[August 26, 2011] Hurricane dos and don'ts Tweet Aug 26, 2011 (Connecticut Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- How does one prepare for a hurricane? Below is a simple list of hurricane dos and don'ts area residents can refer to while prepping for the storm -- or dealing with its aftermath. Do have supplies on hand. The American Red Cross recommends assembling an emergency preparedness kit that includes the following: water (one gallon per person, per day); non-perishable food items, such as tuna fish, peanut butter, crackers and canned fruit; manual can opener, battery-power or hand-crank radio; a flashlight and plenty of extra batters; a first aid kit; prescription and non-prescription medications; other medical supplies, such as extra hearing aid batteries and syringes; copies of birth certificates, insurance policies and other important documents; personal hygiene items; one blanket or sleeping bag per person. Supplies should be in an easy to carry, water-resistant container. Do realize that the impact of any power outages will be large. State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance said outages don't just mean you should just supply yourself with some flashlights and candles. "During outages, ATMs don't work," he said. "Gas stations aren't open. You have to be prepared. Get money ahead of time. Make sure your car is filled with gas." Other things to keep in mind: make sure cell phones are charged and make sure you have a manual garage door opener. Your electric opener will do you no good if the power goes out." Do prepare a family emergency plan. According to the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, this plan includes identifying an out-of-town contact. If the storm hits, it may be easier to make a long-distance phone, especially if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service, so an out-of-towner might be the best point person for communications should family members get separated. Make sure every person in the family has the number and has a charged cell phone, or a prepaid phone card. Do stay informed. Vance recommended paying attention to any updates about the storm through media reports and via the state's CT Alert system. CT Alert will send updates to a subscriber's phones, email and other devices. "If you sign up, you will not miss any updates," Vance said. Residents can sign up at www.ctalert.gov. Do secure the premises. Bring in outdoor objects, such as lawn furniture, hanging plants, bicycles, toys and garden tools. If you can't bring it inside, tie it down or otherwise anchor it. Close all windows and doors. If time permits, and you live in a flood zone, elevate furniture or move it to a higher floor to protect it from flooding. Turn off utilities if instructed to do so by local authorities. Don't leave your home unless you absolutely must --we're talking life or death, here. If Irene hits the state hard, the roads could be hazardous in many ways, said state Department of Transportation spokesman Kevin Nursick. "There's going to be debris," Nursick said. "Trees will be falling. There's going to be flooding over roads. There's going to be erosion of roads. There might not be roads where there used to be." Nursick also pointed out that a rise in water levels could compromise some bridges. "This is a hurricane," he said. "You should not be driving. You should not be traveling at all, unless you absolutely have to." However, don't stay in unsafe surroundings. If the hurricane hits, you might have to evacuate. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends evacuating if you are directed by local authorities to do so; if you live in a mobile home or temporary structure; if you live in a high-rise building that is susceptible to high winds; if you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway or if you feel you are in danger. Don't assume downed power lines are dead. Vance said even fallen lines could still be live, so don't go near them. "Any downed power line must be treated with respect," he said. Don't ignore the potential gravity of this situation. "People need to take this seriously," Vance said. "This is serious business." ___ (c)2011 the Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, Conn.) Visit the Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, Conn.) at www.ctpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]