According to recent information from FEMA, Matthew is a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale with sustained winds near 145 miles per hour (MPH) and while some fluctuations in intensity are possible during the next couple of days, this storm is expected to remain a powerful hurricane. According to the National Hurricane Center, the current forecast models for impact to the United States vary greatly from direct landfall to remaining offshore along the East Coast.
The How to Prepare for a Hurricane guide from America’s PrepareAthon! outlines step you can take today to protect yourself and your property before a hurricane hits, including:
- Know your community’s local hurricane evacuation plan and identify several escape routes from your location in case roads are blocked;
- If you plan to evacuate by car, keep your car fueled and in good condition and be sure to keep emergency supplies and a change of clothes in your vehicle;
- If you will need to use public transportation, contact your local government emergency management agency to ask how an evacuation will work, how you will get current information during an evacuation, and the location of staging areas;
- Stay away from water, shorelines, areas that are prone to flooding, and low land areas that may be dry but prone to flash flooding;
- Listen to alerts and warnings and be prepared to get to high ground immediately if there is a flash flood;
- Never walk or drive through floodwaters: Turn Around, Don’t Drown!;
- If you are not in an evacuation zone or flood area, know where to shelter for high winds and be prepared with sufficient supplies to remain on high ground until flooding in nearby areas subsides;
- Waterproof your home’s basement and elevate critical utilities such as electrical panels and heating systems; and
- If it’s safe to do, plan to bring inside or anchor any items that might be blown away and become projectiles in high winds. Anchor outdoor grills, fuel tanks, and other items that are not safe to bring inside.
To learn more about preparing for hurricanes, check out “When the Waves Swell” from America’s PrepareAthon! and download the FEMA mobile app which will give you real-time weather updates and alerts. Be sure to share with family, friends, and neighbors.
