Planning
Destination
Emergency officials encourage people to stay with friends, relatives or find a hotel in a safe area. Public shelters are available if you have nowhere to go. Try to stay in your county if possible.
Route
Estimate how long it will take to get to your destination.
Utilities
Locate where to shut off water, gas and electricity for your house. If there is time, you should turn off these utilities before leaving.
Contacts
Tell a friend or relative - someone outside the area affected by the storm - where you will be staying.
Use this person as a contact in case your family is separated and make sure all family members have the contact’s telephone number.
Pets
Where will your pet ride out of the storm? Pets are not allowed in shelters and if you must be rescued by emergency officials, they might not allow you to bring your pets. Check with kennels on boarding policies and hotels on pet policies during storms.
Never leave a pet outdoors during a storm.
If you must leave your pets behind, keep them in a room away from large windows. Leave toys, bedding and other familiar things.
Make sure there is plenty of water and food in containers that are self-feeding. Large dogs may be able to drink from a partly filled bathtub.
Replace a chain choke collar with a nylon or vinyl collar.
Packing
Papers
Collect items that would be difficult to replace and carry them in a briefcase or inside watertight plastic bags. Also make photocopies and keep them where they’re unlikely to be damaged by a storm. The list of papers includes:
Birth certificates.
Insurance policies.
Photographs or a videotape of your belongings for insurance claims.
Deeds and mortgages.
Stock certificates.
Savings and checking account books.
Personal items
Bring at least three days of clothing, including underwear and socks, for everyone. Take sturdy work clothes, gloves and boots.
Toiletries.
Special food for dietary restrictions.
For infants, bring bottles, food, clothing and formula you will need for at least three days.
Prescription medication, along with aspirin, decongestants, diarrhea medication and antacids.
Pillows, sheets and something to sleep on. Inflatable mattresses are light and compact.
Radio, CD or tape player with earphones.
Books, quiet games.
Supplies
Picture ID.
Cash, ATM and credit cards—remember that if electricity is lost your cards may be useless.
Flashlight and spare batteries for each person.
Basic hand tools including pliers, hammer, wrenches, screwdrivers, utility knife, wire cutters, flashlight, battery-powered radio and duct tape.
What Not To Do
Don’t wait after an evacuation order. The longer you wait, the longer it will take to reach that destination.
Don’t bring guns, alcohol or pets to a public shelter.
