Are you ready for Irene? A hurricane checklist

Are you ready for Irene? A hurricane checklist

By ANIKA CLARK
aclark@s-t.com
August 27, 2011 12:00 AM
Windy and unwelcome, Hurricane Irene is heading our way. If you've been at work or out of touch, it's not too late to take action before the storm hits. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy, happy and safe.

With Hurricane Irene at SouthCoast's door step, it may be too late to truly storm-proof your home or move to California. But there's still plenty you can do today to help weather the storm.

STAY IN THE LOOP

Monitor the storm via the news, radio or www.weather.gov.
Create a list of emergency phone numbers.
Create a communication plan for your family, designating an out-of-town relative or friend as a point-of-contact who can be easily reached.
Check in on elderly loved ones or neighbors. Make sure they're aware of the storm. Consider inviting them to your house so they aren't alone.
For friends and family with special needs, confer about how you'll stay in contact.
If you have special needs, create a support team to assist you and check with local emergency personnel about additional assistance that might be available.
A free "smart" Red Cross shelter application can be downloaded for your iPhone from the iTunes store.
New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang will give live updates on cable access Channel 18 at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. (And also Monday at 10 a.m.).
STOCK UP

Get supplies, such as a hand-operated can opener, batteries, battery-operated portable radio, gloves, sanitary wipes, a First-Aid kit, wrenches or pliers for shutting off utilities, a whistle to get help, enough non-perishable food for three to five days and at least a gallon of water per person, per day. Stock up on diapers, formula, and other items for babies and have a camera handy and charged to document storm damage. Keep all disaster items in the safest spot in your home, which is also a good place to hunker down in severe weather.
Buy extra flashlight batteries. Avoid candles in a power outage because of the fire risk.
If you might be evacuated or in danger in your home, make arrangements for where you'll go.
Get cash. ATMs might be down, along with computerized systems needed for credit card purchases.
If you have a portable generator, make sure it's working, installed properly and away from the house to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Fill your car's gas tank.
Charge your cellphone — before the power goes out.
If you have propane stoves or grills, fill those tanks, too.
GET THINGS DONE

Bring in lawn chairs, signs, awnings or any outdoor item that could become a projectile in strong wind.
Make sure farm equipment — tractors, chainsaws and generators are filled with fuel, and tie down anything that can blow away. Secure barn doors and animals. Make sure drainage and irrigation systems are fully operational.
The American Red Cross and Southcoast Health System are urging people to donate platelets and whole blood before the hurricane hits. Southcoast Blood Banks open today from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and donations will also be taken at the Southcoast Health Van, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Lakeville Chiropractic at 350 Bedford St. See www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS for other open blood banks.
Know where your main utility shutoff valves and switches are and how to operate them.
The Massachusetts State Police says people should be in a secure, indoors location by late tonight.
STAY HEALTHY

Fill medical prescriptions.
If you're on life support systems that depend on electricity, make a contingency plan.
Create a portable disaster kit for your health needs. This might include extra hearing aid and wheelchair batteries, glasses, oxygen, the serial numbers of your medical devices, a list of your allergies, medications (including dosage) and medical history, medical cards and insurance and heavy gloves to help clear glass and debris from a wheelchair's path.
Mark all medical equipment (canes, wheelchairs, etc.) with your contact information and wear any medical alert bracelet you have to alert people to your medical needs.
Dialysis patients who receive treatment at a dialysis center, pregnant women who may need to go to the hospital or anyone needing to see a medical provider should arrange backup transportation. Diabetic dialysis patients unable to get treatment should check their sugar levels more frequently and consult their doctors. Regardless of their providers, dialysis patients can call Fresenius Medical Care North America's national hot line at 1-800-626-1297 for information about available facilities. Information is also available at www.ultracare-dialysis.com.
PROTECT PETS

Have cat carriers and leashes and/or crates for dogs ready.
Have extra food on-hand for pets.
Stock up on cat litter, and make sure dogs and cats have secure collars, complete with licenses and rabies tags, and the numbers for your cellphone and an emergency contact.
If you might be evacuated and wouldn't be able to bring a pet with you, start checking on animal shelters or kennels or make arrangements for them to stay with a friend or relative. If you'd need to stay in a hotel or motel, make inquiries about which ones are pet-friendly.
Compile vaccination and medical records and a week's worth of medication in a waterproof bag or container. Also have a picture of your pet for identification.
SAFEGUARD YOUR BUSINESS

Bring in signs, trash cans, etc. Lift items and move equipment, merchandise and furniture away from windows.
Disconnect appliances (except refrigerators) and other electrical equipment and shut off the electricity.
Keep copies of corporate records in a separate location and consider making plans for backing up computer files.
Create a plan for notifying employees about their return to work, make arrangements to pay them in cash if necessary, consider ID badges to help them reach your business in the storm's wake and give them time to make their own personal preparations. A comprehensive list of tips can be found at http://www.ready.gov/business. Tips are also available through MEMA and through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at 1-888-MY-BIZ-HELP or http://bclc.uschamber.com/programs/disaster/national-help-desk-business.
Boat owners

Use plugs and duct tape to seal windows, hatches, ports, vents and doors. Remove electronics and valuables. Collect and store important information and documents, including boat registration, insurance, a picture of the vessel and an inventory of gear, off the boat. Help other boat owners secure their vessels and don't attempt to ride out the storm.

Enduring the brunt of the storm today is all about staying safe and indoors. Here are some things you should do:

Heed warnings, keep monitoring the weather and stay inside as much as possible.
Avoid downed power wires.
If you have to drive, avoid water higher than the bottom of wheel rims and have a portable emergency kit in your car.
NStar customers can report power outages at 1-800-592-2000. Verizon's customers can contact the company at 1-800-837-4966 or www.verizon.com/support.
Shelters will be listed, as they open, at www.RedCross.org The Red Cross also maintains a "Safe and Well" site that allows people to register and let loved ones know they're safe and sheltered. Register at 1-800-RED CROSS. Register and look for loved ones at https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php. If needed, New Bedford High School is the city's main mass shelter site. Old Rochester Regional High School has also been designated as another potential evacuation site.
If you use a portable generator, follow safety instructions. Don't use it inside, by open windows or in garages. Use battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms and test the batteries. If the alarm sounds or if you feel sleepy, dizzy or have symptoms of weakness, headaches or confusion, get fresh air right away and call a poison center at 1-800-222-1222.
During an outage, turn off large appliances and electronics. This will help prevent damage when the power is restored. Also leave a single light switched on to alert you when power returns.
To the extent that it's safe, check on neighbors and loved ones.
Texting can have greater success than cellphone voice calls during periods of high usage.
Monday

By Monday, according to Friday's forecasts, SouthCoast will have said "Bye" to Irene. Now, it's time to:

Check on neighbors.
Avoid limbs, branches, debris and downed power lines and utility poles. When cutting and clearing, watch out for power wires that might be tangled in branches and limbs.
If it's safe, don't wait to start cleanup. Contact your insurance company, document and photograph all damage and keep receipts.
Protect any important papers and damage-documenting pictures — either in hard copy or saved on a digital drive — in a waterproof bag.
A $10 donation can be made to the American Red Cross' Disaster Relief by texting "Red Cross" to 90999. Donations can also be made to local Red Cross chapters.
Sources: The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, AAA, Nathan L'Etoile, assistant commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, NStar, Melinda Ventura of the Humane Society & Shelter South Coast, the American Red Cross, Massachusetts State Police, the American Association of Poison Control Centers, Fresenius Medical Care North America, the city of New Bedford, Dr Robert Caldas, chief medical officer for Southcoast Health System, T-Mobile.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110827/NEWS/108270342