Hurricanes: Preparation, Response, Recovery

Chesapeake is no stranger to hurricanes, so take a moment and learn how to prepare for a potential land-falling tropical storm or hurricane.

Prep Tips:

• Sign up for Chesapeake Alert for emergency notifications by email, phone or text.  Make sure to sign up and stay up to date. 
• Tune into Chesapeake's Emergency Updates page for information and continuing updates before, during and after the storm.
• Know Your Zone. Make sure you also know your evacuation zone, so you know when to go.
• Make a family emergency communication plan.
• Put together a disaster supply kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, first aid supplies, and copies of your critical information if you need to evacuate.
• Check your insurance coverage, damages caused by flooding are not covered under normal homeowner's insurance policies.

If you are not in an area that is advised to evacuate and you decide to stay in your home, plan for adequate supplies in case you lose power and water for several days and you are not able to leave due to flooding or blocked roads. A basic kit could include the following items:

• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days.
• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with a backup battery
  (Make sure to also fully charge your phone before a storm.)

Visit www.ready.gov/build-a-kit for additional suggestions.

Learn more about hurricane awareness, preparation, and response.

Join America's PrepareAthon, a grassroots campaign for action to increase community preparedness and resilience, and help prepare your community for relevant hazards through group discussions, drills, and innovative communications-related products.

Response 

Here are some tips for what to do during a hurricane. 

• Evacuate: Fatalities and injuries caused by hurricanes are often the result of individuals remaining in unsafe locations during a storm. If authorities advise or order you to evacuate, do so immediately. Be sure to remember the Five Ps of Evacuation: People, Prescriptions, Papers, Personal Needs, and Priceless Items. 
• Leave early to avoid delays caused by traffic, lines, high winds, and flooding.
• Stick to designated evacuation routes. 
• If you are not evacuating, take precautions to protect yourself and stay safe from the high winds and potential localized flooding.
• Stay indoors away from windows and glass doors. 
• If you are in a mobile home or temporary structure, move to a sturdy building.
• For protection in extremely high winds, go to a small, interior, windowless room, such as a bathroom or closet, on the lowest level not likely to flood.
• Move to a location on higher ground before floodwaters prevent your ability to leave.

Learn more about hurricane awareness, preparation, and response.

Recovery

The storm is over, but there are still steps you need to take to stay safe. 

• Listen to local officials for updates and instructions.
• Check-in with family and friends by texting or using social media.
• Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.
• Watch out for debris and downed power lines.
• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and
• Fast-moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• Avoid floodwater as it may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines and may hide dangerous debris or places where the ground is washed away.
• Photograph the damage to your property in order to assist in filing an insurance claim.
• Do what you can to prevent further damage to your property, (e.g., putting a tarp on a damaged roof), as insurance may not cover additional damage that occurs after the storm.

Learn more about hurricane awareness, preparation, and response.