Hurricane Isabel Now Expected To Hit The United States

National Hurricane Center ^ | 9/14/03 | NHC

[pgkdan]

Hope this changes.

[U S Army EOD]

Lets hope Vegas is far enough inland to get out of this one.

[Gabz]

Your daughter may just be better off staying with folks in Salisbury.

[Howlin]

A Citizen's Guide to Basic Evacuation Procedures

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by Michael P. Vogel, MSU Extension Housing Specialist, and John Pfister, Musselshell County Extension Agent

Create a family disaster plan

Disasters of all types – wildfire, flood, tornado, earthquake, hazardous material spill, winter storm – can strike quickly and without warning. You can cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together. The following steps will help you get started.

1. Meet with your family

• Discuss types of disasters that could occur.
• Explain how to prepare and respond to each type of disaster.
• Discuss where to go and what to bring if advised to evacuate.
• Discuss possible evacuation routes for each type of disaster.
• Practice what you have discussed.
  

2. Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by disaster.

Pick two meeting places:
• a location which is a safe distance from your home in case of a home fire
• a location outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home.

Choose an out-of-state friend as a “check-in contact” for everyone to call.

3. Complete these steps:

• Post emergency telephone numbers by every telephone.
• Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas and electricity at the main switches or valves.
• Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.
• Learn first aid and CPR. Have a 72-hour survival kit available.
• Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for information and training.
  

PRACTICE AND REVIEW THESE STEPS

ESSENTIALS TO TAKE FOR IMMEDIATE EVACUATION

• Important papers (if readily available)
• Medications
• Prescription glasses/dentures
• Personal toilet articles/sanitary needs
• Sleeping bags or blankets
• Baby food/diapers
• Checkbook/credit cards/cash
• Driver’s license
• 72-hour survival kit
  

ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO TAKE IF TIME PERMITS

• Flashlight/extra batteries
• Change of clothing for each person
• Food - non-perishable, ready-to-eat
• Recreational items: games, cards, sewing, books
  

ACTIONS TO TAKE FOR IMMEDIATE EVACUATION

• Disconnect all appliances except refrigerator and freezer.
• In winter, set heat thermostat to lowest setting.
• Lock all doors and windows.
• Leave the exterior light on.
• Be sure to leave the EVACUATION sign on your front door knob. This notifies rescuers of your evacuation.
  

ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO TAKE IF TIME PERMITS

• Secure your outdoor possessions (lawn furniture, garbage cans, etc.).
• Secure or hide your valuables.
  
• Turn off the gas before leaving home.
  

EVACUATION OF PETS/LIVESTOCK

Your animals should be left with friends or placed in an animal shelter but NOT taken to the evacuation shelter. The final alternative is to leave animals at home. Provide them with food, water and shelter. (NOTE: If you are not involved in the actual evacuation and you wish to care for pets, a request of services may be made to the local animal shelter.)

HANDICAPPED/SPECIAL NEEDS RESIDENTS

Individuals who may need special aid in the event of an evacuation are encouraged to plan ahead with neighbors or friends for assistance. If help is not readily available, residents may call their local emergency services for assistance.

IF YOU NEED TO EVACUATE...

All residents who need to evacuate will be advised by a radio announcement, television broadcast or authorized official. The information in the evacuation announcement will include:
• The areas to be evacuated (usually by street or subdivision name)
• The appropriate evacuation route
• The location of the evacuation shelter

You must register at the evacuation shelter so information concerning your whereabouts is available for local officials and relatives.
NOTE: Pets and livestock ARE NOT allowed at Red Cross evacuation shelters. For more information on pet/livestock care, refer to the instructions on the other side of this brochure.

[Yup!!]

You gotta look at the people you live with and talk to them for a week,,it is a challenge

Man, that is tough!!! I don't think I could do that!

[Howlin]

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Emergency Evacuation Checklist Previous Page    Interests    house Page

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Each person must decide for himself or herself what items to gather according to any list depending upon the time given to evacuate. Here is a compilation of the more useful items to take, what to do before leaving, and what to do now to prepare.

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WHAT TO TAKE

Family

•  ___  Photographs of all family members
•  ___  Pets (if advance warning, take to an approved shelter)
•  ___  Pet ID tags
•  ___  Pet medications
•  ___  Pet leashes
•  ___  Pet water bowls

Documents

•  ___  Health insurance card
•  ___  Car insurance card
•  ___  House deed
•  ___  Marriage license
•  ___  Insurance papers
•  ___  Tax papers
•  ___  Birth certificates
•  ___  Drivers' licenses
•  ___  Legal documents
•  ___  Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
•  ___  Computer backup disks
•  ___  Computers (time permitting)

Money

•  ___  Check books
•  ___  Savings books
•  ___  Credit cards
•  ___  Cash
•  ___  Purse
•  ___  Wallet
•  ___  Blank checks

Medications

•  ___  Prescriptions
•  ___  Analgesics
•  ___  Motion sickness tablets
•  ___  First-aid kit
•  ___  Prescription glasses
•  ___  Prescription dentures
•  ___  Prescription hearing aids

Jewelry

•  ___  Gold, silver, and other valuable jewelry
•  ___  Family heirlooms
•  ___  Decorations, pins, awards

Sentimental

•  ___  Photos and albums, slides, movies, home videos
•  ___  Family Bible
•  ___  Irreplaceable keepsakes
•  ___  Original paintings

Food and Water   (for three to seven days - if time permits)

•  ___  Water (at least one gallon per person and pet per day)
•  ___  Non-perishable, ready-to-eat food
•  ___  Pet food
•  ___  Pet treats
•  ___  Manual can opener

Toiletries   (if time permits)

•  ___  Soap and towels
•  ___  Toothbrushes and toothpaste
•  ___  Shaving articles
•  ___  Sanitary devices

Clothing   (appropriate for the season - if time permits)

•  ___  Change of clothing for each person (for one to seven days)
•  ___  Coats and jackets
•  ___  Hats and caps
•  ___  Gloves and scarves
•  ___  Shoes and boots
•  ___  Change of underwear
•  ___  Sleepwear
•  ___  Infant supplies and toys

Additional Items to Take   (if time permits)

•  ___  Cell phones
•  ___  Reading material
•  ___  Recreational items
•  ___  First-aid kit
•  ___  Flashlights and extra batteries
•  ___  Portable radio and extra batteries
•  ___  Cameras and extra batteries

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WHAT TO DO BEFORE LEAVING

•  ___  Fill evacuation vehicle gas tank
•  ___  Park evacuation vehicle in the garage heading toward street and travel route
•  ___  Close evacuation car windows but DO NOT LOCK CAR and leave keys in ignition
•  ___  Close garage door but leave it unlocked (disconnect automatic garage door opener)
•  ___  Establish an evacuation plan, travel route, probable destination
•  ___  Determine where separated members will meet
•  ___  Follow any official agency's evacuation instructions
•  ___  Turn off natural gas at meter
•  ___  Disconnect propane tank
•  ___  Close or cover outside vents and shutters
•  ___  Remove combustible items from around the outside of the house
•  ___  Turn off appliances, thermostats, fireplaces, stoves
•  ___  Leave one light on in each general area so firefighters can see your house in dark and smoke
•  ___  Release any livestock in the area
•  ___  Close fire resistant window coverings, heavy drapes, and Venetian blinds
•  ___  Move overstuffed furniture away from windows
•  ___  Cose sliding glass doors into the center of the house (DON'T lock them)
•  ___  Remove lace, nylon, or light material drapes and curtains
•  ___  Place a ladder against the roof of the house on the side opposite the approaching fire
•  ___  Fill bathtubs, sinks, and containers with water
•  ___  Soak burlap sacks, small rugs, or large rags in containers
•  ___  Turn on exterior lights
•  ___  Lock doors and windows
•  ___  If instructed, tie large white cloth to front door knob
•  ___  Don't tie up telephone lines (notify friends and relatives by e-mail where to contact you)
•  ___  Make safety equipment obvious for firefighters (spigots, ladders, chain saws, hoses, etc.)
•  ___  Plug air vents and openings that are close to the ground
•  ___  Prepare an "information note" to leave on the door detailing who you are, where you have gone, where flammables are (such as lawnmower gas, ammo, chemicals - move them all into one place)

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WHAT TO DO NOW TO PREPARE

•  ___  Keep evacuation vehicle gas tank full
•  ___  Practice family fire drill and evacuation plans
•  ___  Practice STOP, DROP, and ROLL (should clothes catch on fire)
•  ___  Prepare a list of valuables to take with you (store together, if possible)
•  ___  Make a video of all belongings, talking about each
•  ___  Take still pictures of all belongings as a backup
•  ___  Document an annotated list of all belongings
•  ___  Develop outdoor water supply with hoses to reach entire house, nozzle, and pump
•  ___  Have fire tools, ladder, and fire extinguishers available
•  ___  Post name/address signs clearly visible from street or road
•  ___  Post load limits on access bridges
•  ___  Clear driveway to at least 20 feet wide with 15 feet vertical clearance (for emergency vehicles)
•  ___  Clear weeds and cut grass within 10 feet of structures, propane tanks, utility boxes
•  ___  Clear debris from roof and gutters
•  ___  Clear vegetation from within 3 feet of hydrants
•  ___  Remove trees growing through porch, deck, or roof
•  ___  Remove trash and debris accumulations
•  ___  Remove branches that overhang withing 15 feet of roof and chimney
•  ___  Stack firewood uphill or on a contour at least 30 feet away from house
•  ___  Thin and prune your trees and brush
•  ___  Install smoke detectors and test quarterly
•  ___  Install only non-combustible roof material
•  ___  Install shutters, fire curtains, or heavy drapes on windows
•  ___  Install screens on foundation and eave vents
•  ___  Install enclosed sides on stilt foundations and decks
•  ___  Install chimney screen or spark arrestor

[doug from upland]

Perhaps the most stupid woman on the planet called Drudge tonight. She thinks the storm is a conspiracy by Bush to help the economy that he can't get started. She says that it won't hit, but people are spending all kinds of money getting supplies.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

The orange one goes right over my house!

[Gabz]

To those thinking of leaving, make your reservations now. We had a scare in New Orleans, and my daughter had to drive to Memphis to find a hotel room,,,they book up fast.

LOL!!! This is race week at Dover Downs - there are no hotel rooms in Delaware, and very few on the rest of the pneinsula. They were all booked for this weekend last September.

[U S Army EOD]

Was it Hillary??

[Ryzaroo]

Fenwick Island? :( Say it isn't so.... I used to live in O.C. and Fenwick was the one nice-pretty much abandoned-piece of land where I could go and soak up the beauty. I'm sad to hear that.

[PJ-Comix]

This would be a good time to buy MRE's. Just add water and the MRE's cook themselves. Get a bunch of packets for this hurricane.

[Atchafalaya]

NO, not by a long shot. If you are near the bay and it come in just south of you, the bay water will move inland. If the winds are 130-140 at landfall a whole lot of water is going to move a lot farther than you can imagine. Roads you think you can take will be impassable before you thought possible. With a storm of this magnitude things turn to shit in the wink of an eye. If you are in these types of areas get out. I hate these things. Take heed and take care; this is the real deal.

[Howlin]

I'll bet somebody around here has some left from Y2K.

[Husker24]

Remove hard drives

Wouldnt it be more easy to just throw the CPU in the trunk when you leave?

[PJ-Comix]

Any Jim Cantori sightings yet?

[Stand_Up]

Thanks,
I'll have that through the printer soon. Copies for the friends and neighbors as well.
I am not looking forward to this. Best thing is to prepare the home for the storm and the clean up after it, but most important is to get out of town for the day or two. Thats my plan.

[Windcatcher]

She drank the Dem Kool-Aid, I see...

[Gabz]

And the Bay Bridge will close relatively early as the winds pick up.

Exactly. And the Bridge/Tunnel will not be open at all for southbound traffic. I'm 45 minutes south of salisbury on 13 - and have no intentions of adding to the Rte 13 problems. The folks along the coasts and on the barrier islands need to use it more than I do.

We've already told a buddy who lives on Chincoteague that he and his daughter are welcome here, as well as his other daughter and her family who live on Saxis Island (in the Chesapeake) - that daughter would have to drive right past us to get to 13 anyway.

[kayak]

When you have a projected 30-35 foot storm surge, I don't think the tides will matter that much.

Oh, yes, they will. Hazel hit on the full moon at high tide of the highest lunar tide of the year. She obliterated the beaches of southern NC ... well, the buildings anyway. I was fortunate enough (?) to be able to fly over them the next day and it looked like someone had just dumped a gazillion boxes of matchsticks out along the beach and into the ocean.

The high tide just adds that much more water to the surge ... and causes the surge to reach farther inland, depending on the topography.

Hurricanes can, and do, actually change beaches also .... they can open up new inlets and close others where you have barrier islands.