Hurricane preparation includes being prepared for the impending storm before it arrives and for survival and recovery in the days immediately following the storm. Here are some tips to help you become better prepared:
Home Preparation
Disaster Plan – Create a family disaster plan & review regularly with all members of your family, especially before a hurricane is forecasted to strike
Pet Care – Items including food, medical records, prescriptions, leash and a carrier or cage.
Important Documents – Documents should be kept in a waterproof bag or container and include insurance, medical, family records (Birth, Marriage, death Certificates, Wills, Deeds, Stocks & Bonds, Passports, Social Security Cards, Immunization Records and Bank information. A home inventory should also be kept including photographs of all content and stored on a computer disk.
Emergency Phone Numbers – Contact information for relatives, insurance agent and/or company (since local agencies may also be impacted, national numbers should be kept), doctors, hospital, ambulance, police, fire, utilities, Red Cross, FEMA and an emergency water removal company.
Protect your Property—Cover Windows with Storm Shutters or Plywood & protect all Glass doors & Skylights. Secure Garage Doors.
Electricity—Unplug your appliances and turn off electricity (except refrigerator)
Outdoors—Secure all outdoor objects—Including lawn furniture, tools & grills. Remove any loose debris.
Water – 1 gallon per person daily for 3-7 days.
Bedding – Blankets & Pillows
Food – 3 – 7 days worth of nonperishable or canned food. (also need can opener, paper plates, and plastic utensils)
Tools – Tarps, plastic sheets, duct tape, basic home tool kit and anything needed for minor repairs.
Clothing – Remember, although it may be warm, you may be working and cleaning and need pants or long sleeves to protect your skin. You will also need sturdy, closed-toe, non-slip shoes.
First Aid Kit – Including sanitizers and bandages, over the counter and prescription medications. Don’t forget the needs of babies and any family member requiring special care.
Cash – keep some cash and small bills on hand as banks and ATM’s may not be open or operational.
Extra flashlights and batteries – (a hand-cranked flashlight is also recommended.)
Battery operated radio – (hand cranked radios are also recommended) – Listen for weather service announcements, evacuation and emergency services instructions.
Camera and batteries – Camera will be needed to document any damage to your property.
Grills – Have a gas or charcoal grill available for food preparation. Safely store extra natural gas containers and make sure charcoal is stored in a water-tight container. Have a supply of safety matches and/or propane lighter for igniting.
Power – Consider purchasing a generator in case of power outages.
Gas – Fill your vehicles ahead of time. You may also want to fill plastic gasoline-approved containers for storage.
Business Preparation
Disaster Plan – Review your company disaster plan on a regular basis with all employees, especially before a hurricane is forecast to strike your area. Post the plan in an area where employees will have clear access. Make sure you have a plan for your organization to deal with balancing employee’s personal and family needs and your need to have them report to work on a regular basis.
Banking – Consider consulting your banker in advance to establish an emergency line of credit.
Important Documents – Documents should be kept in a waterproof bag or container and include insurance and bank information. An inventory should also be kept including photographs of all content and stored on a computer disk.
Business Phones – Use a programmable call forwarding system for your main lines. This will allow you to reprogram the phones to ring elsewhere in case your office is not accessible.
Business Information – Make a hard copy of all your pertinent data and store in a water proof container off-site.
Computers – Before securing the office back up all computer files onto a hard disk or drive and take with you. Store in a water tight container.
Employees – Keep a current phone list of your employees and provide copies to all your staff. Establish a non-local phone number or voice mail recording system for employees to call after a disaster and report their status. Remember to update the voice mail system to include important messages for your employees and a number to call in case of an emergency.
Extra flashlights and batteries – (a hand-cranked flashlight is also recommended.)
Battery operated radio – (hand cranked radios are also recommended) – Listen for weather service announcements, evacuation and emergency services instructions.
Cash – keep some cash and small bills on hand as banks and ATM’s may not be open or operational.
Emergency Phone Numbers – Contact information for relatives, insurance agent and/or company (since local agencies may also be impacted, national numbers should be kept), doctors, hospital, ambulance, police, fire, utilities, Red Cross, FEMA and an emergency water removal company.
Power – Consider purchasing a generator in case of power outages.
Gas – Fill your vehicles ahead of time. You may also want to fill plastic gasoline-approved containers for storage.
Electronic Equipment – Wrap all equipment in a tarp or heavy plastic and store off the floor if possible.
Important & Helpful Contact Phone #’s
Emergency Management
- Lee County: 239-477-3600
- Collier: 239-252-8444
- Charlotte: 941-833-4000
- DeSoto:863-993-4831
- Glades: 863-946-6020
- Hendry: 863-612-4700
Electric Companies:
- FPL – 800-468-8243
- LCEC – 800-599-2356
- Glades Electric Co-op – 800-226-4024
Hot Lines
- FEMA Disaster Asst—800-621-3362
- US Small Business—800-659-2955
- FEMA Fraud Hotline—866-720-5721
- State of Florida Emergency 24Hr Hotline—800-342-3557
- Florida Dept of Financial Services Disaster Help Line—800-227-8676
- Red Cross Food & Shelter—866-438-4636
- Lee—239-278-3401
- Collier—239-596-6868
- Charlotte—941-629-4345
- DeSoto— 863-494-2348
- Glades & Hendry—800-435-7669
- Salvation Army Hurricane Relief—800-725-2769
Debris Removal
- Lee—239-533-8000
- Collier—239-252-2380
- Charlotte—941-575-3600
- Hendry—863-612-4700
- Glades—863-946-6020
- DeSoto—863-993-4831
For emergency services 24 hours a day – 7 days a week call Erickson’s Drying anytime at 1-866-277-7744.
Erickson’s services all of Tampa and St. Petersburg and the counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Charlotte, Lee and Collier County FL.
We are experts in structure drying, water restoration, mold remediation, fire damage and reconstruction as a result of hurricanes or water, fire or mold damage.