Barnstable County ReportBarnstable County ReportDirector, Barnstable County Department Health & Environment
It’s hurricane time again. August begins the three-month season of greatest activity, which should remind us—for self and family—to make certain we’re ready. Before the panic of a hurricane warning, take a few moments and review the basics and thus avoid a lot of angst and discomfort.
Foremost, review your communications plan. Identify places to meet if family members are separated from each other, establish an off-Cape relative or friend to serve as a point of contact in case local communication is disrupted or your home base is impacted.
Remember, in the aftermath of a hurricane phone service most often remains intact, but when there is no electricity, cordless phones will not work. Pick up an old cord phone at your next yard sale and stow it in the closet. When the electricity goes out, simply unplug your cordless phone from the wall and plug in old reliable.
Another good idea is what I call a “bug out pack,” a duffle bag or suitcase containing basics to help you make do for a short while in any shelter. As you can imagine, it contains a change of clothes, convenience food and water, toiletries, a first aid kit, plus any important papers…and some cash. (Oh yeah, a few rolls of toilet paper come in handy.).
If you don’t want to maintain a bug out pack, at least compile a list of items that you would have to take with you and keep it handy. Hurricanes rarely give less than a few days warning so you may have some time to prepare. But brace yourself for long lines and some disappointment when you try to purchase them during the warning period.
If you’re on well water, keep some well-cleaned water containers to fill up prior to the storm. For those with special needs such as medications, it is a good idea to have about two weeks-worth on hand.
One of your best investments can be a battery-powered weather radio. For about $40, you can get one that covers AM, FM, TV and national weather service broadcasts. My radio has a hand crank that provides about 10 minutes of service for a one-minute crank. For those not inclined to exercise, the unit is also battery powered. An added bonus is the built-in light and siren. If you purchase one of these, use it a few times during the good weather and become familiar with all of its features.
When thinking about food during an emergency, think non-perishable. Unless you have coolers and ice, and maintain proper temperatures, you may do some serious harm. Harmful bacterial organisms thrive and multiply at room temperatures and above, and the products of some bacteria are not inactivated by cooking. After the emergency, if there’s any question whether these items are still safe, remember the adage, “when in doubt, throw it out.”
For more complete details on disaster preparation, Barnstable County has compiled The Cape Cod Emergency Preparedness Handbook – Are You Ready? It’s available in many town halls or you can download the entire publication from http://ehs.whoi.edu/ehs/geninfo/capeCodEmergencyHandbook.pdf.
If you have not started to prepare for natural disaster emergencies, please begin today. Even the small initial steps of buying a few extra batteries and other basics I’ve mentioned, could save grief …and lives.