- Seek medical attention at first-aid stations, hospitals or clinics for persons injured during the storm.
- Do not touch loose or dangling electrical wires. Report these to the power company, the nearest police station or parish council. Report all broken sewer or water mains directly to the parish council, the public works department or water resources authority for your area.
- Immediately after the hurricane don't use stored water for washing houses, cars and watering gardens until normal water services have been restored.
- Do not empty water stored in bathtubs or other receptacles until safe drinking water is restored.
- Boil all drinking water until you are sure that a safe water supply has been restored.
- Watch out for fallen trees. Collect fallen branches and other debris and pile them where they can be easily collected.
- Do not go outside barefooted. Avoid wearing open shoes and watch out for broken glass.
After a Hurricane
Continue listening to local radio or television stations for information and instructions. Access may be limited to some parts of the community, or roads may be blocked.
If you evacuated, return home when local officials tell you it is safe. Local officials on the scene are your best source of information on accessible areas and passable roads.
Stay away from floodwaters. Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges. Continue to follow all flood safety messages. Floodwaters may last for days following a hurricane. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way. When you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, if you can safely get out of the car, do so immediately and climb to higher ground. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift water. Most flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water or people playing in high water. If it is moving swiftly, even water six inches deep can sweep you off your feet, and two feet can carry away most automobiles.
If you come upon a barricade, follow detour signs of turn around and go another way. Local official to protect people from unsafe roads put up barricades. Driving around them can be a serious risk.
Stay on firm ground. Moving water only six inches deep can sweep you off your feet. Standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
Help injured or trapped persons. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.
Help a neighbour who may require special assistance - infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care for them or who have large families may need additional assistance in emergency situations.
Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations, and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated waters, crumbled roads, landslides, mudflows, and other hazards.
Avoid loose or dangling power lines; immediately report them to Power Company, police, or fire department. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities turn off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury.
Electricity equipment should be checked and dried before being returned to service. Call an electrician for advice before using electricity, which may have received water damage.
Stay out of the building if water remains around the building. Floodwaters often undermine foundations, causing buildings to sink, floors to crack, or walls to collapse.
When entering buildings, use extreme caution. Hurricane-driven floodwaters may have damaged buildings where you least expect it. Carefully watch every step you take and remember:
Wear sturdy shoes. The most common injury following a disaster is cut feet.
Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Battery-powered lighting is the safest and easiest, preventing fire hazard for the user, occupants and building.
Examine walls, floors, doors, staircase and windows to make sure that the building is not in danger of collapsing.
Inspect foundations for cracks or other damage. Cracks and damage to a foundation can render a building uninhabitable.
Look for fire hazards. There may be broken or leaking gas lines. Flooded electrical circuits, or submerged furnaces or electrical appliances. Flammable or explosive materials may come from upstream. Fire is the most frequent hazard following floods.
Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas, using the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbour’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, a profession must turn it back on.
Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wire or if you smell burning installation; turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice. Electrical equipment should be checked and dried before being returned to service.
Check for sewage and water line damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company, and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water from undamaged water heater or by melting ice cubes.
Watch out for animals, especially poisonous snakes that may have come into buildings with the floodwaters. Use a stick to poke through debris. Floodwaters flush many animals and snakes out of their homes.
Watch for loose plaster, drywall and ceiling that could fall.
Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.
Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.
Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If power was lost, some foods may be spoiled.
Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are certain it is not contaminated. Hurricane-driven floodwaters may have contaminated public water supplies or wells. Local officials should advise you on the safety of the drinking water. Undamaged water heaters or melted ice cubes can provide good sources of fresh drinking water.
Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching system as soon as possible. Damaged sewage systems are health hazards.
Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be clear for emergency call to get through.
Further information see pages:
http://weready.org/hurricane/
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes