Houston Home Safety: Essential Hurricane Preparedness

9/19/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO prepared kits will ensure you are prepared throughout the year.

September is National Preparedness Month and for those of us in the greater Houston metro area, it is vital that we stay prepared for severe weather throughout the year. We are all well aware of the damage that a hurricane or flood can inflict on our city and the Houston area water damage sustained by Houston homes and businesses each year. This month, let’s all take the initiative to follow the recommendations provided by the Department of Homeland Security and get prepared for when the next disaster strikes our community.

1. Create a Family Emergency Communication Plan. Make sure that all members of your family, those living in the Houston area, and those outside the area, know how to communicate during severe weather. Remember, mobile phone networks are often overwhelmed during a disaster so have a plan to use landlines, texts, and emails. Also, it is important to recognize that you need a rallying point to reunite if you are separated, or become separated, during the emergency. Your local Houston SERVPRO encourages you to prepare for any special needs of the family, and pets. Keeping a supply of medications on hand during severe weather season, and copies of important papers and documents in the Cloud for easy retrieval is recommended.
2. Preparing Kids. It is vital for the safety of your children that in the event disaster strikes while they are at school, or away from home, that they know what to do. The Family Emergency Communication Plan recommended above must be accessible to your children as well. For some families, the addition of an out-of-area family member to the communication plan that can act as the go-between during an emergency is helpful. Parents should also request a written copy of the children’s school (and daycare) emergency plans, so you know where to reunite with your children.
3. Elderly Family Members. Make sure that older adults in your family know how to use technology that can help during an emergency, and be sure that they have the support they need during an emergency to evacuate if necessary. Helping family members create a “go bag” that has their medications, and important papers will help tremendously in the event a disaster strikes the greater Houston area.
4. Plan with Neighbors. It is wise to reach out to your neighbors and share communication plans and evacuation plans. If your children or their children are home alone during severe weather or another emergency, it is imperative they understand where to turn for immediate help.
5. In the midst of a hurricane or other emergency, it is vital that you remain safe. Don’t drive through floodwaters, don’t walk through water where power lines are down and don’t enter properties that are flooded. Be cautious; floodwaters carry many hazards including wildlife and sharp debris, and it moves fast and can quickly whisk you away.

A little preparation in advance of a hurricane saves lives and property. Your Houston SERVPRO team wants to remind you that if disaster strikes, we stand at the ready to help you through all aspects of the storm and water damage, from water extraction through rebuilding. Call us any time, we have crews available 24 hours a day and stand at the ready to assist our community whenever disaster strikes.

About The Clear Lake SERVPRO

SERVPRO of Clear Lake is Faster to Any Size Disaster, helping residential and commercial property owners when natural disasters, water damage, sewage backups, floods, fires, mold infestations, and other events happen.