Hurricane season officially begins June 1st and lasts until the 30th of November. During these times, it is important to take the necessary steps in preparing in case a hurricane hits!

Before a Hurricane

• Have a disaster plan.
• Refill prescriptions and Medications (minimum 7 days supply)
• Baby essentials (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Have a First Aid kit.
• Have a pet plan. Before a storm threatens, contact your veterinarian or local humane society for information on preparing your pets for an emergency.
• Board up windows.
• Bring in outdoor objects that could blow away.
• Make sure you know which county or parish you live in.
• Know where all the evacuation routes are.
• Prepare a disaster supplies kit for your home and car. Have enough food and water for at least 3 days. Include a first aid kit, canned food and a can opener, bottled water, battery-operated radio, flashlight, protective clothing and written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas, and water.
• Have a NOAA weather radio handy with plenty of batteries, so you can listen to storm advisories.
• Have some cash handy. Following a hurricane, banks and ATMs may be temporarily closed.
• Make sure your car is filled with gasoline.

During a Hurricane

•  Stay away from low-lying and flood prone areas.
•  Always stay indoors during a hurricane, because strong winds will blow things around.
• Leave mobile homes and to go to a shelter.
•  If your home isn’t on higher ground, go to a shelter.
•  If emergency managers say to evacuate, then do so immediately.

After a Hurricane

•  Stay indoors until it is safe to come out.
•  Check for injured or trapped people, without putting yourself in danger.
•  Watch out for flooding which can happen after a hurricane.
•  Do not attempt to drive in flooding water.
•  Stay away from standing water. It may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
•  Don’t drink tap water until officials say its safe to do so.

Always stay informed and advise family members of your plans.