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Hurricanes
You can begin this process by gathering family members and making sure each person is well-informed on potential hazards and community plans. Discuss with them what you would do if family members are not home when a warning is issued.
Protect Your Property or Business
Hurricanes cause heavy rains and become tropical systems that can also cause extensive flood damage in coastal and inland areas. Everyone is at risk and should consider flood insurance protection. Flood insurance is the only way to financially protect your property or business from flood damage.
Flood insurance is affordable and available through nearly 100 insurance companies in more than 21,000 participating communities nationwide. To learn more about your flooding risk and how to protect yourself and your business, visit the NFIP Web site, or call 1-800-427-2419.
For more information on hurricane preparedness visit the National Hurricane Center website.
"In the last 30 years, inland flooding has been responsible for more than half the deaths associated with tropical cyclones in the United States."
Ed Rappaport
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center says, “When it comes to hurricanes, wind speeds do not tell the whole story. Hurricanes produce storm surges, tornadoes, and often the most deadly of all - inland flooding.
While storm surge is always a potential threat, more people have died from inland flooding in the last 30 years. Intense rainfall is not directly related to the wind speed of tropical cyclones. In fact, some of the greatest rainfall amounts occur from weaker storms that drift slowly or stall over an area.
Inland flooding can be a major threat to communities hundreds of miles from the coast as intense rain falls from these huge tropical air masses.”
What can you do?
- When you hear hurricane, think inland flooding.
- Determine whether you live in a potential flood zone.
- If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
- Keep abreast of road conditions through the news media.
- Move to a safe area before access is cut off by floodwater.
- Do not attempt to cross-flowing water. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
- Develop a flood emergency action plan.
- Have flood insurance. Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.
- Do not make assumptions. Check your policy.
The National Flood Insurance Program is a pre-disaster flood mitigation and insurance protection program. The National Flood Insurance Program makes federally backed flood insurance available to residents and business owners
National Flood Insurance Program call 1-888-CALL-FLOOD ext. 445, TDD# 1-800-427-5593.
For more information, contact Hancock County EMA at 667-8126 or Email the Hancock County EMA
All thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning. In the United States, an average of 300 people are injured and 80 people are killed each year by lightning. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms.
Other associated dangers of thunderstorms include tornadoes, strong winds, hail, and flash flooding. Flash flooding is responsible for more fatalities—more than 140 annually—than any other thunderstorm-associated hazard.
The following are guidelines for what you should do if a thunderstorm is likely in your area:
- Postpone outdoor activities.
- Get inside a home, building, or hard top automobile (not a convertible). Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.
- Remember, rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.
- Secure outdoor objects that could blow away or cause damage.
- Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades, or curtains.
- Avoid showering or bathing. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.
- Use a corded telephone only for emergencies. Cordless and cellular telephones are safe to use.
- Unplug appliances and other electrical items such as computers and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.
- Use your battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio for updates from local officials.
Avoid the following:
- Natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area
- Hilltops, open fields, the beach, or a boat on the water
- Isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas
- Anything metal—tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs, and bicycles
| If you are: |
Then: |
| In a forest |
Seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees. |
| In an open area |
Go to a low place such as a ravine or valley. Be alert for flash floods. |
| On open water |
Get to land and find shelter immediately. |
Anywhere you feel your hair stand on end (which indicates that lightning is about to strike)
|
Squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands over your ears and your head between your knees. Make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize your contact it the ground. DO NOT lie flat on the ground. |
Did you know that a flood, fire, natural disaster or the loss of power from high winds, snow, or ice could jeopardize the safety of your food? Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Always keep meat, poultry, fish and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 degrees F. and frozen food at or below 0 degrees F. This may be difficult when the power is out. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours(24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic foot full freezer for two days. Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.
Be prepared for an emergency by having items on hand that don’t require refrigeration and can be eaten cold or heated on the outdoor grill. Shelf-stable food, boxed or canned milk, water and canned goods should be part of a planned emergency food supply. Make sure you have ready-to-use baby formula for infants and pet food. Remember to use these items and replace them from time to time. Be sure to keep a hand-held can opener for an emergency.
Consider what you can do ahead of time to store your food safely in an emergency. If you live in a location that could be affected by a flood, plan your food storage on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water. Coolers are a great help for keeping food cold if the power goes out for more than four hours—have a couple on hand along with frozen gel packs. When your freezer is not full, keep items close together—this helps the food stay cold longer.
Digital, dial, or instant-read food thermometers and appliance thermometers will help you know if the food is at safe temperatures. Keep appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer at all times. When the power is out, an appliance thermometer will always indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer no longer how long the power has been out. The refrigerator temperature should be 40 degrees F. or below: the freezer, 0 degrees F or lower. If you’re not sure a particular food is cold enough, take its temperature with a food thermometer.
What Is an Emergency Food Supply?
Having an emergency food supply means you won't go hungry when transportation, weather, health, or other problems prevent you from getting your usual supply of groceries or meals.
What Type of Foods Should I Buy?
Many of the foods in an emergency supply may be the usual foods you buy and have on hand. Choose foods that store well from each of the food groups to provide the variety of nutrients you need.
What's the Difference Between an Emergency Food Supply and My Regular Groceries?
An emergency food supply is stored in a separate part of your cupboard so it is handy when the unexpected happens. Use the list in this publication or make your own list. Keep it with the emergency foods, so you can check your supply and replenish it when needed.
What Foods Should I Include?
Look at the list and choose the foods that you like. Add others to replace the suggestions you don't care for. If you are on a special diet, consider that when making choices. Foods listed require a little preparation.
Does the Grocery List Assume That I Have Any Foods on Hand?
Yes, it assumes that you have about 1 quart of milk and half a loaf of bread (per person). To be prepared, store some bread in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator or buy a larger box of crackers. Including a small box (9.6 ounce) of nonfat dairy milk in the emergency food supply may also be a good idea. Mixing dry milk (following package directions) and adding it to the milk you have on hand will stretch your supply.
How Much Will the Emergency Food Supply Cost?
The foods in the grocery list will cost about $20 (as of publication date of 1998). All of the foods will not be eaten in the three days. If your food budget is tight, buy one or two items each week until you have your emergency food supply.
What If There is No Electricity or Gas for Preparing and Refrigerating Food?
Be prepared with small cans of fruit, fruit or vegetable juice boxes, cans of tuna, and other canned meat such as deviled ham, pudding cups, peanut butter, cereals, crackers, nonfat dry milk, and evaporated (canned) milk.
How Long Can the Emergency Food Supply Be Stored in My Cupboard?
Store foods in a cool place away from any direct source of heat. Date the foods when you buy them. If they haven't been needed for an emergency by their use date, use them for your regular meals and replace them. Look for dates on the packages that give the date by which the food should be used. Generally, crackers and cereals should be used within three months. Dried fruit, peanut butter, dry milk, instant coffee and cocoa mix should be used within six months. Canned foods may keep indefinitely, but it is a good idea to use and replace them within a year.
Suggested Menus for Three Days
- Day 1:
Breakfast: Cold cereal, milk, juice, coffee or tea
Lunch: Peanut butter, bread, applesauce, cocoa
Dinner: Canned chili, crackers, corn, milk
- Day 2:
Breakfast: Toast, peanut butter, juice, coffee or tea
Lunch: Tuna, bread, peaches, cocoa or juice
Dinner: Canned beef stew, crackers, pudding, milk
- Day 3:
Breakfast: Cold cereal, milk, juice, coffee or tea
Lunch: Cheese, crackers, pork and beans, fruit cocktail, cocoa
Dinner: Tomato or other soup, peanut butter, bread, applesauce, milk
Snacks: Pudding, dried fruits, small packages of peanuts or other nuts, cocoa, individual cans of juice, coffee or tea.
Suggested Grocery List
(for 1 person, increase as needed for household)
- Dry cereal - 1 (7-ounce) box
- Crackers - 1 box (8-ounces or larger)
- Peanut butter - 1 (12-ounce) jar
- Canned juice - 1 6-pack of 6-ounce containers
- Applesauce - 1 4-pack of 6-ounce containers
- Peaches - 1 (8-ounce) can
- Fruit cocktail - 1 (8-ounce) can
- Pork and beans - 1 (8-ounce) can
- Corn - 1 (8-ounce) can
- Tuna - 1 (3 1/4-ounce) can
- Processed cheese spread - 1 (8-ounce) box or 4 1/4-ounce jar
- Beef stew - 1 small can or container
- Chili - 1 small can or container
- Tomato or other soup - 1 can
- Cocoa - 1 box of individual packets
- Pudding - 1 4-pack of 4 1/4-ounce containers
- Raisins or dried prunes - 1 12-ounce package
- Peanuts or other nuts - 1 package or jar
- Tea - 1 box with 16 bags or 1 (2-ounce) jar instant coffee
- Nonfat dried milk - 1 box
- Bottled water - 1 gallon
If you have pets, remember to plan ahead for their needs also.
Don’t Forget About Your Pet!
Why Pet owners must plan:
Public shelters will not accept pets. If you wait until the last minute to evacuate, you may have no choice but to go to a public shelter. If such a situation should force you to leave pets behind, please prepare your children and other family members for the fact that their pets may not survive or may be irretrievably lost before you are able to return to your home.
A written DISASTER PLAN will help you and your pets survive. Try to identify veterinarians or kennels, keeping a listing in your disaster plan. Make sure all your pets have current immunizations and take these records with you if you must evacuate. You should also include a current photograph of your pet. All animals should have secure carriers (or collapsible cages for large dogs) as well as collars, leashes and rabies tags. Carriers should be large enough for the animals to stand comfortably and turn around. Train your pets to become familiar with their carriers ahead of time and then the carrier will be a secure and comforting refuge if the animal is required to live in it for days following the storm.
Your pet survival kit should include ample food (at least 2 weeks supply); water/food bowls; medications; specific care instructions; newspapers and plastic trash bags for handling waste; brushes, combs and other hygiene items; toys and other comfort items; muzzles if necessary. A manual can opener is a necessity. All belongings should be marked with identification. If you are not evacuating your pets to a commercial animal facility, you should also include first aid supplies for you pets in the survival kit. Ask your Vet for an emergency care pamphlet for animals.
If you plan to shelter your pets at a kennel or clinic, call before evacuating to determine if space is available. If you have exotic pets, contact local pet stores or zoological gardens, in a safe area, for assistance in sheltering your pet. The facility you choose should be operated by knowledgeable and capable staff and the location should be high, dry and of sturdy construction.
IF YOU CAN STAY AT HOME, it is just as important to adequately plan for your pets even if you don’t have to evacuate. Your pets will be most comfortable and secure in their carriers in a safe area of your home until the storm has passed. If they are not secured during the storm and your house is damaged, your pets may escape and become disoriented, since normal landmarks and scent trail could be gone. If your pets become lost, proper ID will ensure their return to you. Once your pet has been placed in its carrier it should not be left unattended or left behind.
Place your pet food and medication in watertight containers in a cool, dry, dark place. Store adequate water for your pets. Your water source may become contaminated. (To purify water, add 2 drops of household bleach per quart of water, mix, seal tightly, let stand for 30 minutes before drinking).
When you know you have done everything you can do to protect ALL members of the family, disaster preparedness will give you tremendous peace of mind.
Be critical of your plan, review and update it with your family regularly.
Always stay tuned to a local radio or television station for the latest advisories and instructions.
- MAKE A FAMILY DISASTER PLAN INCLUDING PLANS AND PREPARATIONS FOR ANY EMERGENCY.
- MAKE SURE ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLAN
- PRACTICE AND MAINTAIN IT.
- SHARE YOUR FAMILY’S PLANS WITH FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.
To learn more facts regarding preparing for hazardous weather, you can visit our office at:
50 State St., Suite 4, Ellsworth, ME or FEMA’s website.
Email Hancock County EMA
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