Darien, FEMA Offer Tips To Stay Safe During Hurricane Season

DARIEN, CT — Since it's the middle of hurricane season, Darien Emergency Services Director Mark McEwan and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have offered up some tips to stay safe during a storm.

These tips appeared in First Selectman Monica McNally's recent newsletter:

• Know your Evacuation Route: check with local officials about what shelter spaces are available this year. Don’t forget — coronavirus may have altered your community’s plans.
• Gather Supplies: have enough food, water, and other supplies for every member of your family to last several days. Consider the unique needs of your family, such as supplies for pets or medication for seniors. Adding extra masks, soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes or general household cleaning supplies can help to protect you from COVID-19 when you evacuate to a shelter.
• Make an Emergency Plan: make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your hurricane plan. Don’t forget a plan for the office, daycare center,school and any other locations you frequent.
• Plan with Disability in Mind: no two people are the same; each of us moves, functions, and navigates the world differently. It is important to make your emergency plan based on what works best for you. Creating a support network or planning ahead with accessible transportation can ensure that you stay safe when a storm strikes. Visit Ready.gov/disability for more information on how to plan if, for example, you are blind, hard of hearing or have sensory disabilities.
• Remember the Furry Members of Your Family: pets need their own emergency plans and supply kits. Certain shelters won’t accept pets. Taking action in advance, such as seeking out shelters that DO accept pets, can make a difference. It’s also a good idea to plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
• Download the FEMA mobile app: download the FEMA mobile app for disaster resources, weather alerts and safety tips. Available in English and Spanish, this app provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and recovery centers, disaster survival tips and weather alerts from the National Weather Service.