Hurricane Safety Checklist 



According to John Sanders, you can never be too prepared 

 for a hurricane. As Sea Grant's coastal weather awareness 

 specialist, he has spent the last year and a half working with 

 the media, communities and government officials to increase 

 their understanding of hurricanes and the damages and 



STEP 1. Is your home on land which is less than 20 feet 

 above sea level? 

 If yes, go to Step 3. 

 If no, go to Step 2. 



STEP 2. Do you live within two miles of the ocean or one 

 mile of a sound or river? 

 If yes, go to Step 3. 

 If no, go to Step 4. 



STEP 3. You live in an area which is vulnerable to 

 flooding during a hurricane. Because nine out of 

 10 hurricane-related deaths are due to drown- 

 ing, you should use the following checklist to 

 prepare for a hurricane emergency. You should 

 make decisions now about where you will go if 

 you have to evacuate, how you would get there 

 and how long it would take you to move to safe 

 shelter. 



A. If a hurricane watch is issued for your area, 

 take the following precautions: 



1. Drive to a nearby gas station and fill your 

 tank. 



2. Store or tie down all outdoor objects, such as 

 garbage cans, outdoor furniture and garden 

 tools. 



3. If you own a boat, moor it adequately. 

 Remember that tides can increase from 10 to 

 20 feet above normal. Take this into con- 

 sideration when securing lines. If your boat is 

 small enough, move it onshore. Fill the boat 

 with water or tie it down to keep it from be- 

 ing blown about by the hurricane winds. 



4. Tape or board up the windows of your house. 



5. Pack valuable papers such as deeds, wills, in- 

 surance documents and contracts, to take 

 with you. 



6. Prepare a survival box containing a medical 

 first-aid kit, special medication which you or 

 other members of your family may need, 

 rope, flashlight, transistor radio, extra bat- 

 teries, containers of fresh water, water 

 purification tablets, non-perishable foods, 

 one change of clothing and sleeping bags. 



7. Contact friends, relatives and/or neighbors 

 to let them know of your plans. Monitor 

 radio and television reports for updates on 

 storm conditions. 



B. If a hurricane warning is issued, prepare to 

 evacuate. Take the following steps immediately: 



8. Shut off the main power switch and main gas 

 valve. Elevate your appliances, such as 

 refrigerator, stoves, washer, dryer and 

 freezer, above the floor to minimize water 

 damage. Cover the refrigerator and freezer 

 with newspapers and blankets for insulation 



hazards associated with severe storms. To help individuals 

 prepare for a hurricane and protect their property, Sanders 

 developed a hurricane safety checklist tailored to the North 

 Carolina coast. 



and to prevent food spoilage. 

 9. Go through the checklist once more and 

 make sure that you have completed all of the 

 steps. 



10. Evacuate. If you are handicapped and/or 

 need transportation, call your local office of 

 Emergency Management. 

 STEP 4. You may be able to ride out the storm in your 

 own home. However, if you live in a mobile 

 home, you should go back to Step 3 and plan to 

 evacuate. (Even mobile homes which are 

 anchored and have overhead braces are 

 vulnerable to wind damage.) 



A. If a hurricane watch is issued for your area, 

 take the following precautions: 



1. Drive to a nearby gas station and fill your 

 tank. 



2. Store or tie down all outdoor objects, such as 

 garbage cans, outdoor furniture and garden 

 tools. 



3. If you own a boat, moor it adequately. 

 Remember that tides can increase from 10 to 

 20 feet above normal. Take this into con- 

 sideration when securing lines. If your boat is 

 small enough, move it onshore. Remember to 

 fill the boat with water or tie it down to keep 

 it from being blown by the hurricane winds. 



4. Tape or board up the windows of your house. 



5. Check the batteries for your flashlight and 

 transistor radio. Make sure you have extra 

 batteries. 



6. If you require special medication or prescrip- 

 tion drugs, make sure that you have an am- 

 ple supply before the stores close. 



7. Store plenty of fresh water in containers. 

 Make sure that you have several days' provi- 

 sions of non-perishable foods. 



8. Contact friends, relatives and/or neighbors 

 to let them know of your plans. Monitor 

 radio and television reports for updates on 

 storm conditions. 



B. If a hurricane warning is issued, take the 

 following steps immediately: 



9. Shut off the main power switch and main gas 

 valve. Cover your refrigerator and freezer 

 with newspaper and blankets for insulation 

 and to prevent food spoilage. 



10. Go through the checklist once more and 

 make sure that you have completed all of the 

 steps. Then, go indoors and stay indoors. 

 Brace all doors to prevent wind damage. 

 Monitor storm reports with your transistor 

 radio. Stay indoors until an official all-clear 

 notice is given. 



