• 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 or weather related hazard.
  • Sometimes the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
• Have an escape route from your home and designate places to meet.
  • Consider the distance that everyone has to travel to get to the meeting place.
  • Always have one or two alternative meeting places.
• Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact. This allows family members a single point of contact with someone out of affected area.
• Make plans now for your pets in case of evacuation.
• Post emergency telephone numbers near your phones and make sure children know how and when to call 9-1-1.
• Review your insurance coverage.
  • Flood damage may not always be covered by homeowner’s insurance.
• Stock up on non-perishable emergency supplies and have a disaster kit ready.
• Use a NOAA weather radio. Replace its battery every six months. Make sure extra batteries are in your disaster kit.
• Make it a household goal to have family members trained in first aid, CPR and disaster preparedness.

Helping Children Cope with Disaster

N.A.S.P.
N.M.H.A.

• Keep the family together as much as possible.
• Children should not be left alone in an evacuation center.
• Calmly and firmly explain the situation.
• Get down to the child’s level and talk.
• Encourage children to talk.
• Listen.
• Include children in recovery activities.
• Avoid inactivity and try to get back to a routine.
• Reassure your child that you are safe and together.
• Spend extra time with your child at bedtime
• Allow your child to mourn or grieve over the lost toy, etc.
• If you feel your child is having problems at school, talk to his/her teacher, work together to help your child.