Media contact: Janet C. Hart, APR, CFEE (704) 927-8617 office.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. --According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Sandy is going to be a powerful storm that will impact the Eastern United States over the next week.
Knowing what to do before, during and after the store is a critical step in emergency preparedness that everyone needs to take regardless of what part of the country you live in.
The BBB recommends having a basic emergency kit with the following essentials in case of a disaster:
Emergency Documents Packet:
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- Passport
- Any other official, hard-to-replace documents
- Contact information for you, your family, your nearest relatives, and your employers.
- Will and medical directives: Add a copy of your will or living trust and medical letter of instructions
- Insurance: Homeowners, auto mobile, medical, life, disability, and other insurance with policy numbers
- Financial accounts: Bank, investment, and credit card and loan account information
- Health records: Immunization records, allergies, dietary restrictions, medications, medical/surgical treatments
- Pet information: Description of each pet, vet contact information, photo of pet, and any important medical notes
- Property: Car information, home purchase papers, deeds, and other home inventory items.
Supplies:
- Water and food for three days for family. (One gallon per person per day.)
- Pet supplies – food, water, leash, collar, bedding, medicines.
- Blankets, towels, tarp
- A manual can opener
- First aid kit, prescriptions
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air, and plastic sheeting and duct tape to provide protection from the outdoor elements
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal hygiene purposes
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Local maps
- Small battery-operated radio with extra batteries or an emergency crank combination radio, flashlight, and clock device.
The BBB recommends using FEMA's website at http://www.ready.gov/ to learn about the potential emergencies that could occur including hurricanes, like Sandy, and the appropriate ways to respond to them.
When you know what to do, you can plan and prepare in advance to be ready.
FEMA provides information about how to protect your household for the storm and begin recovery following the initial disaster.
