By Carolan DiFiore
For the Wire
How can residents begin preparing now for the heavy storm season that’s been forecast?
“Prepare to be 72 hours sufficient,” said Scott Forster, director of Bucks County Emergency Management and Services.
People should stock up on supplies that can hold families over for three days on their own without power, Forster said.
Katherine Ellison, a Home Depot spokeswoman, advised buying water, nonperishable food items, flashlights and batteries, which she said are some of the most overlooked items when preparing for a storm.
Buy lanterns, portable radios, sump pumps, caulk and generators now instead of scrambling to acquire them hours before a storm hits. Begin making evacuation plans. Gather the phone numbers of important contacts. Put them on your cell phone and write them down, too.
Generators are especially hard to come by after a storm strikes.
“These are in the highest demand during a hurricane,” Ellison said. “We sell out of them very quickly in the wake of a storm.”
These machines, which often make or break a family during a storm, can come with some high safety risks, however. Forster stressed the importance of having a professional install the generator.
“Many people have their generators located too close to, or inside, their homes, which can cause carbon monoxide issues which could lead to serious sickness or even death,” Forster said, noting that at least a half-dozen area deaths were tied unsafe generator installation.
Apartment dwellers should consider getting renters’ insurance.
“It’s a very affordable way to help cover losses of personal property they might suffer in storms or other emergencies,” Samantha Phillips, Philadelphia’s assistant managing director for emergency management, said.
As no two storms are alike, nor are the emergency plans for each family in the wake of a hurricane.
“There’s no one plan that will fit everyone. Assess your personal family situation and make special accommodations for them,” said Red Cross spokesman Dave Schrader.
Efforts are being made to improve communication between first responders and those affected by the storm. The Red Cross is making use of social media as well as a free mobile “hurricane app” available on smart phones that can aid in preparations for an impending storm by offering storm alerts, hurricane tracking information, and locations of the nearest shelters and tips for before, during, and after a storm.
