Chesapeake In The Know

When a hurricane is forecast to head towards our area, it's important to quickly and carefully make all your last-minute preparations. Here are a few things you should know and do.

Build your emergency kit. Have at least 3 days worth of supplies for everyone in your household. Don’t forget your pets! COVID-19 related supplies are still a good idea to include, like hand sanitizer, masks, and cleaning supplies.

Get flood insurance. Most of the flood damage that occurred in Chesapeake from Hurricane Matthew happened in neighborhoods that were outside the FEMA flood plain. This meant that many of those homeowners were not covered by flood insurance because homeowners and renters insurance does not cover flood damage; it must be purchased as an extra policy. If you live in Chesapeake, you should seriously consider purchasing flood insurance. It can be surprisingly affordable depending on where you live. Talk to your insurance agent to get a quote.

Know Your Zone. Find your evacuation zone so you know if you’re called to evacuate then make a plan. Where would you go? Ideally, you’ll find a hurricane buddy, a friend or family member across town in a higher evacuation zone who you can stay with until it’s safe to return home. This is a better option than battling major traffic jams to head west or leave the state. Staying nearby also allows you to return home sooner, which helps the entire community get back on its feet again. Public shelters generally have very few amenities and should only be considered as a last resort. Make plans now so that you don't have to rely on public shelters at all.

Sign up for Chesapeake Alert. Can we reach you if there’s an immediate emergency near your home or work? We can if you sign up for Chesapeake Alert. Through this alert system, you can create your own profile and choose how and when we can get in touch with you. You can also opt in to several helpful alerts such as travel advisories, garbage collection reminders, and weather alerts.

Know the official information sources. There are a lot of “experts” on the internet.  Here are the sources you can trust:

• City of Chesapeake
  • Facebook: CityOfChesapeake
  • Twitter: @AboutChesapeake
• National Weather Service
  • Facebook: NWSWakefieldVA
  • Twitter: @NWSWakefieldVA
• Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management
  • Facebook: VAEmergency
  • Twitter: @VDEM
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Facebook: FEMA
  • Twitter: @FEMARegion3

For more information on storm preparation, response and recovery, visit Chesapeake Hazards: Hurricanes.