Quick Safety Tips - Home as a Shelter

Staying at Home during an emergency:

If you decide to stay in your home during a hurricane or if local officials recommend sheltering-in-place for other emergencies, be sure to have enough supplies on hand and do the following:

• Review your family disaster plan, and your pet plan.
• Have a disaster supply kit handy.
• Have enough food and water for at least three days, preferably seven, for each person in your household. (Stored water should be changed every six months).
• Stock extra supplies such as batteries for flashlights and radios.
• Get extra cash. Power outages may cause banks and ATMs to be closed.
• Listen to local radio and television for instructions.
  • NOAA Weather Radio - 8-pg brochure - 421kb pdf
  • Emergency warnings for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Stay alert to weather advisories, and know the difference between a Weather Watch and a Weather Warning.
  • Warning
    A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property.
  • Watch
    A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so.
• If a hurricane is approaching, board up windows and secure lawn furniture, mowers, hanging plants, trash cans and other loose items in the yard.
• Weather radio info
• Check on your neighbors, particularly the elderly or disabled.
• If a storm hits, gather your family in a safe room. (An interior room with no windows).
• If you lose power, do not put a generator near water.
• When using a generator or barbeque grill, keep it outdoors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning or a fire.
• Oxygen dependent residents should make sure they have enough of an oxygen supply to last several days.
• After a storm, watch out for downed power lines.
• If the power is out, do not use candles or open flames as a light source.
• Only use the telephone for important calls so lines will be available for emergency calls.
• Fill you car with gasoline. You may not be able to get gas for a period after the storm, so keep your gas tank full.
• Following any disaster, listen to local officials for the all clear.

After an emergency:

See Quick Tips for use when returning home after a storm.