May 5-11 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week
AUSTIN, Texas — Hurricane season is just around the corner. Don’t wait for a dangerous storm to bear down on you before preparing your home and family.
Know where to go: Talk with your family so you know how to find each other if you need to evacuate. Remember, phone service may be unavailable.
Grab what you need: If disaster strikes, you won’t have time to gather all the items you’ll need to ride out the storm. Prepare an emergency kit now.
Include water, food and medications for at least three days as well as some cash, a first aid kit, a flashlight and batteries. For more information on building a basic emergency kit, visit https://go.usa.gov/xmX9v.Many people also need items not found in a basic kit. If your household includes children, use the checklist at https://go.usa.gov/xEvs4 to make sure you have everything you’ll need. Households with seniors can find a checklist at https://go.usa.gov/xEvsT and those that include a person with a disability can look here: https://go.usa.gov/xEfKy. To view a checklist for pet owners, visit https://go.usa.gov/xEvs9.Gather your documents: Having important documents at your fingertips will help minimize post-disaster stress and get your recovery process started quickly and efficiently.
Keep important papers in a fireproof, waterproof box or safe in your home, next to your emergency kit. Also store copies in an external location, like a safe deposit box, your place of business or a trusted friend’s home. Make electronic copies and keep them on a flash drive or CD in your emergency kit. Also place electronic copies on a digital-storage website, or simply email copies to yourself. Don’t forget to include:Deed, mortgage, lease and loan papersInsurance policiesList of medications, allergies and medical equipment Birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, etc. Photos of valuable belongings you may want to include in an insurance claimContact information for doctors, relatives, creditors and utilitiesFor more on safeguarding your documents, visit https://go.usa.gov/xm5yR.Download the FEMA app: Get alerts from the National Weather Service plus safety reminders, emergency checklists and information about shelters. Get the app at www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
Sign up/watch for alerts: Many communities have text or email emergency-notification systems, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Weather Radio (www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr) and www.hurricanes.gov provide updates. You can also pick up an emergency radio, which receives alerts and can be charged by solar power or hand crank.
For additional information on Hurricane Harvey and Texas recovery, visit the Hurricane Harvey disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4332, Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMAHarvey, the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at www.twitter.com/FEMARegion6 or the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at www.dps.texas.gov/dem.
