Hurricane Irene: Keeping all the Members of the Family Safe (Update: How to Help)

Out here in Minnesota ,we are a long ways from this storm. But, we are keeping an eye on what is happening and offering all of our thoughts and prayers for those that are facing the storm.

Update: MSNBC has posted a great article on how to help.

There have been a number of writers here at the Injuryboard that are talking about hurricane safety:

Hurricane Irene, New Jersey Coast, and Atlantic City – Not Worth the Gamble!, Andrew D’Arcy | August 26, 2011 12:57 PM

Irene Causes Cruise Ship Companies to Leave Passengers in Puerto Rico, Brett Rivkind | August 26, 2011 8:44 AM

Hurricane Irene — Remembering Floyd & Keeping Water Safe In Storm and Flood Conditions, Pierce Egerton | August 26, 2011 10:14 AM

Hurricane Irene – How to Avoid Foodborne Illness in the Wake of a Storm, Pierce Egerton | August 24, 2011 8:57 PM

After the Storm — Insurance Damage Claims, Pierce Egerton | June 11, 2011 6:23 PM

This looks to be a very powerful storm and thankfully there are a lot of sports events and shows that are being changed to make sure that safety is being considered foremost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuHv_Ab80tk&feature=player_embedded

I happened upon these great safety tips for people and the whole family from frugivore:

For Humans

1. Lighting: Get yourself some candles, matches, batteries and if you don’t have one already, a flashlight. Power outages can cause you to be in the dark for hours, days, or even weeks. No joke.

2. Bottled Water: I know. Normally on Ecorazzi we rage against the stuff, but sometimes in a big storm, you can lose access to drinkable water. To be more eco-friendly about it, buy at least gallon sized containers. They produce less garbage than lots of little bottles. Or, you can do what I’m doing. Take all your jugs and fill them up with tap water in advance so you have some good ol’ fashion tap water at the ready.

3. Food and Medication: Stock up on foods that don’t need to be refrigerated. My favorite is peanut butter. Crackers, nuts, and canned foods like beans are good options. Anything that doesn’t depend on your refrigerator or need to be cooked. If you’re on any important medications, make sure you have enough to get your through the week.

4. Refrigerator: Before the storm, turn your refrigerator to its coldest setting. That way, if the power does go out, your food will last a bit longer. However, if your power does go out, start eating. (Keep the refrigerator door closed as much as possible to keep in the cold.)

5. Gutters: If you live in a house, make sure that you’ve cleaned out your gutters. Water is going to be coming down fast and hard so you want your gutter system to be clear to send water away from your foundation to prevent flooding.

6. Trees: If you have any dead looking branches or shrubs around your house that look like they might fly off when the wind really starts blowing, trim them now so they don’t damage your home.

7. Windows: Stay away from windows during the storm. If you live in an area that is going to get hit really badly, board up your windows.

8. Evacuation Plan: If you do need to evacuate, have a plan, and make sure it includes your pet.

Pet Safety

1. If you have not been ordered to evacuate, make sure you have enough pet food and water on hand to feed your pets during an emergency.

2. If you have been ordered to evacuate by state or local authorities, take your pets with you when you go. If you need assistance, such as persons relying on public transportation or with medical special needs, contact your emergency management agency for instructions.

3. To keep your pets safe during the evacuation, secure them with a collar/harness and leash, or in a pet carrier, to safely transport them. For everyone’s safety, you may also wish to bring a muzzle if your pet doesn’t react well in stressful situations.

4. An emergency pet shelter might be available near the human emergency shelter, check with your local emergency management agency to find the nearest emergency pet shelter to you. Do not stay behind with your pet if state or local officials order you to evacuate.

5. If a pet shelter is located near a human shelter, pet owners could be allowed to visit and care for their pets during designated times.

6. At nearby shelters, pet owners may be allowed to care for and walk their pets during designated times.

7. Pet owners should be prepared to provide the following information to pet shelter workers if possible: name; species and breed; sex; color; distinctive markings; age; microchip identification number; vaccination records; health conditions and required medication.

The thoughts about the furry friends is very important. We know that they sense things and we need to make sure that they are safe also.

So best wishes to all as they move through the next couple of rough days.