Emergency Preparedness

If you would like a training or presentation to your agency and/or community group on a preparedness topic, please 828-764-9219.

For more information on how to prepare for hurricanes or other natural disasters, please visit the Ready North Carolina website.

Hurricane Watch or Warning Tips

nasa-71747-unsplash hurricane picture

If you're under a hurricane watch or warning, you should take important steps to prepare for the storm:

  • Learn about your community's emergency plans, warning signals,  evacuation routes, and emergency shelters.
  • Make plans to protect people with special needs and pets.
  • Stock your home and vehicle with emergency supplies.
  • Secure or protect potential home hazards, such as utilities.
  • Stay tuned to your radio or television and listen to local authorities.
  • If you need to evacuate, remember to take your prescription medicines with you. Many businesses, including pharmacies, may be closed during and after a hurricane. If you are unable to evacuate and cannot drive, ask a friend or relative to drive you to pick up items you may need during the emergency, including a week's supply of medication.

If you stay in your home through a hurricane, there are things you can do to protect yourself:

  • Monitor the radio or television for weather reports.
  • Stay indoors until the storm is over. Seek shelter in a basement or in an interior room with no windows. Stay away from all windows and exterior doors.
  • Evacuate to a shelter or to a neighbor's home if your home is damaged or if emergency personnel instruct you to do so.
  • During a power outage, never use generators, grills, or other gasoline-, propane-, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, garage, or carport or near doors, windows, or vents. They produce carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that kills more than 500 americans each year. If your home is damaged, stay with friends or family or in a shelter.

After a severe storm or natural disaster, it is important to be sure your food is safe:

  • Wash your hands, dishes and utensils used for preparing and serving food, with water from a safe source.
  • It's important to eat only safe food. Throw away perishables, like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers stored above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours or more.
  • Throw away food with an unusual odor, color, or texture.
  • Throw away food that may have come in contact with flood water, including food in swollen, punctured and damaged cans. When in doubt, throw it out.

Picture by NASA via Unsplash