How to Prepare for a Storm & Protect Your Family

8/15/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks if you have storm damage at 252-331-7889

SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks encourages everyone to remember the importance of disaster preparedness.  The key to disaster preparedness is having an emergency plan in place before the disaster hits.  These few simple steps can help make the difference in protecting and keeping your family safe and protecting your property from weather related damage.

Build a basic emergency supply kit stocked with enough water and food for a minimum of three days for you and for each of your family members, pets included.  Be mindful to include any necessary medications.  Recommended emergency supply kit items include:

• Water (one gallon/per person/per day)
• Three-day supply of non-perishable foods
• Manual can opener
• Battery or solar powered radio, preferably a NOAA weather radio
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust masks or bandanas
• Local map
• Important documents, such as insurance policies, bank account information, passwords, and identifications
• Matches (in a waterproof container) and/or lighter

Make a Family Emergency Plan.  A Disaster may not strike when you and your family are together at home.  Plan now for a meeting place and how you will contact each other.  Visit ready.gov to access a Family Emergency Plan template to help with your planning.

Stay Informed.  Know your flood zone for your property and your neighborhood and know the evacuation route should evacuation become necessary.  Listen to your local news and authorities for direction.

Prepare your property.  You may need to prepare your home for the impact of a storm or hurricane.  Covering all your windows in your home will help to protect it.  Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows; however, the second-best option is to board up the windows with plywood.  Tape will not prevent your windows from breaking.  Trim your trees and bushes that are around your home and clear any debris from rain spouts and gutters.  Secure outdoor furniture, trash receptacles, decorations and anything else not secured that could become projectile. 

Establish a SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile (ERP) for Your Business.  SERVPRO® developed the SERVPRO® Emergency READY Program to help business owners create an Emergency READY Profile® (ERP) for their facility, at no charge.  The business owner works with SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks to gather and document information that will become critical if a disaster strike.  Once the ERP is created, business owners have access to their own information 24/7 online and by using SERVPRO’s free smartphone app.  Contact us at 252-331-7889 to get set up.