24/7 Emergency ServiceSERVPRO of Western Essex County Cares About Your Family
3/12/2019 (Permalink)
Have you ever stopped to think about whether your family is prepared for severe weather that can take us by surprise? While we may have advanced warning for some types of severe weather, that is not always the case.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take and safety tips to follow that will ensure your family is prepared.
Creating and establishing a family emergency plan is one of the best ways to be ready for the unexpected.
Kudos to you if your family does have an emergency plan in place, but be sure that it is practiced and reviewed on a regular basis.
If you’ve not yet completed this process, take some time to do so. Take a look at some things to take into consideration when putting together your family emergency plan:
1. Getting Emergency Alerts
Technology today is a marvel. Thanks to today’s smartphone technology, it is easy to receive emergency alerts and warnings on your smartphone equipped with a weather app or Google on your smartphone. This allows you to act quickly and efficiently when you receive emergency alerts, and you can then tune in to your local radio and television stations for further information.
2. Knowing Your Storm Shelters
In areas where tornadoes are common, you’ll want to take shelter in a basement if you have one. If there is no basement, find an interior room (away from building corners and outside walls) on the lowest level that is away from windows and doors. Be aware, however, that tornadoes aren’t the only weather circumstance that requires a form of storm shelter, and you can learn more about those situations by visiting ready.gov.
3. Having Evacuation Routes
Be sure you have multiple routes mapped out that can serve as an evacuation route as hurricanes, flooding and fires can force you from your home in a hurry. It’s wise to have multiple routes in case one becomes impassable. Make sure to make preparations for your furry family members and find places to stay with your pets that have evacuated with you.
4. Staying in Touch
It is easy to rely on cell phones to keep in touch with your family, but in some circumstances, that will not be a viable option. Cell phone towers can sustain severe damage, phones could be lost or left behind, and if there is no power, you will not be able to recharge their batteries.
You should complete an emergency communication plan for your family and decide on a place to safely meet in the event you are separated during the emergency.
If a storm does cause damage to your home or business, don’t hesitate to call your friends at SERVPRO® of Western Essex County to get the cleanup and restoration process started.