Stay Prepared for Emergencies During Hurricane Season

Hurricane Season begins on June 1, and if last year’s experience with Irene is any example, it is better to be prepared ahead of time.

The storm brought winds and rain that knocked down trees, destroyed homes, and cut the power to areas for weeks.

“One thing to keep in check is that ‘Irene’ last year was actually a Tropical Storm when it arrived in East Brunswick, and we all witnessed what Mother Nature can deliver,” said Emergency Management  Coordinator Austin Kosik.

.

During the storm, 43 people were moved to two shelters, one at Hammarskjold Middle School and a second at the Senior Center, some with pets. In all, 127 residents had to be evacuated. In addition, Public Works workers and volunteers from all three fire districts, the police and rescue squad were rescuing residents throughout the night, sometimes using boats to navigate flooded roads. Kosik said the township procured extra boats as part of its storm preparation. Those boats came in handy, especially when a storm surge wiped out much of the area near Main Street, including .

This year, Kosik said the township has a emergency plan in place in order to make sure emergencies are responded to efficiently and effectively. To make sure things go even smoother, residents should create plans of their own.

“As you know we have already seen two Tropical Storms named this year and most recently Tropical Storm ‘Beryl’ made landfall.  All of our Intel suggests a lighter year for ‘land falling’ Tropical Systems. But it only takes one storm, so no one should be complacent and should always be prepared,” said Kosik.

Kosik recommends that everyone visit www.ready.gov for up to date tips and advice on how to stay prepared for an emergency.

Step one includes keeping lines of communication open. Make sure you have emergency numbers and the numbers of neighbors and loved ones available. In East Brunswick, residents can register with the township’s Global Connect system so that they can be notified of emergencies and get needed information as soon as it’s available. Residents also can follow Kosik on twitter at @AustinKosik and sign up to receive police alerts through Nixle.

Residents also need to ask about emergency plans that are in place where family and friends spent time, including work, daycare school, faith organizations, sporting events and even on commutes. If there is no plan, you might even want to consider volunteering to help create one, according to the web site.

At home, make sure you have enough food and water to last at least 72 hours. Choose food that your family will eat, keeping in mind dietary needs, and try to avoid foods that make your thirsty, according to the web site. Also, choose salt free crackers, whole grain cereals and canned foods with a high liquid content. If power is knocked out, there may be no refrigeration, cooking or water, so make sure the food is easy to prepare or that you have a plan for that.

Water also will be important, even if it’s a hurricane that brings a lot of rain. You should store at least one gallon of water per person per day. A normally active person needs at least one gallon of water daily just for drinking however individual needs vary, depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet and climate, according to the web site. Try to keep at least a three-day supply of water per person.

For more tips, visit www.ready.gov.