It looks like we were spared the wrath of Tropical Storm Erika over the weekend, with the exception of heavy rains that seemed to never end. But we were lucky. Hurricane season is heating up now and Champion Home Health Care wants you to be prepared not only for yourself, but for those you care for. The lack of a big storm directly impacting us in Brevard may have made some of us complacent, but it’s only a matter of time before we will be in the line of a hurricane. Have your plan in place so you’re not caught off guard.

Staying safe means staying prepared.

Here are a few things to consider having in place before a storm arrives:

Build an emergency kit, and make a family communication plan. An emergency kit should have enough food, water, and supplies to last 72 hours, including any medication you or your loved ones need. A family communication plan is important if your family is separated during a storm. Write out important addresses and phone numbers, and place these in a safe place with children and seniors.

Designate a room in your home as a safe zone to wait in while riding out a storm. Or consider building a safe room. A safe room is a fortified shelter for storms or intrusions. Since this can be expensive, the alternative is to simply identigy the safest room in your home. Ideally, that’s a room without windows and not much furniture.

Make plans to secure your property. Cover your windows with permanent storm shutters or with 5/8″ plywood boards. Bring all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans, and anything else that is not tied down. Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed, so they are more wind resistant, and clear any rain gutters or downspouts that may be clogged.

Important links for hurricane preparedness for seniors and families can be found below:
Red Cross Disaster Preparedness for Seniors
Caregiver Stress Senior Safety
Red Cross prepare for Seniors
Evacuating Yourself and Your Family
General Preparedness for Seniors

Source(s): aarp.org, Virginia Alves, American Red Cross, ready.gov