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HURRICANE UPDATE 2015JULY 23, 2015 THE OBSERVER 11

By Declan MurphyBefore a storm approaches

or makes landfall, there are a number of things a business owner can do to protect and secure the critical elements of his or her business. These include:

Setting up a call-forwarding service to a predetermined backup location. Set up a hotline number for employ-ees, employees’ families, customers and partners, as

Protecting Your Business Dataappropriate, to call so that all parties know about the business situation and emergency plan. To be more effective, maintain an updated contact list, includ-ing mobile and home phone numbers and e-mail addresses for all employees.

Protecting your business’ hardware, software, data records, employee records. Routinely back up your impor-tant fi les to an off-site location or secure server protected from

the elements and water da-mage. Several companies in Deerfi eld had roof failures and fl ooding during Wilma and lost all their customer and fi nancial data, which almost brought them down. Partner with a business next door and share resources or costs. The worst thing you can do is to do nothing.

For more information, visit: www.fastteks.com/northbrowardcounty

A box of Crayons make an emer-gency set of candles. Each cray-

on burns for 15 minutes.As a last resort, break the tip of the Crayon off

and light the end. The wrapper will act as the “wick.” Place the candle in a coffee cup fi lled with sand. A box of 24 Crayons give you 6 hours of light.

How to open canned foods without a can opener

Using no tools whatsoever Most people, at one time

or another, found them-selves with the dilemma of not having a can opener when they needed one. The one you bought for your hurricane box... someone needed it before the hur-ricane and now it’s gone.

So here is what you do. Take the can and rub it round and round on concrete. The actual weld on a can at the

top is soft. When you rub it on concrete it will separate. We rubbed a can of tuna around on a parking stump 20 times. Then you squeeze the can with

your thumb and index fi nger one inch down from the top and the lid will pop off.

Mobile Home Hurricane PrepBy Karen NewcombeMobile homes are a pop-

ular option for home own-ership in South Florida, with about 30,000 in Bro-ward County, but special steps are needed to prepare them for hurricane season. Even a tropical storm or bad thunderstorm can break up or fl ip a mobile home, so storm preparation is never wasted.

Mobile home residents, especially those new to South Florida, must al-ways evacuate the mobile home in every hurricane. No mobile home provides enough structure or safety to protect your life, so it’s important to have an evacuation plan in place.

Will you stay with fam-ily or friends, go to a shelter or stay in a hotel? If you haven’t updated your

plan recently, or if you’re new to Florida, now is the time to plan.

The State of Florida re-quires that all mobile homes be tied down, but the require-ments vary for each mobile home. General information and regulations can be found here: www.fl hsmv.gov/dmv/Forms/BMHRV/15C1Finl.pdf and you will also need to obtain the exact types and spacing of piers, anchors and tie downs for your mobile home from the manufacturer. There are many services to help you install tie downs, and they can also help in-spect your supports, anchors and strap system. Florida’s weather is tough on building materials, so inspecting and repairing your tie downs and anchors every year is a must! If you see rust or cracks, or if the piers supporting

the mobile home have shifted, repairs must be made before a storm.

Hurricane shutters are available for mobile homes, and should be installed before the storm arrives. All windows should be covered; tape will not protect windows from shattering. Newer residents who may be boarding up and evacu-ating for the fi rst time should do a dry run now for practice. Putting up sheets of plywood in a 35 mph wind is neither easy nor safe, so try it out now and make sure you have all the necessary supplies. Inspect your walls, roof and utility connections for any weaknesses, and make repairs now.

Even an afternoon storm in South Florida can generate winds or tornadoes that can fl ip or damage a mobile home, so it’s a great idea to inspect and repair every year. Don’t wait for a storm to arrive – both supplies and contractors will be in high demand and short supply!

Remember to stay in-formed, have a plan, inspect and repair in ad-vance, and always evacu-ate from your mobile home during a hurricane.

Top 10 Tips for Over 65-ersBy Karen Newcombe1) Don’t wait until the last minute! Get a kit, have a plan, stay informed. Hurricanes can

form quickly and strike in a matter of hours. Have your arrangements done before a hurricane ever forms. Hurricane kit checklists are widely available.

2) Ask for help. It’s just a fact of life that it takes longer to do things when you’re over 40! Family, friends and neighbors don’t want you to be unprepared, so ask them for help getting supplies, installing shutters, picking up a supply of medication or for transportation during an evacuation. Make arrangements now.

3) Do not stay in your home if you are ordered to evacuate. Go to a shelter. Do not leave your pet behind. Shelters that allow pets require reservations in advance, so call your shelter today to hold a space. Most hotels and motels now allow pets, but you may be asked for pet deposit from $20 to $100, usually refunded on checkout.

4) Plan for a two-week period. Most agencies say three days, but a storm can cut off power, water and other services for 2 - 4 weeks. Do more preparation than you think is necessary.

5) Have a communications plan and a meeting point. How will you reach friends and family if communications are down? Where will you meet if you have to leave your home unexpectedly?

6) Plan to stay informed. How will you get news when power, cable and cell phones are all off? Old TVs do not work with the new digital broadcast system, so you will need a digital antenna. Make sure you have a radio and batteries.

7) Have current identifi cation for you and your pets. At RoadID.com you can order a laser-engraved tag with your name, address, phone and other ID information. These can be attached to a wristband, shoelaces, lanyard or a pet’s collar.

8) Never run generators inside the house or garage! Generators give off odorless gases that will kill you. Only run generators outdoors in open, well-ventilated areas away from windows and doors. Don’t use gas grills in the house either - they give off the same gas and are not properly vented like a built-in gas stove.

9) Do not underestimate a storm. Hurricane Wilma was “only” a Category 2 when it hit us, but even a tropical storm can cause widespread damage.

10) Keep copies of all your important papers in waterproof bags. A waterproof bag should include copies of your ID, medical papers, contact list, pet ID and vaccination papers, and anything else too valuable to lose.

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10 THE OBSERVER HURRICANE UPDATE 2015 JULY 23, 2015

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Deerfield Beach home.

Hurricane-Proof Your Garage DoorsBroken garage doors can

easily let in that much water and more.

In fact, the Federal Emer-gency Management Agency (FEMA) identified loss of garage doors as one of the major factors contributing to hurricane storm damage in homes.

However, you can take steps to protect your garage door from hurricanes and

possibly lower your insur-ance premiums in the process.

Install garage door brac-ing kits: The surest way to prevent a garage door from failing in hurricane-force winds is to brace the door us-ing a garage door bracing kit.

A hurricane-resistant ret-rofit kit for garage doors includes braces and hardware, and costs about $500 for a double garage door. You

can probably install braces yourself, if you’re handy with a drill.

Be sure that the track of your garage door is at least 14-gauge weight – check the owner’s manual or look for markings on the track – and is securely mounted with screws at all appropriate screw locations. Replace any loose screws with longer screws.

Purchase new hurricane-

proof or wind-resistant garage doors: First, check your local codes. In some hurricane-prone areas, codes require that a garage door withstand winds up to 130 mph.

In Miami-Dade County, codes are even stricter, and doors must withstand hurri-cane-force winds of 150 mph.

• Impact-resistant garage doors are made with a steel

or fiberglass veneer and are designed to withstand the force of objects hurled against them. Check the manufacturer’s specifications for wind-resistance.

Ask your insurer about discounts for hurricane-mitigation improvement. In Broward County, for example, the annual insurance premium on an older home insured for $150,000 runs between

$3,000 and $4,000, assum-ing no hurricane-mitigation improvements. With improve-ments, such as storm shutters or hurricane-resistant garage doors, the same home would cost between $1,000 and $2,800 to insure, or about 30 percent less.

12 The Observer Hurricane Update 2015 July 23, 2015

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Maintaining and protect-ing your food supply is critical in the event of a hurricane. Prior to a storm, you should consider some of these tips for your refrig-erator and freezer:

First, consider cleaning out the refrigerator. During a hurricane watch, evacua-tion can be necessary or the power can suddenly go out, so consuming perishables before a storm prevents you from wasting provi-sions or coming home to rotten food.

Refrigerator• Turn your refrigerator

to the coolest possible temperature, and open only when necessary.

• If the power goes out, many refrigerated foods will last only a couple of hours, but ice may delay spoilage.

• Foods that need to be

Safeguarding your food supplytossed after warming above 40 degrees include: mayon-naise, eggs, opened baby for-mula, luncheon meat, cooked vegetables, milk, cream, spa-ghetti sauce, cooked pasta, creamy salad dressings, cream-filled pies or pastries, cooked meat, canned meats that require refrigeration and soft cheeses, such as cream cheese, cottage cheese and mozzarella.

• Foods that are still safe above 40 degrees include: fresh fruits, raw vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, barbe-cue sauce, ketchup, olives, fruit pies, bread, butter and margarine, and hard cheeses, such as Cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan.

Freezer• Food in a fully-packed

freezer will keep one to two days if the power goes out.

• Food is safe to re-freeze if it does not get warmer than

40 degrees. If you don’t have a thermometer, the food is safe if it feels as cold as it would if in the refrigerator or still has ice crystals.

• If frozen food warms above 40 degrees, toss it.

• If power goes out, you can try to keep your freezer cold a while lon-ger by covering it with several blankets.

• Fill your freezer with extra water jugs or crumpled paper to keep it tightly packed. This will help preserve food for up to two days without electricity.

For more information see USDA video on Ob-server’s HurricaneTV atwww.observernews paperonline.com/hur-

Having a generator for back-up power is great – un-less you don’t have the fuel to run the generator. The irony of the portable back-up generator – most of them, at least – is that they run on gas. And what’s the item that’s usually hard to get when the power’s down? Gas!

There’s the money issue, too. Gas – even now – is still pretty expensive. If you find yourself in a situation where it’s necessary to rely on gaso-line to run your generator for

Converting a mobilegenerator to LP gas

an extended period, the dollars add up quickly. The typical por-table generator has a 5 gallon tank, which will run the unit for about 10 hours or so under a full electric load. At $2.79 per gallon – current prices – that’s about $27.90 a day to run the generator. If you have to run it for two weeks, you’ll be spend-ing more than $390.60 to keep the lights on – and the food in your ‘fridge from spoiling. At $3 or $4 a gallon, it gets harder to keep the lights on.

Propane – and CNG – are not

only cheaper on a per-gallon-equivalent basis, they’re not as subject to sudden price increases because there are vast reserves of the stuff right here in the USA. Plus, you can stock up now – at current (low) prices – and not sweat future (inflation-driven) price spikes as much. And there’s no worry about the fuel going bad in three or four months’ time.

Type C Conversionkit from U.S.carburetion.

The kit runs about$190 to convert. To see a video of

a installation, go to: observer

newspaperonline.com/hurricane-tv

Converting to LP doesn’tmean it still won’t run ongasoline.

Preparing Your Boat for Hurricanes

By Karen NewcombeBefore a hurricane appears on

the radar is the best time to make preparations.

A hurricane can pop up and hit Florida in 24 to 48 hours, so having an action plan in place can save your boat. The first rule of hurricane boating safety is to never stay on your boat during the storm.

Set up your plan in advance

“The most important thing is that boat owners have a plan,” said Laura Guimond, Storage Manager at Marina One in Deer-field Beach (954-421-2500.) “We haven’t had a bad storm for years, so it’s important that people check their plan now and update it. We recommend taking boats out of the water and storing them in a safe building.”

Your plan should consider several options:

• Arrangements with a marina for securing your vessel.

• Moving your boat out of the area .

• Taking the boat to a safe harbor .

• Removing trailerable boats from the water to a storage area.

Make a practice run. Preparing a boat can be a big, time consum-ing effort, but you may not know how long it really takes until you practice. This will help you check that your vehicle and trailer are in shape to handle the boat, or if

routes to storage or safe harbor may be blocked when a storm is coming. Remember, draw-bridges are set on lockdown once evacuations are declared or the storm draws near.

Items for your planYour plan should cover all

steps needed to secure your boat:• Moving the boat to the stor-

age location.• Securing or removing all sails

and rigging.• Sealing openings with duct

tape.• Removing all valuables and

equipment from the vessel. • Tying down all parts that

cannot be removed.• Turning off the electrical sys-

tem. You may want to remove the battery from the board to reduce the risk of fire.

• Copy all your boat’s docu-ments and keep them with you in a Ziploc bag or waterproof box in case your home is evacu-ated. This should include boat registration, identifying photos, insurance policy, phone numbers of contacts you may need.

• Take photos or a video of your boat before the hurricane for insurance purposes.

• Make a list of all items that must be left on board.

Boats in Dry StorageConcerns for boats in dry

storage include how secure the building is, and how high a storm surge may rise. Guimond said,

“The safest storage is a building rated to withstand a Category 4 hurricane. People should make reservations well in advance to ensure a spot is available.” Lash the boat to the boat cradle.

Boats in Wet BerthsThis can be a time consuming

preparation requiring extra lines and equipment.

• Double all lines on the boat. Use lines of a larger size than normal lines.

• Set and secure lines high on the pilings to allow for rising water.

• Tape or cover lines to prevent chafing and breakage.

• Set fenders to protect the boat from collision damage.

• Shut off all electrical items except bilge pump. Check that battery capacity can run bilge pumps for the storm’s duration.

• Do not tie boats together! Large boats will crush smaller ones. Debris from small boats will damage larger vessels.

Don’t be caught by surprise!

Once a hurricane warning is announced, it’s too late to be calling marinas about storing your boat. Call your marina today and make these arrangements in advance. Don’t forget to make sure your insurance policy is up to date. More information about hurricane preparation is available at www.marinaone.com/storage.

66 Exchange Locations in Broward County — www.Bluerhino.com

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale This scale is a categorization based on the hurricane’s intensity at the indicated time. Ear-

lier versions incorporated central pressure and storm surge as components. To help reduce public confusion about the impacts, the storm surge ranges, flooding impact and central pressure statements have been removed from the scale. Only peak winds are the focus of this revised version. Below are some examples of damage at each level.

Category 1(Sustained winds 74-95 mph). Some damage.

Older mobile homes could be destroyed. Unprotected windows may break. Well-constructed frame homes could have roof and other damage. Occasional damage to commercial signage, fences and canopies. Large branches of trees will snap and shallow-rooted trees can be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles will likely result in power outages that could last a few to several days. Residents should watch for falling debris.

Category 2(Sustained winds 96-110 mph). Extensive damage.

There is a substantial risk of injury or death to people and pets due to flying and falling debris. In addition to damage mentioned above, unreinforced masonry walls can collapse. Falling and broken glass will pose a significant danger even after the storm. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks. Potable water could become scarce as filtration systems begin to fail.

Category 3(Sustained winds 111-129 mph). Devastating damage.

At this level, the likelihood of injury or death increases. Many mobile homes will be de-

stroyed. Roofs on some homes may collapse and poorly constructed homes could collapse. Many windows will be blown out of high-rise buildings. Broken off trees can block roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to a few weeks after the storm passes.

Category 4(Sustained winds 131-156 mph). Catastrophic damage.

In addition to damage and risk listed above, windborne debris damage will break most unprotected windows and penetrate some protected windows. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. There will be long-term water shortages. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

Category 5(Sustained winds greater than 157 mph). Catastrophic damage.

Almost complete destruction of all mobile homes and many other homes, apartments and industrial areas will be destroyed. Nearly all windows will be blown out of high-rise build-ings and commercial signage, fences and canopies will be destroyed. Nearly all trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed, isolating residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Long-term water shortages will occur. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

2015 Hurricane Names Ana • Bill • Claudette • Danny

Ida Joaquin Kate Larry

MindyNicholasOdettePeter

RoseSamTeresaVictor

Wanda ErikaFred

Grace Henri

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Hurricane Update 2015July 23, 2015 The Observer 13

BROWARD COUNTY:BROWARD COUNTY:Where we stand as of July 2015Where we stand as of July 2015

Power grid: FPL has taken several steps to reduce power outages after

a storm, including trimming trees near transformers, bolster-ing power poles and burying power lines. The utility also has agreed to provide an immediate response to critical areas, such as hospitals, nursing homes and water plants. FPL says their new smart meters will greatly improve how fast they can pinpoint outages.

Gas stations:Gas stations are generator equipped and dozens more

are wired to hook up generators. (See map at observer newspaperonline.com/hurricane-center)

Grocery stores: Dozens of grocery stores are now generator equipped.

They should reopen to relieve pressure from the coun-ty’s distribution points and allow residents to purchase ice, food and pharmacy supplies. (See map at observer newspaperonline.com/hurricane-center)

Traffic lights:Less than half of traffic signals generally remain in opera-

tion after a storm. However, the county has replaced most hanging signals with more sturdy mast-arms. Still, there will be a delay in powering up many lights.

Water supply: City and county water plants are generator equipped and will

be able to pump water to homes and businesses following a storm. However, water lines will be prone to break as a result of uprooted trees, and some customers might lose pressure.

Cell phones/communications: Wireless companies have erected hundreds of new towers

since Wilma to handle capacity increases. The problem: A powerful storm will knock down many of these structures, while the call demand likely will increase. To ease capacity problems and increase chances of sending a message, people should text.

Police and fire: Although police and fire workforces have shrunk, mainly

through attrition, manpower levels are adequate. They have a lot of responsibilities post-disaster, and that is not going to decrease, even if we have a decreased workforce. CERT forces have increased in size in area cities and will supple-ment post storm rescue.

Storm Brace: an easy way to board upThe Storm Brace is

used to secure plywood or paneling over windows and glass doors in the event of a Hurricane or Tropical Storm. The Storm Brace is “Katrina”-tested and proven to work perfectly even under sustained 120-

requires is at least a 1-1/4 inch opposing edge to push against.

It was invented by Breck Whit-worth, a retired science teacher from Gulfport, MS.

Check out his short video on HurricaneTV.

135 mph winds for over eight hours.

For those of us who can’t afford storm shutters, these make the usually diffi cult task of boarding up a snap. No more drilling or nailing into your home or business. The only thing the Storm Brace

Deerfi eld Beach• Code Red

www.deerfi eldbeachfi rerescue.org/?page=cscoderedYou may sign up with the above link to have phone bursts

sent to you before, during and after a storm.• City Hall

954-480-4200

• BSO non-emergency line954-480-4300

For dispatch, 954-765-4321 x5

• MOC Center954-571-7525

• Rumor Control954-831-4000

Lighthouse Point• Dixon Ahl Senior Center

2220 NE 38 Street, LHPGenerator Powered –and offers A/C Cool Off Area

and Media-Recharge Area for Residents

• City Hall945-943-6500

• Fire (non-emergency)954-941-2624

• Police (non-emergency)945-942-8080

Hillsboro Beach• City Hall

954-427-4011• Police (non-emergency)

954-427-6600• Updates and Answers

Hbpd_our_community@comcast.netSend an email to the above address to be added to the

email blast for updates in your town from Hillsboro Beach Police and they will also answer questions from you.

Pompano Beach• Code Red

www.mypompanobeach.org/hurricane/codered.htmlYou may sign up with the above link to have phonebursts sent to you before, during and after a storm

• City Administration954-786-4600

• Broward Sheriff’s Offi ce Pompano Beach/Dist.11 (non emergency)

954-786-4200

Aluminum screen pool enclosures have become quite popular in Florida. Unfortunately, they are often poorly designed to resist wind loads, and inad-equately anchored, braced and connected. The build-ing code tends to focus on life safety issues. Since no one is expected to try and ride out a hurricane in a screen enclosure, the code

Beefi ng UpScreen Enclosures

allows designers to design these structures for 23 percent lower forces than are required for your house. Reviews of enclosure failures suggest that the simplest retrofi ts that may do some good include improving the anchorage of the columns to the concrete deck and installing additional diagonal bracing. In a lot of cases, the screws begin to rust almost immediately and lose considerable strength. Replac-ing rusted screws with slightly larger stainless steel screws is another way to try and get the most out of the structure you have in your existing screen enclosure.

Typical anchorage of corner column in older screen enclo-sures – a very weak connection for resisting either uplift or bending.

Local hurricane phone & website listLocal hurricane phone & website list

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14 THE OBSERVER HURRICANE UPDATE 2015 JULY 23, 2015

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14

Emergency Management DivisionEnvironmental Protection and Growth Management Department201 N.W. 84th Avenue, Plantation, FL 33324 Telephone: 954-831-3900Emergency Hotline: 311 or 954-831-4000

AMERICAN RED CROSSOperated Regional Emergency Shelters 1) Lyons Creek Middle School 4333 Sol Press Blvd., Coconut Creek 33073 2) Coral Glades High School 2700 Sportsplex Dr, Coral Springs 33065 3) Monarch High School 5050 Wiles Road, Coconut Creek 33073 4) Pompano Beach High School 1400 N. E. 6th St., Pompano Beach 33060 5) Park Lakes Elementary School 3925 N. State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes 33319 6) Rock Island Elementary/Arthur Ashe Middle School 1701 N. W. 23rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale 33311 7) Plantation Elementary School 651 N. W. 42nd Ave., Plantation 33317 8) Fox Trail Elementary School 1250 Nob Hill Road, Davie 33324 9) Falcon Cove Middle School 4251 Bonaventure Blvd., Weston 3333210) Silver Trail Middle School 18300 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines 3333111) New Renaissance Middle School 10701 Miramar Blvd., Miramar 3302512) Watkins Elementary School 3520 S. W. 52nd Ave., Pembroke Park 3302313) Everglades High School 17100 SW 48 Court, Miramar, FL 3302714) West Broward High School 500 NW 209 Avenue, Pembroke Pines, FL 33029

Not all shelters may be open during a state of emergency. In the event of an evacuation order, monitor news reports or call the Broward County Emergency Hotline, 311 or 954-831-4000, for specific shelter openings.

Pet-Friendly Shelter A pet-friendly shelter operated by the American Red Cross and the Broward County Humane Society is available to residents with pets who either live in an evacuation area, or a mobile home anywhere in Broward County. Pre-registration is required. Call the Humane Society at 954-989-3977.

2015 Emergency Hotline: 311 or 954-831-4000

EMERGENCY SHELTER MAP

PLAN A Evacuation Typically a Category 1-2 hurricane.

PLAN B Evacuation Typically a Category 3 or higher hurricane

Those persons located in low lying areas or beside tidal bodies of water should seek shelter elsewhere if conditions warrant. ALL mobile home residents must evacuate in PLAN A and PLAN B. In addition, mobile home residents may be ordered to evacuate if tropical storm conditions warrant.

Revised 032015 - EM201556412

SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY – PATRONIZE OBSERVER ADVERTISERS. LET THEM KNOW YOU SAW THEIR ADS IN THE OBSERVER.

HURRICANE UPDATE 2015JULY 23, 2015 THE OBSERVER 15

Best Foods for an EmergencyStocking up when a storm approaches with the right nonperishable food items

will help you weather the storm with less stress. Fueling your body during

an emergency is very dif-ferent from your everyday diet. Because you’ll probably expend more energy than you normally would, you should eat high-energy, high-protein foods. And because you’ll have a limited supply, the higher-quality foods you eat—and the less of them—the better. “In a disaster or an emergency you want those calories,” says Barry

Swanson, a food scientist at Washington State University. “You want some nutrients and some fi ber — something to keep your diet normal.”

HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST CHOICES:

• ApplesApples last up to three

months when stored in a cool, dry area away from more per-ishable fruits (like bananas), which could cause them to ripen more quickly.

• Citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits

Because of their high acid content and sturdy skins, citrus fruits can last for up to two weeks without refrigera-tion, particularly if you buy them when they’re not fully ripe. Oranges and grapefruits contain lots of vitamin C and will keep you hydrated.

• AvocadosIf you buy an unripe, fi rm

avocado, it will last outside the

refrigerator for at least a week.• TomatoesIf you buy them unripe,

tomatoes will last several days at room temperature.

• Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams

If you have access to a working stove, these root veg-etables are good keepers and make tasty side dishes. Stored in a cool, dark area, potatoes will last about a month.

• Cucumbers and summer

squashThese vegetables will last a

few days outside of refrigera-tion and can be eaten raw.

• Winter squashWhile most are inedible un-

cooked, winter squashes, such as acorn squash, will keep for a few months. If you’ll be able to cook during the emergency, stockpile a bunch.

• Hard, packaged sau-sages, such as sopressata and pepperoni

You can’t eat canned tuna and chicken forever. Try stocking up on a few pack-ages of dry-cured salamis like sopressata, a southern Italian specialty available at most grocery stores. Unopened, they will keep for up to six weeks in the pantry.

Never Underestimate the Force and Power of Flood Waters Never Underestimate the Force and Power of Flood Waters Flooding is a coast-to-coast

year-round threat. In the U.S., fl ooding costs an average of $4 billion a year. More deaths occur from fl ooding than any other severe weather-related hazzard. Of all fl ood fatali-ties, more than 50 percent are vehicle-related as a result of people trapped in vehicles swept away. This occurs when victims attempt to drive through the fl ooded area.

The second highest per-centage of flood-related deaths is the result of indi-viduals walking into fl ood waters. Although these areas are often marked to warn individuals about fl ooding, victims ignore the signage and attempt to walk through the area. In the majority of these cases, which are pre-

ventable, individuals all too often underestimate the force and power of water and drive or walk into harm’s way.

Flooding can happen after days of prolonged and intense rainfall, or a fl ash fl ood can oc-cur within hours of a rain event due to rapidly rising water along a lake or in a low-lying area. Flash fl oods can move cars and other large objects, uprooting trees and destroy-ing buildings. These fl oods occur suddenly and often without warning most often catching people off-guard and unprepared. When you hear the word “fl ash” think “urgent” and act accordingly.

With the onset of Tropi-cal Storm or hurricane, the National Oceanic and At-mospheric Administration

(NOAA) suggest the follow-ing fl ood safety tips to protect you and your family should a fl ood occur:

• Monitor the NOAA Weather Radio to receive warnings from the National Weather Service, or monitor your favorite news source. A Flood/Flash Flood Watch means fl ooding or fl ash fl ood-ing is possible in your area. A Flood/Flash Flood Warning means fl ooding or fl ash fl ood-ing is already occurring or will occur soon in your area.

• Leave areas subject to flooding and seek higher ground.

• Avoid underpasses and underground parking garages during or after heavy rains.

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown (TADD).

• DO NOT attempt to cross fl owing streets.

• NEVER drive through flooded roadways – flood water may have damaged or washed away the road and six inches of water can stall a vehicle.

If your vehicle stalls, get out and move to higher ground.

If you come to wa-ter that’s above your ankles, stop and turn around. You can be swept off your feet by as little as six inches of rushing water.

• Develop a family evacuation plan. Make sure everyone knows what to do in case of fl ooding.

• Keep all family cars

fueled. Stock bottled water, non-perishable food and a fi rst-aid kit.

• For a fl ood safety check-list, visit American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.

If you live in an area prone to fl ooding, consider getting

fl ood insurance for your prop-erty. For information on how to obtain fl ood insurance, visit www.fl oodsmart.gov.

People underestimate the power and force of water; especially rushing water.

Safely Preventing Mold GrowthClean up and dry out the

building quickly (within 24 to 48 hours). Open doors and windows. Use fans to dry out the building.

• When in doubt, take it out! Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be

removed from the home. Porous, noncleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, fl oor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, wood and food. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold may cause allergic reactions in some people.

• To prevent mold growth,

clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water.

• Homeowners may want to temporarily store items outside of the home until insurance claims can be fi led.

If there is mold growth in your home, you should clean up the mold and fi x any water problem, such as leaks in roofs, walls or plumbing. Controlling moisture in your home is the most criti-

cal factor for preventing mold growth.

To remove mold growth from hard surfaces use commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete.

“50 percent of deaths associated with tropical cyclones are aresult of inland fl ooding over the last 30 years.”

Flood Water After a Disaster or Emergency

� ere is no friction force once the vehicle is li� ed o� the roadNearly half of all fatalities are vehicle related

Inside the Home• Keep children and pets out

of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.

• Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles during cleanup of affected area.

• Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmet-ics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items,

books, wall coverings and most paper products).

• Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or fl ood waters.

• Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, ap-pliances, sinks and other plumb-ing fi xtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.

• Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units

and dehumidifi ers.• After completing the clean-

up, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands).

• Or you may use water that has been disinfected for per-sonal hygiene use (solution of ⅛ teaspoon [~0.75 milliliters] of household bleach per 1 gal-lon of water). Let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, use a solution of ¼ teaspoon

(~1.5 milliliters) of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.

• Wash all clothes worn dur-ing the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.

• Wash clothes contaminated with fl ood or sewage water in hot water and detergent. It is recommended that a laundro-mat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your onsite waste-water

system has been professionally inspected and serviced.

• Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.

Outside the Home• Keep children and pets out

of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.

• Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles during cleanup of affected area.

• Have your onsite waste-water system professionally

inspected and serviced if you suspect damage.

• Wash all clothes worn dur-ing the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.

•After completing the clean-up, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands).