Tis The Season…

Hurricane season, that is. In addition to Flag Day on the 14th, Father’s Day on the 17th, and National Catfish Day on the 25th, June 1st marks the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Alberto and Beryl have already made their debuts – only the third time since 1908 that we have had two named storms before the official start to the season. Developing a family plan can help keep everyone safe in an emergency. You should keep a written plan and share your plan with other friends or family. Some items to keep in mind for your plan are:

• Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
• Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
• Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.
• Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
• Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
• Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.
• Check your insurance coverage – flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.
• Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit.
• Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.
• Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.

At the end of the newsletter is a list of basic supplies for an emergency kit. Print it out and use it to make sure you and your loved ones stay safe if we should be visited by a Hurricane or other emergency this year. By the way since there were no major storms in 2006, we are using the same list of names for the storms; let us hope we can use the same list in another 6 years. So celebrate Donald Duck on the 9th and fry a catfish on the 25th – just make sure you have a plan ready.
Random dates brought to you by: http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/june.htm