Hurricane Season Is Here: Be Ready For The Unexpected.

Hurricane Season officially runs from June 1 through November 30- and stretches from the Florida Keys to the top of Maine.  Putting together a hurricane plan is tedious but vital, especially for aging relatives.  It makes the pre and post storm days more manageable and less stressful.  Now is the time to prepare and stock up.

Regardless of where you live, this checklist of tips on preparing yourselves and what to have in your home during hurricane season is important to have.

 Basic Steps to Take Before the Storm

• Put together a current list of contact information for family members and physicians.
• Know the evacuation plans for your local municipality.
• Secure your important papers such as insurance policies, medical insurance cards. If you have a pacemaker or other medical device, keep a list of serial numbers. Keep all of this information in a plastic bag.
• Post emergency numbers of each phone, program them into a cell phone.
• Inform local authorities if an aging relative(s) is alone, and let know of any special needs. This is particularly important for those who require electricity for medical equipment such as oxygen.
• Keep some extra cash on hand.
• Fill your car (and outdoor grill if you have one) with gas.

What to Have in the Home

• Water (3 day supply if you evacuate, and a 2-week supply if staying at home).
• Water purification kit with tablets of plain chlorine and iodine.
• Food (3 day supply if you evacuate, and a 2-week supply if staying at home).
• Flashlight 
• Batteries. This is especially important if you or a parent has a walker or any other medical equipment that require less commonly used batteries.
• Hand sanitizer
• Mosquito repellent
• Non-electric can opener
• Battery powered radio
• Pre-moistened towelettes
• Two-week supply of prescription medications with a list including the dosages and when to take. Keep these in a plastic bag.
• Large hurricane candles (can purchase at local grocery store) and wooden matches.

For those who live alone and who will need to be evacuated please check your county specifics websites for instructions. The process of evacuations and shelters has changed. 

• Click here for the link for the Miami-Dade Emergency and Evacuation Assistance Program  (EEAP).  The program is for those eligible residents living alone who need specialized transportation and/or sheltering and who would like to received a wellness call after a disaster.  One can pre-register for this program.
• Click here for the official Palm Beach Hurricane Planning Guide. 

If you're evacuating, don't forget to bring

• Bedding
• Eyeglasses
• Extra hearing aid batteries
• Important papers