Even while New York and its neighbors on the east coast continue to recover from Superstorm Sandy, another hurricane season is upon us. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and the New York City Office of Emergency Management reminds us that historically, the greatest potential for hurricanes in the Metro New York area occurs from August through October.
“Take a few moments to prepare now for a weather emergency or disaster,” said Claire Rosenzweig, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Metro New York. “Both consumers and businesses should have a disaster plan that spells out what to do before, during and after an emergency. It will make a big difference to your safety and comfort.”
The following tips and resources can help consumers prepare for the 2013 hurricane season.
Know Your Zone. New York City Hurricane Evacuation Zones have changed. There are now six (6) numbered NYC hurricane evacuation zones. To find out if you live or work in a hurricane evacuation zone, visit the
Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder, call 311 in the city, or (212) NEW-YORK if calling from outside New York City.
If you are located outside of New York City, be aware of flood and wind hazard risks that may be present in your area. Visit FEMA’s website at
www.ready.gov to learn about the potential emergencies that could occur where you live and the appropriate ways to respond to them. Your local city or county government may also be able to help you with information about this.
Make a plan: Develop a plan with your household members or business employees that outlines what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate if a hurricane or other emergency strikes New York. Consumers can use the
Ready New York: My Emergency Plan Guide to create your plan by searching “My Emergency Plan” at
www.NYC.gov. Businesses can also find a lot of detailed information about pre-emergency and business continuity planning at
NYC-OEM’s “For Businesses” website.
Have an Emergency Supply Kit and a Go Bag: During an emergency, such as a severe storm, you may need to shelter in place (stay at home). Keep an emergency supply kit at home with enough supplies to last for at least three days. Other emergencies may require evacuation from your home. It’s a good idea to pre-pack a Go Bag for every household member in an easy-to-carry container such as a backpack.
Emergency Supply Kit
• One gallon of drinking water per person per day
• Nonperishable, ready-to-eat foods and manual can opener
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight (Light Emitting Diode (LED) flashlights last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs)
• Battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries (you can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries)
• Whistle
• Iodine tablets or one quart of unscented bleach (for disinfecting water ONLY if directed to do so by health officials) and eyedropper (for adding bleach to water)
• Personal hygiene items: soap, feminine hygiene products, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc.
• Phone that does not rely on electricity
• Child care supplies or other special care items
Evacuation “Go Bag” • Copies of your important documents in a waterproof and portable container (insurance cards, birth certificates, deeds, photo IDs, proof of address, etc.)
• Extra set of car and house keys
• Credit and ATM cards and cash, especially in small denominations. We recommend you keep at least $50-$100 on hand.
• Bottled water and nonperishable food, such as energy or granola bars
• Flashlight (Light Emitting Diode (LED) flashlights last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.)
• Battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries
• A list of the medications each member of your household takes, why they take them, and their dosages. Medication information and other essential personal items. If you store extra medication in your Go Bag, be sure to refill it before it expires.
• First aid kit
• Contact and meeting place information for your household, and a small regional map
• Child care supplies or other special care items
• Lightweight raingear and Mylar blanket
Familiarize yourself with your local emergency alerts and warnings, and sign up for local emergency email or text alert services. Knowing about the local plans for emergency shelter and evacuation, local emergency contacts, the locations frequented by members of your household and the specific needs of household members including animals will help you reduce the impact of damaging storms. It may also save lives and prevent injuries.
Storm Planning Resources Ready New York: Hurricanes and New York City
www.nyc.gov/html/oem/downloads/pdf/hurricane_brochure_english.pdf NYC Office of Emergency Management
www.NYC.gov/oem
NY State Emergency Management Office
www.semo.state.ny.us Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
www.fema.govDepartment of Homeland Security
www.dhs.gov American Red Cross
www.redcross.org National Hurricane Center/Tropical Prediction Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov National Weather Service
www.weather.gov Notify NYC: Register for emergency notifications by visiting
www.NYC.gov/notifynyc - or call 311
