JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. --
As people prepare
for summer fun, they should also prepare for another part of the season,
hurricane readiness. For the Hampton Roads area, June 1 to Nov. 30 is hurricane
season.
To protect
homes, families, and businesses from any natural disaster, people should
familiarize themselves with the disaster cycle; preparedness, response,
recovery and mitigation, and use the many resources available to assist in the
process.
The
preparedness phase focuses on education and outreach, pre-disaster planning,
and disaster preparedness activities. It can begin at any time (not just right
before a disaster strikes). Preparedness is by far the most important as it is
the conduit to life safety and property/environmental conservation.
Basic Preparedness
Tips:
-
Have
a plan; sit down with your family and discuss emergency phone numbers, where to
go in the event of an evacuation, print copies of important documents, etc.
-
Create
an emergency kit and go-bag; supplies could include non-perishable food, water,
flashlight, crank radio, first aid supplies, medications, etc.
-
Make
a record of personal property; Take photos of the entirety of your home and
personal belongings such as electronics and jewelry.
-
Sign
up for Joint Base Langley-Eustis’ AtHoc Notification System to receive
emergency notifications, base closures, weather updates, etc. For more
information, contact JBLE’s Emergency Management Office at (757)764-4840.
Prepare
your Home (18 hours from Hurricane Arrival):
-
Secure
outside items such as grills, outdoor furniture, pool supplies, etc. Hurricane
winds can propel loose items causing damage.
-
Trim
or remove damaged tree limbs and loose branches.
-
Secure
loose rain gutters or spouts.
-
Reinforce
windows and doors. Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings, and only
open when necessary.
-
Purchase
a portable generator to use during power outages; do this sooner rather than
later as generators tend to get more expensive as hurricane season approaches.
-
Identify
a safe room in the home that has minimal windows for shelter from high winds or
possible tornadoes.
Before
the hurricane arrives, it is important to monitor television, radio, and social
media. For the latest weather updates and emergency instructions, follow the
installation’s official social media pages including Twitter pages, JBLEnews and JBLEstatus, and the Joint Base Langley Eustis Facebook page.
Ensure
you have a full tank of gas and extra gas cans for motor vehicles and generators.
Once the hurricane makes landfall,
remain indoors and away from windows and doors. Refrain from going outside for
any reason as most injuries occur during the storm which requires emergency responders
to risk their own life to perform rescue operations.
For
more hurricane related information, to include Hampton Roads evacuation routes,
flood zones, and emergency kit checklists, contact the JBLE Emergency
Management Flights at (757)764-4840 or (757)878-6801.