The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released tips to prepare for hurricane season, which begins on June 1. The goal is to remind residents of Gulf Coast states about the dangers of hurricane season, and offers steps to be ready before, during and after a storm.
Before
The EPA recommends making a plan with your family before a storm hits by discussing how to contact each other if communications are limited. They also recommend plans on what to do if you get separated and where you’ll go if you must evacuate.
The EPA lists the following things to prepare before a storm hits:
- Make an emergency kit with canned food, bottled water, first aid supplies, flashlights, pet supplies and any other items you may need.
- Prepare your home by properly securing and storing harsh cleaning agents, paints and solvents, and other hazardous materials.
- Talk to your neighbors to make sure your community is prepared.
During
The EPA suggests paying close attention to local news and announcements from emergency response officials during a storm.
The EPA lists the following items to prepare during a storm:
- Review family plans and location of emergency supplies.
- Ensure a generator, if you have one, is outside and set back from windows, open doors or balconies. Generator fumes that get inside can cause illness or death from carbon monoxide poisoning.
After
The EPA recommends to watch for instruction from local response officials on when shelter-in-place or evacuation orders are lifted, and list the following as tips for after a storm:
- Watch for instructions from responding agencies on how to handle debris.
- Avoid flood waters, and don’t enter your home or other flooded buildings.
