For the latest update on Hurricane Irene, click on the image above.

Tips to keep your family and business safe this weekend. 

Safety for individuals   

• Create a disaster plan. Plan an evacuation route in advance and determine where you would go if you were told to evacuate.
• Prepare a survival kit. Stock up on drinking water, non-perishable goods, a first-aid kit and medicine for everyone including your pet. Include extra clothing, blankets, batteries, flashlights and a portable radio.
• Conduct a home hazard hunt and make your home as safe as possible. Secure all outdoor objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture. Close storm shutters and board up all windows.
• Review how to shut off utilities in an emergency with all family members.
• Locate important papers and documents and have them ready to take with you should you need to evacuate. Protect documents in plastic storage bags if you're remaining in your home.
• Make sure you have insurance policies with claim contact information, an inventory of your home's contents and cash.
• Ask an out-of-state friend to be your family contact. After a disaster, it's often easier to call long-distance than to make a local call.
• Finally, leave promptly when ordered to evacuate. Leaving too late or not leaving at all only endangers yourself and others.

 
Safety for businesses 

• Review your business continuity plan and communicate emergency evacuation and business interruption instructions to employees. If you don't have a written plan, now is the time to create one. Each business should have an emergency plan including a detailed procedure for evacuation, a checklist for shutting down processes and protecting buildings, contents, equipment, and yard storage. Procedures should include salvage instructions to follow post-event.
• Back up critical data and computer records off-site so that operations can continue after a disaster. Consider keeping a backup generator and plenty of batteries on hand so your business can continue to operate after a power loss.
• As a hurricane approaches, quick actions should to be taken to install temporary protection features including:
• Shutter or board up windows to protect them from flying debris
• Clean out floor drains and catch basins to ensure maximum drainage
• Anchor structures, trailers and yard storage so they are more likely to stay put in high winds
• Fill emergency generator and fire pump fuel tanks
• Shut down production processes safely
• Shut off all flammable and combustible liquid and gas lines at their source
• Shut off electrical power at the main building disconnect before the hurricane strikes
• Once the storm has subsided and it is safe to return, a salvage team should be assembled and repair work prioritized, assuring proper supplies are available and safety procedures followed.