Is Your Home Prepared For Hurricane Sandy?

Things are picking up in Wilton, CT

The usual pre-Halloween festivities were put on hold this past weekend for East Coasters who prepared their homes for Hurricane Sandy . Even if your area won’t be affected by Sandy, now is a great time to plan ahead of time for any future  natural disasters you may encounter. Here are some tips I received from my Grandma Joy, a native New Yorker who has experienced her fair share of stormy weather.

Things to do ahead of time

• Post emergency phone numbers near the telephone. Grandma also suggests to keep the names and phone numbers of your plumber, electrician, alarm company and pest control company on hand.
• Know how to turn off utilities such as gas, electricity, and water.
• Listen to weather forecasts, especially if a storm is predicted.
• Have an emergency escape plan. Familiarize yourself with escape routes, plan a way for you and your family to communicate or meet after the disaster phases, and educate yourself on safe places to go during a disaster.
• If you have a boat, make sure you know how to store it safely during a disaster.
• Make an inventory of your possessions (along with receipts and serial numbers) and store it somewhere other than your home (e.g., your office, friend’s house, safe-deposit box).
• Store important documents somewhere other than your home (ahem, DivaDocs!).

Supplies to keep on hand

• First-aid supplies (e.g., bandages, antiseptic)
• Canned goods, can opener
• Several gallons of water
• Extra batteries
• Matches
• Flashlight
• Prescription medications
• Small amount of cash
• Charged cell phone
• Sandbags
• Copies of important documents (e.g., wills, birth and marriage certificates, driver’s license, insurance policies) Once again, DivaDocs!

Filling up sandbags for Sandy!