Annapolis Residents Urged To Plan For 2018 Hurricane Season

ANNAPOLIS, MD - From the Annapolis Office of Emergency Management: With the start of hurricane season approaching on June 1, the Annapolis Office of Emergency Management (OEM) would like to encourage the public to begin planning for hurricane season now. Knowing your risk, getting prepared, and staying informed are just a few steps you can take to get ready for hurricane season

The City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management officials remind residents that it is possible to see hurricanes and tropical storms during the summer and early fall. “Coastal communities such as Annapolis face unique problems from hurricanes and tropical storms,” says Deputy Fire Chief Kevin J. Simmons, Director of Emergency Management. “Storm surge and large battering waves generated by tropical storms and hurricanes combined with destructive winds pose a greater threat to life and property.”

Get Prepared: Take action now to be prepared for hurricane season. As the storm approaches, it is often too late to get ready. Make sure you have family evacuation and communications plans, update your emergency supply kit, and evaluate your flood insurance needs.

• Complete a family communication plan. Plan how you will assemble your family and loved ones and anticipate where you will go for different situations. Get together with your family and agree on the ways to contact one another in an emergency and identify meeting locations.
• Create or restock your emergency kit. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for at least 72 hours. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency, including an all weather radio.
• Check your insurance coverage. Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage or losses from flooding. Review your policy, ensure you’re adequately covered and understand exclusions, and contact your agent for any changes

Stay Informed: Know where to go for trusted sources of information during a hurricane event. Monitor
local news resources for hurricane watches and warnings in Annapolis and follow directions of local officials.

• Download the Prepare Me Annapolis app. Prepare Me Annapolis promptly notifies citizens of
  weather alerts, traffic updates, government closings, and other essential information. The app also provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and recovery centers, tips on how to survive disasters, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service.
• The City of Annapolis shares information through a community notification system called
  CodeRED, which can send voicemails, emails and/or text messages for free based on one’s preferences. This service can reach thousands of residences and business in a matter of minutes. Register here: http://www.annapolis.gov/oem/codered.
• Follow the Office of Emergency Management on Social Media.

Facebook: The Annapolis Office of Emergency Management
Twitter: @AnnapolisOEM
NextDoor: The Annapolis Office of Emergency Management

Know Your Risk and Plan Ahead for an Evacuation:

• Know how to receive information including recommendations or orders to evacuate.
• If you or a family member may require special assistance to evacuate, contact the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management about our special assistance roster.
• If you plan to go to a shelter, notify staff of any special needs you or your family have.
• Do not return to the evacuation area until the evacuation order is lifted.

Additional information can be found on the Annapolis Office of Emergency Management website at
www.annapolis.gov/oem and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) website at
mema.maryland.gov. Feel free to call the Office of Emergency Management with questions at
(410) 216-9167 or follow us on social media by searching for Annapolis OEM on Facebook and Twitter.

Image via Shutterstock / Sabphoto