All eyes are on the Atlantic as people across the East Coast prepare for a potential impact from Hurricane Irene, currently a Category 3 storm.
While encouraging Midcoast residents to prepare themselves and their families for this storm, the Red Cross is also getting ready for a possible landfall along the Maine coast. The Mid Coast Chapter joins Red Cross chapters across New England as we put disaster plans into action. Emergency response vehicles (ERVs) are on-call to potentially distribute meals, and other needed supplies and our shelter trailers are packed and ready to open evacuation shelters around the service area, if necessary.
Trained and experienced disaster volunteers are on alert and are prepared to be mobilized, if the need arises. Currently, Hurricane Irene is far off shore, but we anticipate that people along the coast, and even inland, may feel the impact of this storm over the weekend. In addition, two storms are moving across the Atlantic and while these storms have not reached hurricane status they are just a few days behind Irene.
Hurricane Irene is already the ninth named-storm this hurricane season, and while this year the season has gotten off to a slower start, it is expected to be extremely active. With support, the Mid Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross helps Maine communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters like hurricanes, single family house fires and floods every year.
While no one can predict with perfect certainty when or where hurricanes will strike, the Mid Coast Chapter American Red Cross works every day to help prepare Midcoast communities for these storms and minimize their impact. We are part of a nationwide infrastructure ready to spring into action within hours of a hurricane and prepared to stay for as long as it takes to meet the needs of those affected.
Hurricanes are strong storms that cause life and property threatening hazards such a flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes. The American Red Cross urges everyone to update their family evacuation plan, emergency preparedness kit and get better prepared for the rest of 2011 hurricane season. Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane.
“By taking three basic preparedness actions you can become Red Cross Ready for hurricanes and other emergencies, the steps are 1) Get a kit, 2) Make a plan and 3) Be informed,” said Connie Jones, executive director. “The Mid Coast Chapter is here to help you get prepared for specific disasters like hurricanes. Even if you took action to prepare last hurricane season, it’s important that you revisit and update your communication plan and check your emergency preparedness kit for expired items.”
The American Red Cross recommends the following preparedness actions:
Get or assemble an emergency preparedness kit:
A portable kit, stored in a sturdy, easy to carry, water resistant container should have enough supplies for three days. Check your kit and replace perishable stock every six months. Whether you purchase a kit or choose to build your own, your three-day kit should include:
• Water – one gallon per person, per day.
• Food – non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items such as tuna fish, peanut butter, crackers, and canned fruit. Make sure to include a manual can opener.
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.
• A first aid kit.
• Prescription and non-prescription medication items. Include medical supplies like extra hearing aid batteries, syringes, etc.
• Copies of important documents, including birth certificates, insurance policies and social security cards.
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items.
• Extra cash. ATMs and credit cards won’t work if the power is out.
• Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
• One blanket or sleeping bag per person.
Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, and bowls).
• Meet with your family to create a plan. Discuss the information you have gathered and why it is important to prepare for a disaster.
• Identify two meeting places; One right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire, and one outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.
• Be sure to make advanced preparations for pets. Be aware that pets may not be allowed in shelters. Contact hotels, motels, family members and animal shelters to see if they would allow pets in a disaster situation. Keep a contact list of “pet friendly” locations. If asked to evacuate, take pets with you.
• Choose an out-of-area emergency contact person. During or after a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance, especially if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your emergency contact person’s phone number and email address.
• Tell your family about the Safe and Well website accessible at all times via www.redcross.org. The Safe and Well website is an Internet-based tool that allows those directly affected by a disaster to let their loved ones know of their well-being. People within a disaster affected area are able to select and post standard “safe and well” messages. Concerned family members who know the person’s phone number (home, cell, or work) or a complete home address can search for the messages posted by those who self-register.
• Show and explain to each family member how and when to turn off the water and electricity at the main switches. Turn gas off only if instructed by local authorities. Remember, if the gas is shut-off, only a professional can turn it back on.
• Plan an evacuation route. Use local maps and identify alternate evacuation routes from home, work and/or school. Know where to go and how to get there before leaving home.
• Find out how local authorities will make contact during a disaster. Listen to local media broadcasts or NOAA Weather Radio for the latest storm conditions and follow the advice of local authorities.
• Contact the Mid Coast Chapter for details about community disaster education presentations that may be arranged or are available in one’s workplace, school or community organization.
• Get trained in CPR and first aid to know how to respond to emergencies in the event that help is delayed.
• If told to evacuate, do so immediately. You may choose to evacuate sooner than alerted if needing additional time.
To learn more about how to prepare for hurricanes, power outages and other disasters, please visit the Mid Coast Chapter’s website at www.midcoast.redcross.org.
For additional information, please contact us at your Mid Coast Chapter American Red Cross. Our offices are located at 16 Community Way in Topsham. Our disaster and emergency services can be accessed 24 hours a day, by contact us at 729-6779.
