, thankfully,) HOWEVER, tornadoes are a very real possibility, so don't be shocked if this happens.
While we don't prepare in the same ways as our counterparts along the gulf coast do, there are still a few measures you will want to take, ESPECIALLY with regard to the pandemic.
The pandemic means we won't see shelters opening in the ways that we have in the past and we will need to take a few extra precautions in the event any of us need to seek shelter with friends or family or even find ourselves in a shelter.
RESOURCE LINKS |
*Collect sandbags from city distribution points HERE*
*List Yourself as Safe and Well*
*Sign up for text/email updates or get the SWEPCO app HERE*
*Report Power Outages: 1-800-218-3919*
*Report Gas Issues*
You may only see a temporary power outage (knock on wood) at your house and maybe a few limbs down. The drainage ditches may also back up and cause a bit of flooding in low-lying areas, so think about how your neighborhood weathered the last super big rainstorm to assess the chances of if you need to worry about sand bags or not. Either way, there are a few precautions you may want to take. Feel free to tailor these to your specific household (you probably won't need to do ALL of these.)
Here is what you may want to plan for.
PREPARE YOUR HOUSE |
Remove outdoor items
Trim dead branches on your trees
Fill gas tanks in vehicles & containers
Get extra cash & store it safely
Move furniture from windows
Store important documents in waterproof container/Ziploc bag
Collect sandbags to help in case of rising water
Secure yard items & bikes, furniture & outdoor toys or weight them down (Stakes for trampolines & larger objects)
Fill all tubs with water for flushing toilets later
Gather & place tools, chainsaw & gas can in easy to access location in case you need them
Take pictures/video of each room in your house for insurance purposes
Place Insurance Cards/Policy Info into your document bag
CREATE A HURRICANE KIT |
Battery operated radio, lanterns and clock
Candles and matches
Flashlights
Glow-Sticks (Use in bathrooms/hallways to save batteries)
Batteries of all sizes
First Aid Kit (Check NOW & Restock!)
Rain gear
Duct tape
Clean clothes and blankets
Plastic trash bags
Fire extinguisher
Scissors
Can Opener
Heavy Gloves
Pet Supplies: Leashes, collars/tags, water/food bowls, vet records & pet meds
FOOD AND WATER |
Pack 3-7 days worth of non-perishable food per person
Bottled Water - enough for 3 gallons/person=3 days worth
Bottled Juice
Baby Formula/Cereal/Food & Bottles
Three coolers - one for food, one for drinks, one for extra ice
Manual Can Opener
Dry dog food
Ice For Fridge/Freezer
TIPS, TRICKS & BASICS |
Gather & fully charge ALL phones/tablets/batteries & charging cables
Have gallon Ziploc Bags For devices (You do NOT want to wade into water to reach safety without devices in the event of rising water)
Gather candles, matches, extra batteries & flashlights into one central location (Outages are NOT the time to hunt them down!)
Be prepared to place all frozen foods & fridge contents into trash bags in the event of an extended outage. Sooner than later saves your fridge.
Gather essential paperwork such as ID's, prescriptions, birth certificates/socials, IEP/Educational documents etc. & place into Ziploc bags
Prep cooler bag & freeze cooler packs for perishable medications. Lunch-boxes work well for this purpose, too.
Pack an essentials/overnight style bag for each family member, remember to include those household documents as well as important devices needed for just in case.
Gather necessary medications & pack them in waterproof container in case you need to evacuate. Keep with your paperwork & evacuation bags.
Locate & check pet carriers & plan for evacuation scenarios. Tag your pets AND write your cell number in permanent marker on their flea collars.
***Low tech is faster than relying on rescuers to have chip scanners***
Gather masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, a thermometer and disinfecting wipes to prevent the spread of coronavirus. If you have documentation of prior infection or your antibody test, include that as well in your important paperwork.
Place ALL necessary evacuation bags/carriers & supplies in one central location up OFF of the ground, ready to grab-n-go if need be.
Communication Plan: talk with family or friends ahead of time to develop a plan. Designate a place to meet up with them in the event you are unable to reach them by phone.
***Reminder from Katrina: when cell towers failed, text messages still went through and saved lives***
Do not walk through flowing water, as drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet;
Do not drive your car through a flooded area, as it does not take much water to carry away a vehicle. Do not drive around road barriers, because you do not know if the road of a bridge has been washed out;
Stay away from power lines and electrical wires, as electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to your utility company.
MORE RESOURCES |
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
TDD: 800-462-7585
www.fema.gov
American Red Cross
List Yourself as Safe and Well
Locate emergency shelter options by zip code by visiting the American Red Cross, or Salvation Army.
Text the word SHELTER and your zip code (example: SHELTER 01234) to 4FEMA (43362). For Spanish text REFUGIO and your zip code (example: REFUGIO 01234.)
