Be Prepared for Storms

Inside the Home

• FOOD - Stock up on non-perishable food, medicine, baby supplies, and pet food.
• WATER - Purchase bottled water. The American Red Cross recommends one gallon of water per person per day.
• EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT - Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, battery-operated radios, extension cords, etc. and buy extra batteries.
• MONEY - Keep extra cash on hand, since an electrical power outage may prevent you from withdrawing money from automatic teller machines or banks.
• REFRIGERATOR - Turn your refrigerator to its coldest setting. If the power goes out, this will keep food fresh longer. If you leave the refrigerator closed, most food will stay frozen or fresh for up to 12 hours.
• CARE OF SENSITIVE ELECTRONICS - Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment--especially sensitive electronics.
• FIRST-AID - Keep first aid kit and manual handy.
• CAN OPENER - Have non-electric can opener on hand.
• DOCUMENT STORAGE - Place your critical documents, such as birth certificates, insurance documents, special pictures, etc. in a safe box.

Outside the Home

• CAUTION - When venturing outside, be on the lookout for downed power lines and stay away from them.
• GAS - Fill your vehicle’s gas tank. It would probably be a good idea to fill up an extra gas can if you have one available.
• TV ANTENNAS - If you plan to lower your TV antenna, do it well before storm winds arrive. Look around to identify power lines and stay clear.