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During the Hurricane
It’s normal to feel heightened anxiety during a hurricane, but if you’ve taken the necessary precautions and made emergency preparations, If you did not evacuate and will be at your residence, now is the time to shelter in place and execute your plan. Remember, the state and federal government, as well as many disaster services agencies are tracking the hurricane and building strategies for necessary aid. Use this time to try and accept what you can’t control, and know that help will be available after the storm should you need it.
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Stay Inside and Away from Windows
Remain indoors and away from windows, doors, and exterior walls during a hurricane. If necessary, take refuge in a designated storm shelter or a small, windowless interior room at the lowest possible level.
Monitor updates from your local National Weather Service office and local government/emergency management office. Listen for any change in instructions from local authorities and be prepared to evacuate if directed to do so. Be advised that the eye of a hurricane can be deceiving, as the quiet, two to 30-minute lull that characterizes the eye is followed by stronger winds from the opposite direction. Wait for officials to declare that a storm has passed before exiting your place of shelter.
Ready Your Emergency Plans and Practice Safety Measures
Even the most rehearsed safety measures can slip past us in times of stress. Remember these tips and if possible, have a buddy system where another adult can help reinforce the steps of your emergency action plan.
· Avoid using candles or open flames during the storm. If you need lighting while the electricity is out, stick to flashlights, battery-powered lanterns, solar powered lamps, or survival-rated glow sticks.
· Turn off utilities if instructed to do so or if flooding is imminent.
· Find ways to keep your mind at ease and to help children and pets stay calm. Play cards or board games, tell stories, build a fort, and create a comforting space using soft music.
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Most hurricanes bring partial or total loss of power to people within its path. If you plan to use a generator as a secondary source of power, follow the directions supplied with the generator and stay aware of the carbon monoxide, fire, and electrocution hazards.
· Use generators outdoors and away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. (Consider installing battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms inside your home prior to the storm to alert you of dangerous levels.)
· Operate generators on dry surfaces under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp held up on poles.
· Never use a generator in rain or wet conditions and avoid touching the generator with wet hands.
· Always connect your generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords.
· Never hook your generator directly into your home power supply without hiring a licensed electrician to install the appropriate power transfer switch.
· Fuel your generator outside, and do not store fuel for your generator in your house or near fuel-burning appliances, such as gas stoves.
· Be sure to turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. According to FEMA, gasoline and other flammable liquids spilled on hot engine parts could ignite, and invisible vapors from the fuel can travel along the ground and be ignited by the generator’s pilot light or by arcs from electric switches in the appliance.
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This information is being provided for general informational purposes only. The Auto Club Group does not assume any liability in connection with providing this information.