If evacuation is not required, experts say to have supplies to carry you through 3 days. However, you would be well-advised to have supplies for a far longer time period. We are a barrier island and could lose electricity and/or water and sewer for longer than that.
– Choose a safe place in your home to stay – away from windows. A small interior room is best.
– Take in your porch & deck furniture/potted plants/yard decorations/bird feeders/barbecue grill— anything that could become a projectile.
– Flip the latches (out) on your hurricane windows to make sure they are engaged. Close your storm shutters or board up your windows.
– Monitor the local news resources to stay aware of what is happening:
- Tidelines emails and TidelinesAlert on Twitter
- The Town’s CodeRED warning system
- The Town’s website at http://www.townofseabrookisland.org
- Tune in to local Live5 weather at http://www.live5news.com/weather
- The National Hurricane Center at hurricanes.gov
- The local National Weather Service at weather.gov/chs
- The South Carolina Emergency Management Division at scemd.org
- NOAA at weather.gov/chs, they will provide impact graphics, storm surge height, storm warnings and watches, etc.
- WEZL 103.5 radio and WIWF 96.9 radio (are participants in the Emergency Alert System)
Please note: The Weather Channel will not have the same level of local reporting that the sources above will have.
– We may lose electricity, water and sewer services. If that happens, you should voluntarily evacuate before a mandatory evacuation forces you out (and in a direction you don’t want to go). If you should make a late decision to evacuate, keep in mind that shelters should be used as a last resort, and most will not take pets.
-Cell phone coverage for voice calls may be out. Try text messaging or switch your data off on your cell phone settings and try to send an email message instead. Let your family members outside the area know what your plans are.
-Turn your refrigerator to the coldest setting and keep it closed. Once the electricity is out, your refrigerator will keep foods cool for 4 hours if left unopened. Thawed food is usually okay if still “refrigerator cold”.
Remember, be prepared; stay safe.
-Tidelines Editors