Family Emergency Plan

Assign roles/responsibilities for hurricane preparedness and evacuation to each member of the household long before actual storm. Establish an evacuation plan and map out exit strategy and route. Review emergency plans monthly. Ensure all doors and windows are properly secured to make break-ins difficult. Alert parish disaster coordinator and police when evacuating premises. Place furniture on raised platform, e.g. building blocks, to prevent flood damage. If not carrying all important documents, such as passports and ID cards, lock them in a watertight container.

Disaster Supplies

Three-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day) and ready-to-eat non-perishable foods, such as tuna, sardines, tinned sausage, crackers, canned fruit

Manual can opener

Battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries

First-aid kit

Medication

Important documents, including passports, birth certificates, insurance policies

Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members

Change of clothes for everyone

Emergency tools

Extra set of home and car keys

Extra pair of glasses or contact lenses, extra batteries for hearing aids - [] Matches and candles, hurricane lamps - [] Bleach and other cleansers - [] Tissue, soap, sanitary napkins - [] Disposable cups, plates, utensils - [] Large plastic trash bags - [] Containers for water storage - [] Coal or oil stove, grill - [] Portable cooler - []100 feet of rope - [] Tape - [] Blankets and towels - [] Mosquito repellent - [] Tarpaulin

Terms you should know

TROPICAL STORM: An organised system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation and top winds of 63 kph (39 mph) to 118 kph (74 mph). HURRICANE WATCH: Hurricane conditions possible within 36 hours. HURRICANE WARNING: Hurricane conditions expected within 24 hours. HURRICANE: An intense tropical weather system with a well-defined circulation and wind speeds of 118 kph (74 mph) or higher. Hurricanes are categorised according to their wind speed: Tropical storm: winds 39-73 mph Hurricanes Category One: winds 74-95 mph Category Two: winds 96-110 mph Category Three: winds 111-130 mph Category Four: winds 131-155 mph Category Five: winds 156 mph and up

How to store water and food

Store enough water to last two weeks for each person in your household. A normal active person requires a minimum of one litre of water per day for drinking and food preparation. Label the containers with the current date and renew your drinking supply each month.

Store emergency food in waterproof containers.

Arrange items so that those stored first will be used first.

Observe expiration dates on packaged foods.

Wrap bread, cookies, crackers, and dry goods in plastic bags and store in airtight containers. Your storage area should be dry, cool and free from contamination by insects, poisons and other chemicals. Water should be stored in clean, well-covered containers