1 Stay informed
2Stay indoors
3Stay safe
HURRICANE
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DURING A HURRICANE
1 Stay informed
• Keep your radio on and listen for updated local information and official instructions. You may be asked to turn off utilities or to evacuate at any point.
• If you are advised to evacuate, follow all the instructions carefully.
2Stay indoors
• Do not evacuate unless advised to do so, or you feel that it would endanger life to remain at home.
• Close all interior doors and place doorstops under them.
• Close all curtains and blinds.
• Turn off major appliances if advised to do so, or if power fails.
• Make sure that all household pets are inside and keep them in pet carriers with adequate water.
• Go to your chosen safe place and stay under a table, if there is one.
• If you feel that the house is starting to collapse around you, try to move quickly under a sturdy bed or a pile of mattresses; if there is no time to move, stay under the table.
3Stay safe
• Be aware that when the eye of the storm passes overhead, it may appear that a hurricane is over. However, winds will start blowing again from the opposite direction within the hour; this can often be the worst part of the storm.
• Listen for warnings of tornadoes( p. 236) or severe flooding( p. 228), both of which often occur in the wake of a hurricane.
• Stay where you are until you are sure that the hurricane has passed.
! If you are outside
• Lie flat on the ground and crawl on your stomach to shelter, such as an outcrop of
rock, a ditch, or a low wall.
• Cover your head with your hands or a coat.
• Do not take shelter close to trees because branches may break off or trees may even
be uprooted, and fall on top of you.
• During the eye of the storm, move to the other side of your shelter, since the wind will
now come from the opposite direction.
• After the winds die down, wait for at least 1 1 / 2 hours before leaving your shelter.
HELPING CHILDREN COPE
Children may find a hurricane terrifying, especially if their home and belongings are damaged or an evacuation is necessary. To help them feel more secure, try the following.
• Explain that a hurricane is a very bad storm and that the
family might need to go to a safer building.
• Ask children to help you with simple tasks.
• Take playthings, such as cards, into the safe room or hurricane
shelter to keep children busy.
• Write each child’ s name, address, and contact number
on a piece of paper and place it in the child’ s pocket.
Comforting children Reassure young children and calm their fears by holding them and giving them plenty of attention.