News: Long Island Safety Tips
(Long Island, N.Y.) Since the disaster in Japan has led Long Islanders to consider their own preparedness in the face of Mother Nature, many are evaluating individual safety plans. Long Islanders have always been under threats of flooding and erosion due to the proximity to a major body of water. Should a terrible disaster ever reach the Long Island shores, it’s important for residents to keep on the side of caution.
One important tip for Long Island residents is to continually monitor local media reports and heed instructions from government officials. Research shows that residents who keep attuned to updates in storm changes and weather patterns are able to make more informed decisions when it comes to their safety. Experts say that being proactive is the best defense against natural disasters.
It’s recommend that every Long Island residence should have at least one kit equipped with essential supplies for a minimum of three days. Some items that should be included in the kit are containers with bottled water, flashlights, can-openers, paper plates/utensils, and a radio. Non perishable food such as dry milk, boxed drinks, peanut butter, canned meats/tuna, beans, bread/crackers, cereal, and dried fruit should also be included.
In addition to a supplies kit, it is also recommended that every home have a first aid kit and a bag with hygiene supplies and a change of clothes. Blankets and pillows can go a long way, and a spare stash of important documents can also be useful during an emergency situation. It may be essential to keep handy credit cards, IDs, heath insurance cards, and cash in the face of a natural disaster.
In the case of an evacuation, it’s recommended that Long Island residents plan exit routes in advance and avoid taking the shortcut roadways. Roads are often blocked during an emergency, making it useful to plan a refuge destination. Out-of-town emergency contacts should be alerted and kept accessible at all times. For children, it may be helpful to draw maps of the house and assign a meeting place for the whole family in the event of a disaster.
For the protection of homes, a good investment could be on storm shutters, window-securing devices, and plywood for makeshift protection. Attaching plywood to windows and roofs in the anticipation of damage could help to keep your home safe from a storm. It’s also important to trim all trees and bushes in the area of the home and stow away all lawn furniture to prevent further damage.
In preparing a possible getaway vehicle in the event of an emergency evacuation, keep keys handy and fill the gas tank. Try to limit the amount of cars to one per family in order to avoid the congestion of roadways. It may be useful to have battery-operated lanterns and fire extinguishers stocked in cars as well as the home.
For Long Island homeowners who have purchased flood insurance, it may be helpful to take pictures of your home before and after the storm hits in a way to document the damage. In the case of flooding, make sure that all electrical units are unplugged before leaving the house. If evacuating, keep in mind that most public shelters won’t allow pets, and never return to your home until authorities declare it’s safe to do so.
If you’re forced to stay at home during an emergency situation, it’s important to avoid windows and keep to higher grounds, especially so in the case of floods. Last year’s Nor’easter left 250,000 Long Island residents without power. Since then, over $7 million has been put into improving Long Island emergency response systems.
