The center of Hurricane Sandy is moving towards Cape May, New Jersey with 90 mph hour winds [1]. (Yikes.) The Frankenstorm is expected to hit land this evening. And we want to make sure you’re taking proper precautions. Check out these tips for staying safe and dry.
- Make sure you have an emergency kit [2] with all the essentials. This should include non-perishable food, water, filled prescriptions, a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, first-aid kit, flashlights, and extra batteries.
- Know your surroundings. Decide which room is best to withstand flooding/high winds.
- Save emergency phone numbers (not just 911) to everyone’s cell phones.
- Make sure everyone in your family knows the location of all possible exits in your house or apartment should you need to evacuate.
- Choose a friend or relative who lives outside of Sandy’s projected path that your family or group can contact if anyone gets separated.
- Learn your community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground.
- Cover all of your home’s windows, secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
- Make sure you have a supply of water on hand for sanity purposes (think: cleaning and flushing toilets).
For more tips on how to make a disaster plan click here [3].
Some other important links:
- Track Hurricane Sandy’s path with this live map [4]. You can also search active shelters and get the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
- FEMA has established the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System [5] (NEFRLS), which was developed to help reunite separated families.
- If you had to evacuate, but cannot return home and need immediate housing, text SHELTER + your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter near your area.
- Check out these other tips from FEMA [6] to make sure you, your family and friends stay safe, before, during, and after the hurricane.