Hurricane Earl Headed for the Caribbean -- Learn to Survive With These Tips
Hurricane Earl is Headed for the Caribbean. Learn to Survive a Hurricane with These Tips from The Survivors Club.
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August 30, 2010This morning, Hurricane Earl was declared a category three hurricane. Its maximum sustained wind speed was 120 mph as of 11 am ET.Earl has passed over the northern Leeward Islands on its way to the Virgin Islands, and is expected to turn northwest on Tuesday. Hurricane warnings are in effect for Anguilla, St. Martin/St. Maarten, St. Barthelemy, Saba, St. Eustatius, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and the Puerto Rican islands of Vieques and Culebra.It's predicted that Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Leeward Islands could get up to 8 inches of rain and even 12 in some areas.The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Earl is likely to keep growing. "It is possible that Earl could become a Category 4 hurricane as we get into the middle to late portions of the week," hurricane center specialist Michael Brennan said. Category 4 storms have sustained winds of at least 131 mph (210 kph).In Antigua, the powerful winds and rains have already destroyed at least one home and at least eight people had to be evacuated.Though Earl could affect areas in the United States from the Carolinas to Cape Cod, it is too early to say what impact, if any Earl, would have on the U.S.Be prepared for a hurricane with these guides and tips from The Survivors Club:
- Take extra precautions to protect your family and home when a hurricane warning goes into effect in your area. In this time, you want to check your emergency supplies, store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles and cooking utensils, and bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools.
- Make sure to prepare yourself and your area far in advance. Preparing for an oncoming hurricane will increase your chances of surviving the damage from the storm.
- A poll taken last year found that 83% of Americans had taken no steps to strengthen their homes in the event of a hurricane. Don't be left unprepared if you live in a hurricane zone.
- Get Supplies: Have at least 3 to 5 days of non-perishable food and water, stock up on emergency supplies you and your family might need, a first aid kit, battery powered radio, sleeping bags or extra blankets, water-purifying supplies, such as chlorine or iodine tablets or unscented, ordinary household chlorine bleach, prescription medications and baby essentials, disposable cleaning wipes in case bathing is unavailable, personal hygiene supplies, an emergency kit for your car, more at Ready.gov.
- Make a Plan: Know evacuation routes, your community's emergency plan and warning signs. Also be sure you: can locate emergency shelters, can recognize hazards in your home, are prepared to turn off electrical power, have a fire extinguisher, and secure your important papers.
- Prepare to Evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order, when a hurricane watch is issued - fill your car's gas tank, if no car is available make plans with others, fill your empty water containers, review your emergency plan.
- Evacuation Orders: If ordered to evacuate only take essentials, turn off gas, water and electricity if there is time, disengage major appliances, follow the designated traffic routes. If no evacuation is necessary, stay indoors until authorities say the storm has passed, monitor weather conditions on radio or TV, and stay away from glass windows because most injuries during a hurricane are lacerations from glass or debris.
- Complete Your Family's Disaster Plan: Contact your local red cross to see what kinds of disasters are most likely to happen in your area, meet with your family and discuss your needs, complete your disaster plan checklist and practice your plan.
