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October 27, 2012

Advice for creating an emergency plan

Newburyport Daily News

Do you have a plan in place in case of a severe storm and lengthy power outage?

The Edison Electric Institute, an association of electrical power companies, suggests that people take the following steps:

Develop an emergency plan that addresses any special medical needs you or your family members have. Call your local emergency management office to discuss necessary arrangements.

Know all evacuation routes if you live close to the coast.

Have your Emergency Outage Kit stocked and readily available. The kit should include:

Flashlights

Fresh batteries

Candles

Matches or lighters

Battery-powered radio (NOAA

Weather Radio, if possible)

Battery-powered or wind-up clock

Portable heater (oil or gas)

Portable generator (review safety tips prior to use)

Bottled water for drinking and cooking (one gallon per person per day)

Nonperishable food and manual can opener

Paper plates and plastic utensils

Coolers and ice

First-aid kit and family prescription medicines

Blankets and/or sleeping bags

Warm clothes, sturdy shoes, and heavy gloves

Special needs items for infants, elderly, and/or disabled family members

Sanitation and personal hygiene items, including hand sanitizer

Games and activities for children

Pet supplies

Emergency telephone numbers, including the number of your local electric company to report outages

Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov

Extra cash

Instructions on how to manually open electric garage doors

Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification, and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container

Pay attention to local weather reports on the radio, television, or Internet.

Stock up on groceries, water, medications, and any other necessities to avoid the need for travel during the storm. If called to evacuate, do so immediately.

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