Family Disaster Planning

North Carolina has had more than it’s share of natural disasters and storms, including hurricanes, over the past few years. The best way to survive and endure a hurricane is to prepare for it before hand. North Carolina's Touchstone Energy cooperatives offer the following tips to help you prepare your family for a hurricane.

Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.
Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.
Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.
Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and have a Disaster Supply Kit.
Monitor the radio and make sure you have plenty of batteries in case the power goes out. Replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.
Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.