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John Ghiorse, WJAR NBC10 meteorologist,
Bruce Morris, WJAR NBC10 Home Pro, and Elizabeth McDonald, of
the Rhode Island Red Cross take a break from filming “Project
Impact: Preparing Your Home for Disaster.”
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Experts are
predicting a destructive hurricane season and as tropical storm
“Allison,” proved, it doesn’t take a full-fledged
hurricane to wipe out an entire community. Yet, as Texas and
Louisiana clean up from four feet of flood waters, Rhode Islanders
are not worrying about hurricanes.
A new American Red Cross poll shows Northeast residents are
ill-prepared for a hurricane. Among the findings:
- Less than a quarter of the population (23%) have assembled
a disaster supplies kit
- ¨Only a third (33%) have an evacuation plan
- ¨Just half of the respondents have made alternate living
arrangements with evacuation in mind.
With hundreds of miles of coastline and plenty of coastal
development over the last few years, Rhode Island is at major
risk if a storm works its way up the coast. Because we haven’t
experienced major damage since Hurricane Bob in 1991, most Rhode
Islanders have been lulled into a false sense of security.
Elizabeth McDonald, a Rhode Island Red Cross disaster specialist,
recently worked with WJAR NBC10 meteorologist John Ghiorse and
home pro Bruce Morris on a special week-long series called “Project
Impact: Preparing Your Home for Disaster. “
Here are some tips from the “Project Impact” series:
- Purchase plywood to cover your home’s windows.
- Allocate an indoor storage location for all patio or deck
furniture. Bring all flower pots indoors (they can become airborne
in high winds). If you cannot store furniture indoors, secure
it with rope to a sturdy tree.
- Protect your valuables. Keep important items in water and
fire-proof containers.
- Develop an evacuation plan. Include two ways of exiting your
neighborhood and discuss the plan with family members.
- Create a disaster supply kit. The large, waterproof container
should contain: a list of emergency numbers and medications for
each family member, bottled water, flashlight (with fresh batteries),
canned food, a manual can opener, blanket, cards and games (especially
for children), and a first aid kit.
If you would like more information about preparing your home
and family for a hurricane, please visit our website at www.riredcross.org
or call Kara, at the Red Cross of Rhode Island, 401.831.7700
ext. 117.
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