Here’s what you need to prepare for storms in NC, SC as hurricane season approaches
The approaching hurricane season should remind every Carolinian that severe weather can strike most anytime of the year, and they need to be prepared, meteorologists from the National Weather Service said.
They delivered that warning during a hurricane outlook webinar hosted by the NWS office in Greer, S.C., Wednesday night. Those forecasters monitor the weather in the Charlotte region, upstate South Carolina and parts of the N.C. mountains.
Hurricane season stretches from June 1 through Nov. 30, but “we can get storms any time of the year,” NWS meteorologist Lauren Carroll said.
Those threats include tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and deadly floods from persistent downpours. “So it’s always good to be prepared,” NWS meteorologist Andrew Kimball said.
The new coronavirus pandemic, meanwhile, has thrown a twist into how people should prepare, Carroll said: Many of the schools and other buildings where families plan to seek shelter are closed to prevent the spread of the virus, she said.
Households need an emergency plan
Whatever the weather, households need a written emergency plan, emergency officials say.
Those plans should address how your family will receive emergency alerts, how they’ll communicate with each other, how they’ll seek shelter and the evacuation route they’ll take, according to officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which tracks hurricanes and other storms and their resulting destruction.
Also have an emergency kit in your home. According to Carroll and NOAA officials, the kits should include:
▪ Enough water, medicine and non-perishable food to last at least three days for you and your family. “One gallon per person per day, for drinking and basic hygiene,” Carroll said of the water you’ll need..
▪ Extra cash.
▪ A battery-powered radio and flashlights.
▪ For your cell phones, a portable crank or solar-powered USB charger.
▪ Copies of insurance and other important documents that a storm can destroy.
Also, gas up your cars four days before a severe storm that could prompt evacuations, Carroll said.
And for your pets, have food, extra water, leash/collar and a carrier you can take during an evacuation.
Households should gather any last-minute emergency supplies three or four day before the storm, she recommended.
If you’re still at home 24 hours before a storm, be ready to shelter in place, Carroll added.
Supplies to take to a public shelter
If you’re heading to a public shelter, also take at least two cloth face coverings per person and any available hand sanitizer, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, children under age 2 and anyone with difficulty breathing should not wear face coverings, according to the CDC.
Preparing for strong wind
Carroll she’s seen trees topple in gusts of just 30 mph or 40 mph, so you should:
▪ Trim trees near your house.
▪ Secure loose objects in your yard.
▪ And, if you’re in your home during a storm with high winds, stay inside and away from doors and windows.
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