SEVERE WEATHER POSES NATIONWIDE THREAT

Home Safety Council Offers Emergency Preparedness Advice and Safety Guidelines

Studies show that Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. In fact, the United States is threatened by an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes and six deadly hurricanes each year*. In an effort to prepare families for severe weather throughout the year, the Home Safety Council offers emergency preparation guidelines for all types of weather-related emergencies.

“Severe weather can strike without warning,” said Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council. “Families should prepare in advance and create a detailed disaster plan before severe weather hits to help avoid injuries. Early preparation and planning have been shown to help lessen the impact of a natural disaster on your family and your home.”

The Home Safety Council Web site (www.homesafetycouncil.org) offers the public free advice to help increase safety during a severe weather emergency. What you’ll find online:

Develop a Disaster Plan: Before an emergency occurs, consider what steps will be important to safeguard your family and loved ones. Meet together to discuss the plan and practice it. Keep the plan simple so all family members can remember the important points.

Determine Your Evacuation Plan: Know the evacuation routes leading away from your community. Plan an alternative place where family members agree to meet in the event you cannot meet at home and determine alternative modes of travel if transportation is disrupted. Always follow the advice of authorities about evacuation – they do not ask people to leave unless they believe lives are in danger.

Memorize Emergency Contacts: Be sure each family member knows whom to contact, perhaps a friend or relative out-of-state, in the event local communications are impaired. Discuss any of your family's medical needs with someone out-of-town and in the immediate neighborhood. Make a list of insurance, banking, medical and other essential telephone numbers and account information and give it to a trusted family member. Consider including a spare charge card or ATM card with the list, so that you can access money in an emergency or they can access it for you.

Develop a Plan at Work: Talk with co-workers to develop an internal emergency plan. Know alternative transportation modes and evacuation routes away from your workplace.

Plan how to Communicate in an Emergency: Keep everyone's work, home, school, and cellular numbers updated and share them with everyone in the family. Remember that often in an emergency, telephone lines may be downed by weather and cellular phones may not work because the systems are over-loaded. Because communications are difficult in an emergency, plan a family/friend “tree”, so that each person only needs to make one or two calls if an emergency occurs.

Keep a Battery-Operated Radio: In the event of an emergency, you will want a battery-operated radio in order to listen to what local law enforcement and emergency management authorities are telling the community. Keep fresh batteries on hand.

Prepare Family Members - Especially Children: Reassure children that adults will take care of them in the event of a disaster. Knowing there is a plan will minimize fear. Also consider the needs of older family members and close friends who live near you and involve them in your emergency plan and help them develop their own. Be aware of their medical needs and any immobility issues and help them craft solutions to potential problems ahead of time.

Plan for your Pets: Plan where you will take your pets in the event you will stay at a hotel or other public place where pets are not allowed. Store leashes and pet carriers where they can be easily retrieved. Consider placing a bottle of water inside a carrier so your pet will have a temporary water supply close at hand if you have to quickly leave.

Maintain a Disaster Supplies Kit. Both natural and human-made disasters can create a need to be self-sufficient for a short period until help arrives.