Hurricane information

My city has a online forum I found this on it thought is was interesting and useful...I heard one of our gas stations ran out of gas...gee people chill out..the panic is causing worst problem

Several (if not many) FOLers have asked "What should I do to prepare for a storm?"

It's a prudent question that deserves a rational answer.

The following message was circulated today in our community, and is good list of advice for most people -- so I thought I'd share it.

Storm Preparedness

Dear Residents:

We ask that all residents please read the following information thoroughly and be prepared for Hurrican Rita. At this point, Hurricane Rita is expected to make land-fall sometime between Friday evening and Saturday morning. According to current new reports, the Dallas area could receive dangerous winds and severe rain.

We encourage all the residents to take responsibility for themselves and their personal property. In the event of an emergency, please call local law enforcement or fire officials.

All entry/exit gates will be opened on Friday and will remain open until further notice.

Both pool areas and common area will be closed on Friday, and will remained closed until further notice.

Before the storm:

• Listen to the County Warning System on the radio. Do exactly as advised. Have current information on the location of the Red Cross shelters and directions to get there. If there are ill or disabled persons in the apartment contact their doctors for instructions. Be sure to take the necessities such as prescriptions, bedding, enough food for 24 hours, flashlights, and a battery-powered radio. Make arrangement for your pet(s), as pets may not be permitted in public shelters.

• Clear off your balconies, patios, and front door areas.

• Fill the bathroom tub with water. This water may be used for drinking should the water supply become interrupted or contaminated. It may be poured into the toilet to induce flushing.

• Stock daily necessities. Items such as the following are recommended. Non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid kits, blankets, manual can opener, batteries, battery-powered radio, prescriptions, diapers, baby food, extra eye glasses, hearing aids, and battery-powered lanterns. Back up batteries for each item requiring a battery are also recommended.

• Fill all vehicles withgas. In the event of loss of electricity, the gas pumps will not operate.

• Carry all important paperwork and personal identification with you.

• If you have not recently done so, take a complete inventory of your personal property and store the document in a waterproof container (plastic bag, etc.) in a safe place.


If power is lost:

• Use flashlights instead of candles or kerosene lamps
• Use caution when cooking when flames are present. A gust of wind through a door or window could start an accidental fire.
• Do not run generators or propane tanks inside the apartment. Carbon monoxide will spread through the home and cause major health problems or death. Additionally, generators require well-ventilated area. In the event of prolonged power outage, the use of gasoline-operated machinery such as generators is not recommended on the patios, balconies, and breezeways.
• Switch all service breakers to the “off” position to eliminate any chance of damage to appliances due to power surges. This will also eliminate any appliances left on from becoming a fire source when power is restored.
• Turn your air conditioning unit to the “off” position. If left in the “on” position, it will create a surge to the unit and possible damage to the compressor once power is restored – resulting in no air conditioning.
• Use the telephone for emergencies only. Jammed phone lines may obstruct emergency calls for police, fire, doctors, and Red Cross disaster units.
• Conserve refrigeration. Open the refrigerator/freezer door as little as possible. Food will spoil in the refrigerator if the power is lost for more than a few hours. Freezers will keep food several days if doors are not opened after power failure, but do not refreeze food once it begins to thaw.
• Should your fire/smoke alarm or intrusion alarm go off, and there is no fire, remove the cover and take the battery out.
• If you plan to leave home this weekend and normally exit through an automatic garage door, be sure you can enter through an alternate door if a power failure prevents you from entering through the garage.


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