As a hurricane approaches, the last thing you want is to be
unprepared. These
tips from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural
and Environmental
Sciences can help you and your family weather the storm.

General
preparation

A hurricane watch means hurricane
conditions are expected
within 24-36 hours. Hurricane
warnings indicate
a 24-hour expectancy of strike. Listen to
NOAA weather radio
for information. (Georgia
radio station listings.)

Review your family disaster plan. Decide
on an evacuation
route and designate a shelter to meet at in case of
separation. Fuel vehicles
and make sure you have some cash and credit cards for
evacuation or lodging
expenses.

If you have pets, call to ensure the shelter
accepts them and use a pet carrier or a leash during
evacuations.

Check for and put away loose objects that
can blow away
or be blown into houses or other buildings and cause damage.
Tie down
anything that can’t be moved inside.

Board up, tape or place storm shutters on windows
and glass doors
to prevent flying glass that may cause injury.

Get battery-operated lights and a
radio
and plenty of batteries to power them.

Food
and safety

Turn your refrigerator and freezer up to its
highest setting in anticipation of losing power. Pack
food in the smallest space you can so it will
insulate itself and stay cold longer. If you know
the power will be off two or more days, dry ice can keep food
cold and safe to eat for longer
periods of time. Reset the controls after the threat of power
loss passes.

Fill large containers with water for
drinking. Flooding can contaminate water supplies and
power outages can leave well pumps useless.

Move three days’ worth of
nonperishable, canned and ready-to-eat foods for each
family
member to a safe place. Include a manually-operated can
opener.

Make certain a fire
extinguisher is available. Electrical shorts or gas
line breaks can easily cause
fires. In flood or hurricane situations, fire fighters may be
unable to reach your home.

Check your first aid kit. Make sure you
have rubbing alcohol,
adhesive bandages, a blanket, antibacterial ointment or cream
and material to
make a sling or tourniquet. Make certain family members have
enough of any
prescribed medicines to last them through the
storm.

Agricultural
preparation

Farmers need to take special
precautions before storms. Be sure to:

– Scout fields for
current disease or insect problems. Knowing current crop
stresses can affect
harvest decisions after weather damage.

– Provide adequate food and safe
water sources for livestock.

– Secure equipment and
lightweight machinery to prevent wind from blowing it onto other
equipment or structures and causing damage.

– Check seals and external gaskets on doors
and equipment.
High winds can force rainwater into tiny cracks and into areas
where water can
cause rust or other damage. Blowing rain can wet equipment
under shelters, so
cover that, as well.

(Prepared with information from the following University
of Georgia scientists:
David Stooksbury, Kerry Harrison, Judy Harrison, Robert
Stewart and John Beasley.)