Hurricane Season Preparation

Be Prepared

Being prepared for disasters is a shared responsibility among all of us. As we mark the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 – November 30), Hazlet Township wishes to encourage everyone – families and businesses in our community– to take action now to prepare. 

As we’ve seen too many times before, all it takes is one major hurricane or tropical storm to devastate a community, neighborhood, or family. When a hurricane hits, it can bring high winds, heavy rainfall, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, and even tornadoes. Storm surge produced by hurricanes poses the greatest threat to life and property along the coast. The destructive power of storm surge can travel several miles inland, and large battering waves can result in loss of life, buildings destroyed and road and bridge damage along coastal areas. That’s why if hurricanes become a threat, you need to know where you’d go before the danger arrives and makes evacuation impossible. 

Here are three simple steps you should take today to prepare: 

1.    Getting Away. There may be conditions under which you will decide to get away, or there may be situations when local officials say it's time to evacuate, don't wait.  Plan in advance how you will assemble your family and anticipate where you will go. Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency.

2.    Download the FEMA app. With the FEMA Smartphone app you’ll have all the information you need to know what to do before, during, and after a hurricane. You can also receive weather alerts in your area from NOAA’s National Weather Service, find lifesaving safety tips, and have access to disaster resources should you need them. You can download the app from the Apple App store or the Google Play store. The FEMA app is also available in Spanish.

3.    Make a plan and build a kit. When a hurricane hits, communications systems can go out, transportation can be limited, and it could be days before emergency responders are able to reach communities if help is needed. Making a plan - and practicing that plan - helps to ensure you and your family are safe and ready for these challenges.  Your plan should include:

•    Family communication plan: Talk with your family members about how you will contact one another in an emergency. Know how you will check in with family members in different locations, how you will care for children or members with access and functional needs, and how your family will get in touch if cell phone, internet, or landlines don’t work.

•    Emergency Supply Kit:  A ‘go kit’ is a bag that contains basic items you and your family may need, during an emergency. Kits should contain non-perishable food, water, and other supplies, such as flashlights, local maps, and a battery-powered radio, to last you and your family for at least 72 hours. Visit Ready.gov for a complete list of items.

•    Pets: Many local shelters do not permit pets, but laws require them to accept service animals. Know what you will do with your pet if you need to evacuate.

We want everyone to enjoy the summer without having to worry about what to do when severe weather threatens. The best way to do that is to prepare now and know what you’re going to do in the event of a hurricane. Planning ahead gives you more options and better control over situations that could become chaotic at the last moment if you’re not ready. To learn more about how to prepare for a hurricane visit Ready.gov/hurricanes.

We provide free NFIP map information services. Need to know your flood zone or risks?  Contact our Floodplain CRS Coordinator at Hazlet's Town Hall.