Inspecting and Protecting your Home
By following the suggestions below, your home will have a better chance of surviving severe weather:
Start at the top: Check for any loose shingles on your roof. Make sure the gutters are tightly hinged and that they drain freely. Check the storm drains for any clogging.
Work your way down: Check all windows and doors to ensure they are caulked sufficiently. Properly installing approved hurricane shutters over windows and doors is highly recommended to protect your home against strong winds.
If your home is not equipped with hurricane shutters, as last resort, secure 3/4" plywood over windows and doors. Have the plywood sheets pre-cut, marked, labeled, drilled, stored and ready to install quickly when needed.
Your Garage: Inadequate garage doors or ones left open during a storm are the main entry ports for damaging winds. Make sure your garage door complies with your area's building code rating for hurricane wind loads, and for the impact of flying debris.
Global Connect Emergency Notification System: Global Connect Emergency Notification System - What is it? Well it is a reverse 9-1-1 system where by entering your contact information the Borough of Avalon notifies is citizens of storms or other incidents via telephone or even e-mail in real time. Please visit http://www.avalonboro.org/911/ to enter all of your contact information so you may be placed on the Emergency Notification System.
If you have decorative small stone landscaping, either remove it and cover the area with fire-retardant mulch or cover the rocks with a tarp. Secure the trap firmly to the ground with tent stakes. Remove all lawn items - Chairs, trash containers, potted plants, bird feeders, toys, bicycles etc.
Unplug all non-essential electric items to avoid power surged fires and damage to your electrical items and home.
Consider installing a generator. Depending on their wattage, gas operated generators can power lights, fans, even run a refrigerator. Generators should be stored in a well ventilated area. To conserve fuel only run the generator when needed. All devices should be connected directly to the generator. Never connect your generator directly to your home's wiring, and never store fuel near the generator.
The single most important thing you can do to protect your pets if you evacuate is to take them with you. If it's not safe for you to stay in the disaster area, it's not safe for your pets. Because evacuation shelters generally don't accept pets, except for service animals, you must plan ahead to ensure that your family and pets will have a safe place to stay.
Your pets should be wearing up-to-date identification at all times. It's a good idea to include the phone number of a friend or relative outside your immediate area - if your pet is lost, you want to provide a number on the tag that will be answered even if you're out of your home.
Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets. Ask about restrictions on number, size and species, and if "no pet" policies would be waived in an emergency. Make a list of pet-friendly places in advance and keep it handy
Ask if friends or relatives would be able to shelter you and your animals, if necessary
Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary offices that might shelter animals in emergencies; include 24 hour telephone numbers
If you stay at home with your pets during the storm, identify a safe area of your home where you can all stay together. Keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers and make sure they are wearing identification. Have any medications and a supply of pet food and water inside watertight containers, along with your other emergency supplies. If you find that you do need to leave remember: do not leave your pets behind
AFTER THE STORM
Don't allow your pets to roam loose. Familiar landmarks and smells might be gone and your pet will probably be disoriented. Pets can easily get lost in such situations. For a few days, keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers inside the house. If your house is damaged, they could escape and become lost. Try to get your pets back into their normal routine as soon as possible, and be ready for behavioral problems that may result from stress of the situation. Talk with your veterinarian if problems persist
Supply Checklist for Pets
Medications and medical records stored in a watertight container
Sturdy leashes, harnesses and carriers to transport pets safely
Current photos and descriptions of your pets
Food and water for at least 3 days for each pet, bowls, cat litter, litter box and a manual can opener
Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems and the name and number of your veterinarian
Pet beds and toys to reduce stress
For more info please visit The Humane Society of the United States www.hsus.org/disaster
Water craft are particularly vulnerable to damage during a hurricane because of their light weight and close proximity to the coast. Secure your boat before a hurricane warning is given (after an evacuation order is issued, draw bridges will be closed to boaters)
At the Marina
Check all cleats, ropes, chocks and winches for strength. Double the rigging lines fore and aft
Ensure lines are high enough on pilings to allow for extreme ebb and flow of the ocean during storm surges
Cover ropes where they rub against the boat and tie points with leather or rubber (old inner tubes or garden hoses work well). This will protect your boat and rigging lines
Make sure batteries for bilge pumps are fresh
Use canvas tape to cover any cracks or openings on the craft
Tie old tires around the boat to protect it from being pushed into other docked boats, piers, pilings, etc
Loose items should be removed or secured inside the craft
Boats Stored on Land
Remove and store the outboard motor, battery and electronic units
Deflate the trailer tires. Tie down the boat and trailer
Small boats may be filled with water to add weight
If possible, move the boat to a garage
If possible DO NOT store the boat on the roadway (It will make it more difficult for emergency vehicles and personnel to move about)
ŠThe Boro Of Avalon, New Jersey All rights reserved.