Hurricane Season 2011: What to do in Case of Evacuation?

Hurricane season can be a treacherous time on the beaches. Every single area on the beaches is a high-risk area for hurricanes. This means, when there are going to be evacuations, the beaches are the first places that are going to get order to go. Here are some tips from Pinellas County on what to do if an evacuation order is issued.

1. Secure all your doors and windows. Boarding up before hand will help you prevent broken windows that will let the storm inside your house.
2. Pack your disaster survival kit. Don’t have one?
3. Turn off water, electric and gas. This will help prevent the storm from causing damages to your home while you’re away.
4. Evacuate sooner, rather than later. This will help you beat the rush of people looking to get off the beaches. Since there’s only Gulf Boulevard to navigate up and down the beaches, traffic is going to build up fast.
5. Only evacuate as far as you need to. If you have a friend who lives in non-evacuation zone closeby, make plans to hang out with them during the storm. The closer you are, the less traffic you’ll have to contend with on the trips out and back.
6. If you don’t know someone to stay with, find the nearest public shelter outside of the evacuation zone. If public shelters aren’t an option, look into getting a motel. By no means decide to wait out the storm.
7. Wherever you plan on staying, it’s always a good idea to let your family and friends know where you are staying. This will help them to get into contact with you after the storm and keep them from being worried about your safety.
8. If you can’t drive, take the bus. The buses will continue to run to get people evacuated until winds reach 40 mph. The rides for evacuation are free.

For more information and tips, check out the Pinellas County website.