Being Prepared for a Hurricane

Posted on by JoeRenna Posted in Springfield Patriot

September is National Preparedness Month, and with the news of the devastating hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the Township Committee wishes to remind Warren Residents that this is a good time to prepare in case of a disaster, whether natural or man-made. The hurricane season for the Atlantic runs from June 1 to November 30. Prepare now and learn what to do if a hurricane strikes and how to stay safe.
The list below has been prepared as a guide from the Warren Township Office of Emergency Management.

  • Create an emergency disaster plan for you and your family. Sit down and discuss it together. Keep your friends and family informed of your location during a disaster.
  • Include pets and their needs in your emergency disaster plan.
  • If family members include individuals with special needs, the very young or the frail elderly who would have great difficulty enduring days without electricity, consider an evacuation plan to a friend or family member’s house or hotel out of the area for the duration of the event.
  • If you are a resident or have family members who might need assistance in the event of a disaster, register online at Register Ready at www.registerready.nj.gov.
  • Learn what needs to be done in the home to shelter-in-place. During a hurricane, stay indoors in a central room, closet or hallway on the first floor.
  • Know when and how to turn off water, gas and electricity in your house.
  • Have an emergency supply kit ready for use and update regularly (see below for contents).
  • Regularly clear and repair clogged rain gutters and down spouts.
  • Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed of dead wood.
  • Review your insurance policy to make sure you have adequate coverage.
  • Take basic first-aid and CPR courses. Keep skills current.
  • Have up-to-date fire extinguishers in your home.
  • Sign up for NIXLE to receive texts from Warren Police by going to www.warrenpolice.com and clicking on the NIXLE icon, or at www.nixle.com.
  • Sign up for E-blasts through Constant Contact by joining our mailing list on the Warren Township website at www.warrennj.org.
  • Sign up for Somerset County Alerts regarding road closures, etc. at www.co.somerset.nj.us.
  • Further information on Emergency Preparedness can be found at www.ready.gov and www.emergecny.cdc.gov.

EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT CONTENTS

  • One gallon of water per person per day for at least three to seven days. Change water every six months.
  • At least three to seven days’ supply of non-perishable food
  • Manual can opener for canned goods
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First-aid kit and ample supply of medications
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Extra clothing and blankets required to keep warm without power.
  • Sturdy shoes to protect your feet.
  • Extra pair of glasses
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members
  • Important documents, credit card, cash and extra car keys in a watertight case

WHAT WE LEARNED FROM HURRICANE IRENE (2011), THE NOR’EASTER OCTOBER SNOWSTORM (2011) AND SUPER STORM SANDY (2012)

  • Warren is at the end of the JCP&L and PSE&G power grid and is one of the last municipalities to be restored. Average power outages from the three previous storms ranged from one to three weeks. Be prepared.
  • In case of wide-spread power outages, warming/cooling charging centers with access to WIFI will be opened during the days, and overnight shelters will be opened as needed; however, no centers or shelters will be opened until the roads are cleared and safe for residents to travel.
  • First Responder vehicles cannot venture out into storms with wind gust of 40 mph and over.
  • Stay off the roads until the Dept. of Public Works can clear roads of trees not involving wires. The utility company must clear downed wires before the trees can be cleared off the road and that might take days.
  • Warren Township First Responders (Police, Emergency Medical Services, Fire, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Public Works) are overwhelmingly busy responding to emergencies and implementing recovery procedures immediately after a disaster passes. Our First Responder resources are limited and the lives of Warren’s First Responder employees and volunteers should not be endangered by motorists on the road who create dangerous situations. Stay off the roads until authorities determine and broadcast that it is safe to be out.
  • If you have a medical device needing electricity or medications that need to be refrigerated, consider purchasing a generator to keep them operating. Also talk to your vendor about getting extra supplies such as oxygen and batteries.
  • If a hurricane threatens, secure outdoor furniture or bring it inside, fuel up your car, get extra cash ahead of time because ATMs will be down.
  • If you have a generator, know how to use it safely. Never use generators in an enclosed area such as a garage.
  • Use your car to charge a cell phone.
  • Use 9-1-1 for life and death emergencies ONLY. Police non-emergency: 908-753-1000
  • Do not call the Warren Twp. Police to report power outages. Call you utility company:

JCP&L: 1-888-544-4877

PSE&G: 1-800-436-7734

  • Check on your elderly neighbors.

Stay safe out there!