Hurricanes are dangerous and destructive. That’s why every minute counts before, during and after a hurricane hits. It could mean the difference between life and death. Hurricanes can still be destructive even if you don't live near coastal areas. Hurricanes can bring powerful winds, tornadoes, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, and even landslides. ►Download the WXII app to be aware of alerts, listen to NOAA Weather radio, or tune in to Channel 12 when there is impending severe weather.Keep reading to find out about evacuation safety, how to get weather alerts, making a family emergency plan, supply kit must-haves, reporting power outages, flooding safety and much more. FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN It’s vital before a disaster occurs to make a Family Emergency Plan. Make sure your family knows where you’ll go in an emergency, what to do to keep safe and how you’ll get in contact with them during or after a disaster. Keep a copy of it in a sealed tight waterproof container in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster. Here are five key questions to ask to get started with making a family plan, according to Ready.gov How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?What is my shelter plan?What is my evacuation route?What is my family/household communication plan?Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?Also, consider specific needs for your household to keep your family safe:Different ages of members within your householdResponsibilities for assisting othersDietary needsMedical needs including prescriptions and equipmentDisabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipmentLanguages spokenPets or service animalsHouseholds with school-aged childrenYou can make a family emergency plan right now! Click on the Ready.gov to formulate a plan that will be turned into a PDF file and emailed to you! DISASTER SUPPLY KIT Make sure you have a good supply of food and water to last several days, in case you need to survive on your own after an emergency. Keep your kit in a designated place and make sure you can get to it quickly if you have to leave your home. Here’s a list of items to build your own disaster supply kit: Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alertFlashlightFirst aid kitExtra batteriesWhistle (to signal for help)Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)Manual can opener (for food)Local mapsCell phone with chargers and a backup batteryConsider also adding the following items to your emergency supply kit.Masks (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfacesPrescription medicationsNon-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxativesPrescription eyeglasses and contact lens solutionInfant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash creamPet food and extra water for your petCash or traveler's checksImportant family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable containerSleeping bag or warm blanket for each personComplete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoesFire extinguisherMatches in a waterproof containerFeminine supplies and personal hygiene itemsMess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensilsPaper and pencilBooks, games, puzzles or other activities for childrenCRITICAL DOCUMENTS Take time to safeguard critical documents that could be needed after a disaster. Be cautious about sharing personal financial information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or credit card number.Household IdentificationPhoto ID (to prove identity of household members)Birth certificate (to maintain or re-establish contact with family members)Social Security card (to apply for FEMA disaster assistance)Military servicePet ID tagsFinancial and Legal DocumentationHousing payments (to identify financial records and obligations)Insurance policies (to re-establish financial accounts)Sources of income (to maintain payments and credit)Tax statements (to provide contact information for financial and legal providers and to apply for FEMA disaster assistance)Medical InformationPhysician information (in case medical care is needed)Copies of health insurance information (to make sure existing care continues uninterrupted)Immunization recordsMedicationsInsurance InformationHaving insurance for your home or business property is the best way to make sure you will have the necessary financial resources to help you repair, rebuild or replace whatever is damaged. Document and insure your property now.Household Contact InformationBanking institutionsInsurance agentsHealth professionalsService providers Place of worshipGET YOUR HOME READY Make sure there’s nothing that could blow around during the storm and damage your home. Move bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, and building material inside or under shelter.Cover up windows and doors outside. Use storm shutters or nail pieces of plywood to the window frames to protect your windows. This can help keep you safe from pieces of shattered glass. Be ready to turn off your power. If you see flooding, downed power lines, or you have to leave your home, switch it off. Fill clean water containers with drinking water. You’ll want to do this in case you lose your water supply during the storm. You can also fill up your sinks and bathtubs with water for washing. Check your CO detector to prevent CO poisoning. Lower the thermostat in your refrigerator and freezer to the coolest possible temperature. If your power goes out, your food will stay fresh longer. GET YOUR CAR READY Make sure your car is ready before the storm hits.Fill your car’s gas tank.Move cars and trucks into your garage or under cover.Always keep an emergency kit in your car.EVACUATION ROUTESMake sure you are familiar with North Carolina evacuation routes. IF YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE Download the FEMA app for a list of open shelters during an active disaster in your local area.Listen to a battery-powered radio and follow local evacuation instructions.Take your emergency supply kit.Leave early enough to avoid being trapped by severe weather.Take your pets with you but understand that only service animals may be allowed in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency now.Call or email the out-of-state contact in your family communications plan. Tell them where you are going.Secure your home by closing and locking doors and windows.Unplug electrical equipment such as radios, televisions and small appliances. Leave freezers and refrigerators plugged in unless there is a risk of flooding. If there is damage to your home and you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving.Leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going.Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that provides some protection such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and a hat.Check with neighbors who may need a ride.Follow recommended evacuation routes. Do not take shortcuts, they may be blocked.Be alert for road hazards such as washed-out roads or bridges and downed power lines. Do not drive into flooded areas.►Find your evacuation route if you live outside of North Carolina.HURRICANE WATCH, WARNING Make sure you know the difference between a hurricane watch or warning, plus other tropical terms to know about. Hurricane Watch: A Hurricane Watch is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are possible within the specified area of the Watch. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the Watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.Hurricane Warning: A Hurricane Warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected somewhere within the specified area of the Warning. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the Warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.DURING A HURRICANEKeep your emergency supply kit in a place you can easily access.Prepare for power outages by charging cell phones and electronics and setting your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. Listen to the radio or TV for updates on the hurricane. Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message that the hurricane is over. Sometimes, weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but then quickly gets bad again.Stay away from windows—you could get hurt by pieces of broken glass or flying debris during a storm. Stay in a room with no windows, or go inside a closet.Be ready to leave. If emergency authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go to a shelter or a neighbor’s house.FLOOD SAFETY More people die from floods every year than tornadoes, lightning or hurricanes. On average, flooding kills 89 people each year.Being informed and prepared before a flood happens can make the difference between life and death.Know your flood riskMake a flood emergency planBuild or restock your emergency preparedness kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.Consider buying flood insuranceFamiliarize yourself with local emergency plans. Know where to go and how to get there should you need to get to higher ground, the highest level of a building, or to evacuate.Stay tuned to your phone alerts, TV, or radio for weather updates, emergency instructions, or evacuation orders.Turn Around, Don’t Drown!Flash floods are the No. 1 cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. To avoid getting caught in a flood, don't walk or drive through flood waters. Six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of water can sweep your vehicle away.If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, you should abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.It's also important to avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.TORNADO SAFETY Tornadoes are possible with hurricanes as well as flooding. Here are some safety tips from the National Weather Service. In general, get as low as you can. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety.Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible. Avoid windows at all costs!In homes or public buildings: go to the basement or a small interior room, such as a closet, bathroom, or an interior hall on the lowest level.Protect yourself from flying debris with a mattress, sleeping bags, pillows, heavy coats, blankets, or quilts. Use bicycle or motorcycle helmets to protect your head.If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.In mobile homes: mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Abandon mobile homes and go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately. Leave well in advance of the approaching severe weather and go to a strong building. If there is no shelter nearby, get into the nearest ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Lie flat, covering your head with your hands for protection.In an apartment: Get to the lowest level (go to a neighbor's apartment on the first floor, if possible.) Regardless of what floor you're on, get in a bathtub or interior closet. If you are on a higher level and can't get to a lower apartment, hunker down in the breezeway of the apartment buildingIf you are caught outdoors: seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter, immediately get into a vehicle and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. Remember to buckle your seat belt. Stay away from bridge/highway overpasses.If strong winds and flying debris occur while driving: pull over and park, keeping your seat belt on and engine running. Put your head down below the windows, covering your head with your hands and a blanket. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car, and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement, or safe room.REPORTING POWER OUTAGESKeep these numbers in case you need to report a power outage. Check power outage maps here and also restoration times. Duke Energy Progress: 1-800-419-6356 Duke Energy: 1-800-POWERON, 1-800-769-3766 Customers may also report an outage or view current outages online Energy United: 1-800-386-4833 NC Electrical Cooperatives: 1-888-411-7870 Randolph Electric: 1-877-736-2633 Piedmont Electric: 1-800-449-2667 Surry-Yadkin Electric: 336-356-8241 City of Lexington Electric: 336-248-2337 City of High Point Electric: 336-883-3111AFTER AN EVACUATION If you evacuated for the storm, check with officials both where you’re staying and back home before you travel.If you are returning to disaster-affected areas after significant events, prepare for disruptions to daily activities and remember that returning home before storm debris is cleared is dangerous. Let friends and family know before you leave and when you arrive. Charge devices and consider getting back-up batteries in case power-outages continue. Fill up your gas tank and consider downloading a fuel app to check for outages along your route. Bring supplies such as water and non-perishable food for the car ride. Avoid downed power or utility lines, they may be live with deadly voltage. Stay away and report them immediately to your power or utility company. Only use generators outside and away from your home and never run a generator inside a home or garage or connect it to your home's electrical system.CONNECT WITH WXII 12 Make sure to download the WXII 12 App, so that you can still get updates if the power goes out. 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