HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS: HOME AND FAMILY SAFETY

HOUSTON, TX – As part of Hurricane Preparedness Week, Sheriff Adrian Garcia and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) remind you to prepare now and not wait until there’s a storm brewing in the gulf.

Safeguard your home and property as best as possible to reduce damage, not only from the storm’s wind and rain but from possible looters as well. Protect and secure the areas where wind and water can enter – roof, windows, doors, garage doors. Buy supplies, such as plywood and batteries, now. Pre-cut and fit plywood sheets now and store them so they’ll be ready to install on short notice. Buying them now allows you to avoid supply shortages and crowds when a hurricane approaches. Perform an inventory of the contents in your home (electronics, jewelry, appliances, etc.), including serial numbers. Take detailed photos/videos of your property and contents and store in a safe place.

In some circumstances the safest place in a hurricane may not be your home.

Make a plan now for what to do if you need to evacuate. Determine an evacuation route and a meeting place. Designate an out-of-state friend or relative as a single point of contact for your family.

The more prepared and the better prepared you are, the better for you and your family and emergency personnel.

For a complete hurricane preparedness checklist, visit the Harris County Office of Emergency Management’s web site: http://www.hcoem.org/Documents/HurricanePreparednessChecklist.pdf