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From Mayor Felicia M. Brunson
Hurricanes are strong storms that cause damage and property threatening hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes. You can take steps to reduce the risk of serious disruption, injury or loss of life by making preparations. We want to do our part in helping you get prepared for a hurricane. Planning ahead can save time and lives in many types of emergencies. Even if you have taken some steps in the past to prepare, it is important that you revisit and update your communication plan and check your emergency preparedness kit for expired items. As your elected city officials, with the competent help of our city staff, this information has been prepared as another aid in assisting you to safely navigate through a hurricane if one is predicted for your area.
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If your family hurricane preparedness plan includes evacuation to a safer location, then it is important to consider the following points:
- If ordered to evacuate, do not wait or delay your departure. If possible, leave before local officials issue an evacuation order for your area. Even a slight delay in starting your evacuation will result in significantly longer travel times as traffic congestion worsens.
- If ordered to evacuate, know where you are going. Practice exit routes from your home and neighborhood. Keep at least a half tank of gas in your car at all times during the storm season. Take your disaster supply kit with you.
- If you decide to evacuate to another county or region, be prepared to wait in traffic.
The large number of people in this state who must evacuate during a hurricane will probably cause massive delays and major congestion along most designated evacuation routes; the larger the storm, the greater the probability of traffic jams and extended travel times. If possible, make arrangements to stay with the friend or relative who resides closest to your home and who will not have to evacuate. Discuss with your intended host the details of your family evacuation plan well before the beginning of the hurricane season. - If a hotel or motel is your final intended destination during an evacuation, make reservations before you leave. Most hotel and motels will fill quickly once evacuations begin. The longer you wait to make reservations, even if an official evacuation order has not been issued for your area or county, the less likely you are to find hotel/motel room vacancies, especially along interstate highways.
- If you are unable to stay with friends or family and no hotels/motels rooms are available, then as a last resort go to a shelter. Remember, shelters are not designed for comfort and do not usually accept pets. Bring your disaster supply kit with you to the shelter. Find pet friendly hotels and motels.
Be sure to fill up your car with gas, before you leave!
Neighborhood Emergency Plan
- Meet with neighbors to plan how you can work together.
- Determine if anyone has emergency-specific skills that may be helpful in an emergency, i.e. healthcare professional, electrician, etc.
- Decide who will check on elderly or disabled neighbors.
Business emergency Plan
- Make sure the building has an evacuation plan.
- Determine if the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are secure from contaminants and know how to turn them off.
- Have appropriate and fully stocked emergency kit on hand.
- Have a plan in place if you cannot leave the business.
