Homeowners: Have a family disaster plan and practice it prior to the storm. Have disaster supplies in your home that include: A first aid kit, water (at least one gallon of water per day per person in your home. If you have pets, you will need more. If you have a baby, a nursing mother, or elderly people in your home, you will need more water.) for 5 days, non-perishable foods that don't need to be cooked or to have water added for 5 days (ready-to-eat meats, fruits and vegetables, canned or boxed juices, milk and soup, high energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars and trail mix, vitamins, special foods for infants or persons on special diets, cookies, hard candy, instant coffee, cereals, powdered milk), sanitation and hygiene supplies, a portable, batter-powered radio or television and EXTRA BATTERIES, a NOAA Weather Radio tuned to station 162.475 or 162.550. (If your NOAA Weather Radio has S.A.M.E., you need to program it to 054037), a Flashlight for each member of your family and Extra Batteries. (If you opt to use emergency candles, please make sure that an adult member of your family is with the candle at all times and that you do not fall asleep with candles lit.) Signal flare, matches in a waterproof container, a shut-off wrench, pliers, shovel and other tools, whistle, an ABC-type fire extinguisher, compass, work gloves, paper, pens and pencils, a battery-operated alarm clock, a NON-electric can opener, paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils, and all purpose (boy-scout-type) knife, household bleach, sugar, salt and pepper, aluminum foil and plastic wrap, re-sealable plastic bag, toys, books and games for children in your home, a change of clothing for each member of your family and STURDY shoes, rain gear, extra socks, extra underwear, blankets, pillows or sleeping bags for each member of the family, IN A WATER-TIGHT CONTAINER: Personal ID, Cash and coins, credit cards, extra set of house and car keys, COPIES of the following: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, drivers licenses, social security cards, passports, wills, deeds, inventory of household goods, insurance papers, immunization records, bank and credit card account numbers, stocks and bonds, emergency contact list and phone numbers, map of the area and phone numbers of places you could go if you need to evacuate. Make sure that you have disaster supplies for your pets too! Know where they will go if you should need to evacuate your home. Red Cross shelters cannot take in your pets, other than service animals.

Please use this time to remove everything from your lawn, pool areas and porches that could turn into flying debris. Fill the gas tanks of your vehicles. Fill needed prescriptions. Shop for any supplies that you need to replace.

BUSINESSES: Review your Disaster Plans and update all contact lists. Review your disaster supplies. Print out a hard copy of your vendor lists. Know how you will respond to possible power and water outages.

Emergency Responders and People who KNOW they will have to work if the storm hits here: Pack a Go Kit with everything you will need while you are away from your home. Have an extra set of clothing and personal supplies with you. Flashlight and extra batteries, portable radio, rain gear, sturdy work boots. Fill your tank with gas. Get some extra cash. Review your disaster plans with your family. Prepare your home and your family in the event that you will be away from home for long hours. Make plans for your pets to be taken care of.

Remember, if the power is out, it may affect your internet, your computer, most telephones, cell phones, ATM Machines, Gas Stations, Well pumps, television sets, etc. Be prepared to deal with outages, should they occur.

Stay Tuned to our local radio station WELC 102.9 or this web site for further updates