Ready.gov
FEMA
National Fire Protection AssociationSafety For Individuals
- Create or review a disaster plan. Plan an evacuation route in advance and determine where you will go if told to evacuate.
- Prepare a survival kit. Stock up on drinking water, non-perishable food, a first-aid kit and medicine for everyone including your pet. Include extra clothing, blankets, batteries, flashlights, a portable radio and cash.
- Secure outdoor objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture.
- Review how to shut off utilities in an emergency.
- During a heavy storm, power off and unplug electronics and appliances.
- Locate important papers and documents, including your insurance policy and have them ready to take with you should you need to evacuate.
- Leave promptly if ordered to evacuate.
- Heavy rains have the potential to cause significant damage. Remember to:
- Close and lock all windows and doors.
- Remove window air conditioners.
- Remove valuable items from your basement.
- If it's not possible or practical to move some items, elevate them off the floor on pallets or concrete blocks.
- Clear exterior drains.
- Look for exterior drains at the bottom of basement stairs, in window wells, and anywhere sidewalks or driveways slope toward the foundation.
- Clear gutters of leaves and debris.
- This is also a good time to repair any damaged gutters.
- Make sure water can drain away from your foundation.
- Check that your downspouts have elbows and splash blocks to direct water away from the house.
- Check your sump pump.
- Pour water into the sump and verify that the pump is working properly. If it has a battery backup, test the battery backup by switching off the main power to the house at the circuit breaker.
Take extra precautions with portable generators.
- Generators should be properly grounded and should never be operated indoors, in garages, basements or near windows or doors.
- Since generators produce carbon monoxide (CO), make sure you have working CO detector in your home.
- Never plug a generator into a wall outlet, which can "backfeed" into your home's electrical system and endanger utility workers or anyone who comes near downed wires.
- Store generator fuel in an approved can away from the house, open flames and fuel-burning appliances such as natural gas appliances.
Safety for Businesses
The following precautions can help protect people and property and guard against disruption of operations:
- Review your business continuity plan and communicate emergency evacuation and business interruption instructions to employees. An emergency plan includes a detailed procedure for evacuation, a checklist for shutting down processes and protecting buildings, contents and equipment, and yard storage. Procedures should include salvage instructions to follow post-event.
- Back up critical data and computer records off-site so that operations can continue after a disaster. Consider keeping a backup generator and plenty of batteries on hand so your business can continue to operate after a power loss.
- As a storm approaches, quick actions should to be taken to install temporary protection features including:
- Shutter or board up windows to protect them from flying debris
- Clean out floor drains and catch basins to ensure maximum drainage
- Anchor structures, trailers and yard storage so they are more likely to stay put in high winds
- Fill emergency generator and fire pump fuel tanks
- Shut down production processes safely
- Shut off all flammable and combustible liquid and gas lines at their source
- Shut off electrical power at the main building disconnect before the storm strikes
- Once the storm has subsided and it is safe to return, a salvage team should be assembled and repair work prioritized, assuring proper supplies are available and safety procedures followed.