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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1230 PM EDT FRI JUL 11 2008
..HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
..RULES OF THUMB FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES - PART 5
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THIS WEEK AS HURRICANE
PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THE FOLLOWING IS THE LAST
IN A SERIES OF FIVE STATEMENTS.
THE LAST RULE OF THUMB FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES IS THIS...BE
PREPARED TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS UP TO ONE
WEEK. THIS MEANS HAVING ENOUGH FOOD...WATER AND MEDICINES FOR ALL
MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY. IF YOU HAVE PETS...DO NOT FORGET THEIR
NEEDS AS WELL.
A HURRICANE STRIKE IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WILL DISRUPT NORMAL
ACTIVITIES. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR MANY ROADS TO BE CLOSED
DUE TO FLOODING...FALLEN TREES OR DEBRIS. UNTIL THE WATER
RECEDES...OR THE DEBRIS REMOVED...IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO TRAVEL.
THAT MEANS NO TRIPS TO THE GROCERY OR CONVENIENCE STORE...OR
RESTAURANTS FOR FOOD OR DRINK. THIS ALSO MEANS EMERGENCY
SERVICES...SUCH AS POLICE...FIRE AND AMBULANCE...MAY ALSO BE
INTERRUPTED.
ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONE SERVICES MAY BE UNAVAILABLE FOR DAYS...
INCLUDING CELLULAR PHONES. PRIOR TO THE START OF HURRICANE
SEASON...IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO ESTABLISH A COMMON CONTACT WELL AWAY
FROM THE EAST OR SOUTH COASTS. AS THE STORM APPROACHES...YOU
CAN CONTACT THAT PERSON TO INFORM THEM THAT YOU HAVE MOVED TO A SAFE
SHELTER. FAMILY AND FRIENDS SHOULD KNOW TO CONTACT THAT PERSON TO
FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR WELL-BEING.
PUTTING TOGETHER A DISASTER PREPAREDNESS KIT CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE
IF DONE ALL AT ONCE. TRY BUILDING YOUR KIT SLOWLY...BY PURCHASING
ONE OR TWO ITEMS PER WEEK.
A BASIC KIT SHOULD CONTAIN AT LEAST...
* ONE GALLON OF WATER PER PERSON PER DAY FOR DRINKING AND SANITATION
* NON-PERISHABLE FOOD AND A MANUAL CAN OPENER
* BATTERY POWERED OR HAND CRANK RADIO AND A NOAA WEATHER RADIO -
INCLUDE EXTRA BATTERIES FOR EACH
* FLASHLIGHTS OR LAMPS - INCLUDE EXTRA BATTERIES
* FIRST AID KIT
* EXTRA GLASSES AND ANY MEDICINES
* A WHISTLE TO SIGNAL FOR HELP
* A WRENCH OR PLIERS TO TURN OFF UTILITIES
* MOIST TOWELETTES...GARBAGE BAGS AND PLASTIC TIES FOR SANITATION
* LOCAL MAPS
DO NOT USE CANDLES OR AN OPEN FLAME AS A SOURCE OF LIGHT AFTER A
MAJOR STORM. FIRE SERVICES WILL LIKELY BE DISRUPTED...AND A SMALL
FIRE COULD GET OUT OF HAND QUICKLY. IF THERE HAPPENS TO BE A
NATURAL GAS LEAK NEARBY OR SOME KIND OF FUEL IN FLOOD WATERS...A BAD
SITUATION COULD BE MADE MUCH WORSE.
STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED POWER LINES. THERE IS NO ADVANCE NOTICE WHEN
POWER COULD RETURN TO THE LINES. OR...SOMEONE ON THE STREET COULD
HAVE HOOKED UP THEIR PORTABLE GENERATOR IMPROPERLY.
FOR MORE SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT SHOULD GO INTO A DISASTER KIT...PLEASE
VISIT WWW.READY.GOV/AMERICA/GETAKIT /ALL IN LOWERCASE/. YOU COULD
ALSO VISIT THE WEBSITE OF YOUR STATES EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OR
OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
BELK
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