HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS 101
Planning is the most important step to staying safe, so please take the measures included in this guide to prepare early & protect your family, home & business this storm season.
HAVE AN EMERGENCY FAMILY PLAN
Create an emergency plan tailored to your family and pets needs and review it with everyone in your household. Make sure everyone knows about the safest location in the house.
PROGRAM ALL EMERGENCY PHONE #'s // SET UP AN OUT-OF-TOWN CONTACT
It’s important to have an out-of-state family member or friend as a contact, so they can check on your whereabouts.
PROTECT IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Make sure important documents such as passports, social security cards, ID cards and other vital information are placed in a secure, waterproof container.
FOLLOW OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Follow all instructions from local authorities regarding evacuation or other safety procedures. Check radio, television or other media for emergency information.
HAVE AN EVACUATION ROUTE
Make sure you know your evacuation route before the hurricane hits and cars have full gas tanks.
STOCK EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
Including a battery-powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries, medicines, first aid handbook and kit, a week’s worth of non-perishable food, water and pet care items.
PROTECT YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS
- Declutter drains and gutters.
- Install check valves in plumbing to prevent backups.
- Consider hurricane shutters.
- Get a backup generator.
- Call Alterra Power Systems to find out your best generator option for your needs.
- Conduct maintenance on your backup generator.
HOW DOES A BACKUP GENERATOR WORK?
A backup generator senses a power outage, turns on automatically, and delivers backup power to your home or business. It will run until utility power returns – whether that’s two hours or two weeks. A backup generator is wired directly into your main panel and when the primary power drops out, a switch automatically (ATS – automatic transfer switch) and immediately transfers your power source over to the generator. When utility power is restored, the generator automatically shuts back off and utility power resumes its role as your primary power supply.
Hurricanes are among nature's most powerful and destructive phenomena. On average, 14 tropical storms, of which 7 become hurricanes, and 3 of those becoming major hurricanes, form over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or the Gulf of Mexico during hurricane season (June 1 through November 30).
-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-
