...WRITTEN BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI...

...CONTINUING HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK IN TEXAS...

...DISASTER PREVENTION (BE PREPARED)...
 
THE IMPACT OF A MAJOR HURRICANE ON ANY OF THE TEXAS COASTAL 
COMMUNITIES WOULD BE A DISASTER OF SIGNIFICANT PROPORTIONS.  
THEREFORE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL TEXAS COASTAL CITIZENS TO 
PREPARE IN ADVANCE FOR THESE STORMS.  BELOW IS A SHORT LISTING 
OF GUIDELINES TO HELP YOU SURVIVE A HURRICANE...MINIMIZE YOUR 
LOSSES...AND RECOVER ONCE THE STORM MOVES AWAY.  

1.) ASSEMBLE A HURRICANE SUPPLY KIT. LARGE WATERPROOF STORAGE 
CONTAINERS AND ROLL AWAY SUITCASES MAKE GOOD STORAGE DEVICES. 
YOU WILL WANT TO ASSEMBLE ENOUGH FOOD...WATER...MEDICINE AND 
MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD.


2.) DECIDE IF YOU WILL NEED TO EVACUATE WHEN A STORM THREATENS 
AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GO.  PRIMARY INTERSTATES ARE NOT 
ALWAYS THE BEST EVACUATION ROUTES. BE AWARE OF THE MANY ALTERNATE 
ROUTES IN YOUR AREA.  YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE CAN 
HELP YOU TO DETERMINE THE BEST ROUTE TO TAKE.  BE SURE TO NOTIFY 
FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OF YOUR PLANS. 

3.) PLAN TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY BY PURCHASING SOME STURDY 
STORM SHUTTERS AND EXTRA BRACING FOR YOUR GARAGE DOORS. PAST 
HURRICANES HAVE PROVEN THAT ONCE THE WIND ENTERS THE HOME OR 
BUSINESS...THE ROOF IS USUALLY THE FIRST TO GO AND YOU COULD 
EXPERIENCE A TOTAL LOSS.  

4.) CHECK YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE TO MAKE SURE IT ADEQUATELY 
MEETS YOUR NEEDS.  A COMPLETE INVENTORY OF YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY 
WILL HELP IN OBTAINING INSURANCE SETTLEMENTS.  REMEMBER FLOOD 
INSURANCE IS NOT INCLUDED WITH YOUR REGULAR HOME OWNERS POLICY. 
THEREFORE...IF YOU LIVE IN A FLOOD ZONE...OR NEAR THE COAST...
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER PURCHASING A FLOOD POLICY. 
 
5.)  IF YOU PLAN TO EVACUATE AND YOU HAVE A PET...REMEMBER...
MANY HOTELS AND SHELTERS DO NOT ACCEPT PETS. THEREFORE PLANNING 
AHEAD COULD SAVE CONSIDERABLE TIME AND HEADACHES IN AN EMERGENCY 
SITUATION. 

6.) AS THE STORM APPROACHES...GAS UP YOUR VEHICLE...OBTAIN PLENTY 
OF CASH AND LEAVE WHEN OFFICIALS ADVISE. WAITING UNTIL THE LAST 
MINUTE COULD PLACE YOU AT THE END OF A LONG LINE OF CARS ALL 
TRYING TO ESCAPE HARMS WAY.