Hurricane/Tropical Storm Weather Preparedness and Safety

East Hartford, CT - Hurricane Isaias has the potential of impacting our area Tuesday as a tropical storm. We are urging residents to take precautions and refresh their personal and family preparedness plans. Now is the time to make a plan and gather essential items in case of emergency.

Hurricane Isaias has the potential to impact our region with strong winds and heavy rain Tuesday, August 4th, 2020.

There are several, quick, low cost steps residents can take to prepare for hurricanes or other weather-related emergencies:

• Stock up on emergency supplies for your home and car. Make sure your items are packed in bags and ready to go in case you have to evacuate. Visit East Hartford’s Plan 9 Campaign website to learn about 9 essential items you shouldn’t leave home without. For a list of hurricane specific supplies and preparations, visit the CDC hurricane preparedness website or the National Weather Service Hurricane Safety website.
   
• Stay-at-home kit (2 weeks of emergency supplies): Include everything you need to stay at home for at least two weeks with items such as food, water, household cleaning and disinfectant supplies, soap, paper products and personal hygiene items. 
   
• Evacuation kit (3 days of supplies in a “go bag”): Your second kit should be a lightweight, smaller version that you can take with you if you must leave your home quickly. Include everything you need to be on your own for three days - food, water, personal hygiene items, and cleaning and disinfectant supplies that you can use on the go (tissues, hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol and disinfection wipes). Ensure that you have cloth face coverings, such as masks and scarves, for everyone in your household who can wear one safely. Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing. Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others in public. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unable to remove it without help.
   
• Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them near every phone in your house or on the refrigerator. Program them into your cell phone, too. Also, make sure you have a charger for your phone in a zip lock or other waterproof bag. If there is severe rain or flooding, seal your phone in a bag to protect it from water damage.
   
• Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it. Read the National Fire Protection Association’s tips for using fire extinguishers.
   
• Check your insurance coverage, damages caused by flooding are not covered under normal homeowner’s insurance policies.
   
• Prepare to evacuate quickly if local officials tell you to do so. Plan your route and alternates in case main roads are impassable.

Emergencies can happen. When they do, the best strategy is to already have a plan in place.

For additional information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention see this link.