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Be prepared: Hurricanes on the way

Posted on September 4, 2008September 4, 2008 by Staff

By Rich Fowler
Staff Writer

September is Preparedness Month in Orange County, and as hurricane season reaches its peak now is a good time for residents to prepare for the hurricanes surely headed our way.

“Hurricanes Gustav, Hannah, Ike and, soon, Josephine, are sending us a very clear message that we must all be proactive, prepared and informed about our own safety,” said Capt. Clint Osborn of Orange County Emergency Services.

According to a survey by the county health department, 53 percent of county residents don’t have an emergency plan, 41 percent don’t have an adequate supply of food and water for an emergency and 56 percent don’t have necessary items for an evacuation.

“Residents have told us that it’s hard to afford keeping a food and water supply on hand. We tell residents to try setting aside a section of a pantry shelf and buying one item to add to this ‘stash’ shelf each time they get groceries,” said Dr. Rosemary Summers, Orange County health director.

County officials suggest that residents have at least one week of supplies on hand in case of a disaster and the Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests that people should be prepared to be on their own for three days after a disaster.

Making a family emergency plan will help family members find and contact each other in the event of an emergency. Good planning involves knowing what to do in different emergency situations and learning about the different disasters that can happen in the area.

The Orange County Department of Social Services keeps a list of all residents with special needs and, in case of a disaster, will contact all of them and give them the information they need to prepare. The county will also check to make sure they are safe. To get on the list, send an application to the county Department of Social Services.

People who are interested in helping out after a disaster can form or join a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or the Orange County Public Health Reserve Corps. Both programs provide free training to their members.

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