Lexington hurricane preparedness

Recently, residents who live along coastlines from Southern Florida to the upper Gulf Coast states weathered yet another powerful reminder: preparation makes all the difference.

When tropical storm or hurricane-strength winds start to steer their way, people living in coastal communities where alerts or warnings are issued do their best to cover all the preparation basics. Traditionally, they stock up on fundamentals like water, ice, fuel and batteries. More recently, they’re ensuring that readily available mobile communications options are accessible to their family members as part of vital hurricane planning.

While no one can prevent a disaster, it bears repeating that you can never be too prepared. After all, hurricane season continues through Nov. 30. And Hurricane Isaac was only the latest reminder of how many coastal residents need to remain as ready as possible. Below is a good checklist to prep your family before the next looming storm – or to remember what to replenish after you’ve used some of your existing supplies.

KEEP ON HAND:

• Containers of sealed, unbreakable water (one gallon per person per day)
• A first aid kit and prescription medications
• A battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries
• Supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and a manual can opener

BE READY:

• Post emergency numbers near or in your phones
• Take a basic first aid and CPR class
• Map out a disaster-response plan for your family
• Ask about emergency plans for your children’s school or daycare
• Learn your community’s evacuation routes
• Keep family records in a fire-safe and waterproof container

In addition to these tips, to help think through everything you may need or to replenish your supplies, there’s a lot of valuable planning information also available on sites like www.ready.gov.

We’re finding that many property owners in coastal areas have begun to include the Bagster Dumpster in a Bag^® in their emergency supplies. Ordinarily, the Bagster^® service is a “sunny-day” option – excellent for do-it-yourself or home cleanup projects that you plan, schedule and complete when you choose. But as a solution to removing and disposing of debris quickly and safely following a storm, the Bagster bag is also ideal in situations where there’s a need to discard more debris than can fit in a typical bin or garbage receptacle, but not enough to require a dumpster.

The Bagster bag is available in many U.S. coastal communities. So as you prepare for the next warning to come, it’s worthwhile checking whether your area is among them. You can purchase a bag from a home improvement or hardware store, which means you can stock up on this and other storm-preparation items at the same time.  After you’ve purchased and stored the bag for use later, there’s a flat collection fee for pickup. To determine collection fees in your neighborhood, click here.

When a significant storm blows through your community, there are few more welcome signs of things getting back to normal than seeing the rebuilding process rapidly begin. When your preparation is done your peace of mind increases when another emergency weather report is aired and those storm warnings begin again.

Visit Waste Management's Thinking Green Blog for more information on this and other important topics, and find the Bagster bag at a local home improvement retailer near you.

Dave Friedman is national Product Line Director for Bagster Dumpster in a Bag. Dave is experienced in uses of this innovative new service for many different applications, including commercial, community cleanup and DIY homeowner needs. In post-storm situations, Dave reminds everyone that customers will be informed if schedule requirements for pickups adjust due to special circumstances. For more information about the Bagster bag and about filling guidelines, visit TheBagster.com