| Create a family diaster plan. |
- Decide ahead of time where to go if you are at home, school, work, outdoors, or in a car when severe weather hits.
- Agree with family members on a designated place to meet if separated. Include a place directly outside the home and in your city or neighborhood.
- Designate a friend or relative outside the area as your contact if you are separated.
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| Know the difference between a watch and a warning. |
- WATCH – Conditions for severe weather are possible in the specified area with 36 hours.
- WARNING – Severe weather conditions have been reported by spotters or radar and are expected in the area within 24 hours.
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| Inspect home and yard for potential hazards. |
- Remove outdoor items such as lawn furniture, trash cans, toys and hanging plants as they may become airborne during a storrm.
- Trim or cut down weak trees and branches which could easily be broken off by high winds and damage homes.
- Keep rain gutters, outside stairwells, window well, drain lines and down spouts clear to prevent flooding in high rains.
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| Protect home's openings |
- Protect or cover windows, entry doors, sliding glass doors, garage doors and gable end vents.
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| Secure backup power |
- Flashlights cannot power refrigerators and candles are fire hazards.
- The American Red Cross suggests that permanently installed stationary generators are best suited for providing backup power to the home than portable generators
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