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June
1st Marks the Start of the 2007 Hurricane Season
Hurricane season in New England traditionally
runs from June 1 through November 30, with the most activity from
mid-August to early November. Utilize the resources below to make
sure your family is prepared for this year's hurricane season.
Hurricane Preparedness Supply Checklist
Courtesy of Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
(MEMA)
- Canned goods and non perishable foods that do not need cooking,
such as:
- Canned meats and fish
- Canned fruits and vegetables
- Canned soups and puddings
- Canned fruit juices
- Dried fruit
- Bread, cookies and crackers
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Coffee and tea
- Bottled water
- Manual can opener
- Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day)
- Prescription medication (2 week suply)
- Pet food
- Water purification tablets (halazone)
- Disposable plates, cups and utensils
- Infant care items:
- Disposable diapers
- Baby wipes
- Baby Food
- Formula
- First aid supplies
- Masking and duct tape
- Flashlight or lantern, with extra batteries
- Battery operated radio, with extra batteries
- Watch or battery operated clock
- Ice chest
- Matches
- Canned heat (sterno)
- Portable outdoor camping stove or grill with fuel supply
- Plastic trash bags
- Plastic sheeting or drop cloth
- Chlorinated bleach
- Personal hygiene items
- Other useful items:
- Work gloves
- Sun lotion
- Insect repellent
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Wrenches
- Handsaw
- Razor knife
- Axe or chainsaw
- Rope caulking
- Nails and screws
- Rope and wire
- Broom, mop and bucket
- All-purpose cleaner
- Ladder
- Sandbags
- Portable generator
- Tree pruner
- Shovel, rake and wheelbarrow
- Sheets of plywood
PRESEASON HURRICANE TIPS
Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. For
southern New England, August through September is our most active
period. Since 1900, 30 of the 39 tropical storms and hurricanes
have struck in August and September. Of the 9 hurricanes which
made landfall in southern New England, all but one did so in August
or September. The exception was the New England hurricane of 1916
which made landfall on July 21st. Now is the time to review what
you need to do to protect yourself and your family, should a hurricane
threaten the area later this summer.
The evacuation question: To stay or leave:
Coastal residents may need to decide whether or not to evacuate.
If local officials recommend that you evacuate, do so immediately.
- Know the elevation of your property above mean sea level.
- Know the quickest route to the nearest storm shelter.
- If possible you may wish to make prior arrangements with family
or friends.
- If you live in a mobile or modular home, plan to leave.
- Realize that you will not be the only one heading inland. Be
ready to leave on short notice.
- Be sure to have pictures or at the very least, serial numbers
and a description of items in your house for insurance purposes.
Take your copy of the policy with you.
Boat owner and marina operators:
The boating community almost always suffers large losses when
a hurricane comes ashore. The boat owner in particular must stay
up to date on the latest forecasts and positions of tropical storms
and hurricanes, and be ready to act long before the storm makes
its final approach.
- Boat owners should have all the necessary gear on board for
properly tying down the vessel at the start of the boating season.
Precious time will be lost if you are rushing around searching
for gear when the storm is approaching.
- Realize that you may not be able to pull your boat out of the
water. Your only alternative will be to properly tie your boat
down. Practice these procedures at the start of the season.
- Have a plan worked out with the marina operator so there are
no questions or any confusion when the time comes to tie up or
pull the boat out of the water.
- Be sure to remove any non-Essential items and have pictures
and a written description of the vessel for insurance purposes.
The inland wind threat:
Inland residents may not need to evacuate, but must properly prepare
their property for high winds and disrupted utility power.
- Boarding up windows is a necessity for homes exposed to high
winds. Have nails and boards on hand for this purpose.
- Know where you will store outdoor furniture.
- Be ready to obtain bottled water. Local water supplies often
become contaminated after hurricanes.
- Have plenty of batteries on hand for flash lights, AM/FM radios,
and your NOAA weather radio.
- Do not use candles. Many people have been injured or killed
during and after hurricanes from fires set off by candles.
- Have canned food and other items that do not need refrigeration
on hand. It is almost a certainty that electrical and phone power
will be disrupted.
The "often forgotten" river flood threat:
While most southern New Englanders relate hurricanes to severe
coastal flooding, and rightfully so, history shows us that 15 tropical
storms and hurricanes since 1900 have caused significant inland
small stream and river flooding.
- Know where the closest storm shelter is located, and the quickest
route to it.
- Be ready to evacuate immediately if flooding occurs or is expected
to occur.
- If the inland river flood threat is high, you may wish to evacuate
before the hurricane hits.
- Like coastal residents and boat owners, have pictures and descriptions
of items in your home for insurance purposes.
Of all the many weather hazards that affect southern New England,
the hurricane is by far the most destructive. Unlike most other
weather hazards, a hurricane can impact every area of southern
New England producing the deadly combination of coastal inundation,
severe wind damage both along the coast as well as inland, and
torrential rainfall resulting in widespread small stream and river
flooding. Respect the power of the hurricane and be ready to act
should one pose a threat to our area.
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/hurtips.html
Hurricane Preparedness Links
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