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Stay safe this typhoon season
Typhoon season starts June 1 and preliminary forecasts are showing the potential for more tropical cyclone activities than in 2016. To help families stay safe, the American Red Cross is issuing six typhoon preparedness tips should a typhoon or tropical storm head toward the Marianas.
Here are the top six things you should do now to be ready for Typhoon Season 2017:
1. Talk with household members and create an evacuation plan. Be prepared to evacuate quickly and evacuate if told to do so.
2. Build an emergency kit with a gallon of water per person, per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kit, medications, supplies for your infant, a multi-purpose tool, personal hygiene items, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers, extra cash, and emergency contact information.
3. Get access to radio broadcasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Purchase a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio or simply dial 211.
4. Protect windows with permanent storm shutters or invest in one-half inch marine plywood that is pre-cut to fit your doors and windows. Identify a place to store outdoor furniture, toys, tools and trash cans (away from stairs and exits) to prevent them from being moved by high winds and possibly hurting someone.
5. Be informed. Learn about your community’s typhoon response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs and make plans for pets.
6. Download the free Red Cross Emergency App for expert guidance on what to do before, during and after typhoons as well as 34 other types of emergencies. All Red Cross apps can be found in smartphone app stores by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/apps.
If you already have a disaster kit, now is the time make sure the food and water is still okay to consume and that copies of important documents are up to date. If an emergency plan already exists for your household, family members should talk about it again so everyone knows what to do and where to go if an emergency occurs. (PR)
