1. Find Your Evacuation Area?
2. Get Prepared!

• Emergency Survival Kit
• Medications
• Important Documents
• Insurance
• Home
  • Garage Door
  • Windows & Doors
  • Roof
  • Yard
  • Vehicles
  • Weather Alert Radios Save Lives
  • Dangerous Chemicals

3. Select A Safe Room
4. As A Storm Approaches
5. If You Must Evacuate
6. When A Hurricane Warning Is Issued
7. When the Storm's Impact is Felt
8. If Your Home is Breached
9. After The Storm Has Passed

• Generator Safety
• Chainsaw Safety
• Food Safety & Guideline
• Drinking Water
• Restroom Facilities
• Driving Safe

10. Storm Recovery

 

1. Find Your Evacuation Area?

• Call the Pinellas County Interactive Hurricane Evacuation Inquiry Line at (727) 453-3150 and key in your home phone number without the area code to hear your home’s evacuation level.
• Go to Evacuation Lookup. Type in your home address to see your evacuation zone and nearest shelters. Click on Evacuation Level Maps to view your location.
• Call Pinellas County Emergency Management at (727) 464-3800 for help looking up your home’s evacuation level. Regular business hours are from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Pinellas County Utility bills and Truth in Millage (TRIM) Notices by the Property Appraiser list evacuation zones.
• Remember, all residents living in mobile homes/manufactured homes must evacuate, even if their homes are located in a non-evacuation area.

2. Get Prepared!

Prepare Your Emergency Survival Kit
Purchase needed items. Have at least a one-week supply of non-perishable foods and a manual can opener. The food, drinking water, first-aid supplies, flashlights and other essentials may save you from struggling to find basic needs after the storm. Have a minimum of seven days supply of necessary medication in your kit. Include a weather alert radio.

Prepare Your Medications
One of the most important things to include in your disaster survival kit are your prescription medications. But, what happens when an emergency is declared and your insurance company claims it is too early for you to get a refill? Last year, the Legislature passed the Emergency Prescription Refill bill (Florida Statute 252.358 and 462.0275). This law requires all insurers and managed-care organizations to suspend refill-too-soon restrictions when a patient seeks a refill in a county:

• currently under a hurricane warning issued by the National Weather Service; or
• declared to be under a state of emergency in an executive order issued by the Governor; or
• has activated its Emergency Operations Center and its emergency management plan.

This law also allows patients outside of these areas to get an emergency 72- hour refill if the pharmacist is unable to readily obtain refill authorization from the doctor. Please talk with your doctor and pharmacist now about how this new law can affect your prescriptions. Make sure you are ready this hurricane season. In addition to having a supply of your medications on hand, keep a list of each one you take, including the name of the doctor who wrote the prescription, the name of the drug, dosage instructions and the name of the pharmacy where you had it filled.

Prepare Your Important Documents
If you were ordered to evacuate from your home for a hurricane, could you easily and quickly collect all of your important documents for transport? Your important papers include everything from your driver’s license to your homeowner’s insurance policy. By spending some time now, you can ensure that you will have everything you need if you must evacuate. Personal papers to take with you

• Driver’s license or personal identification cards
• Important numbers and emergency contacts
• Credit cards
• Medical records and blood type
• Prescription information (list of medications, dosage, prescription numbers, etc.)
• Doctor’s name, address and telephone number
• Cash for emergencies
• Bank account numbers
• List of savings and investments, including CDs, stocks, bonds and mutual funds
• Household inventory - either a paper copy, videotape or computer disk
• List of insurance policies with name of company, type of policy and policy number
• Copy of wills, trust documents and living wills
• Titles for your house, car and other property
• Birth, marriage, divorce, death and adoption certificates
• Passports
• List of family advisors: accountant, attorney, banker, doctors, dentist, employer, financial adviser, insurance agents and religious leader
• Educational and military records
• Other special papers that would be difficult or impossible to replace if lost

Prepare Your Insurance

Don’t wait another minute! Review your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy and review exactly what coverage you have.

Ask yourself these four important questions:

• What is my deductible?
• What is my hurricane deductible?
• Do I need flood insurance?
• Do I have enough coverage to replace my home and belongings?

Homeowners should check with their insurance agents to determine what improvements could offer discounts on their hurricane insurance premium. Some companies offer rate reductions for reinforcements to the roof, garage, windows and doors.

Homeowners can find a great deal of information about their insurance policies by checking with the state’s Department of Financial Services. Call (800) 342-2762 or visit www.fldfs.com

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Prepare Your Home

Preparing your home to withstand high winds can mean the difference between minor and major repairs after a hurricane. That’s why it’s so important to strengthen your home to resist high winds. Some key tips:

• Check your garage door. If your door needs replacing, look for a reinforced, wind-rated model.
• Shutter your windows. Glass can be broken by flying debris. Protecting your windows can keep storm winds and rain out. Duct tape provides no protection. Check weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors, replacing if necessary.
• If your roof needs replacement, a new one can be installed to meet stronger building codes adopted in 2002, which will better protect your home.
• Think about other improvements. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes step-by-step instructions for reinforcing your home’s roof, gable ends and other vulnerable areas.

Windows And Doors:

• Windows and doors are particularly vulnerable to wind and rain damage. Window films, tempered glass and other products may not withstand wind-borne debris felt during a hurricane.

Plywood: How To Shutter Your Home (30 minute video on how to shutter your windows and doors...and how much it costs!)

• Don’t risk long lines and limited supplies if you plan to shutter with plywood. Buy and cut early.
• Use a minimum of 5/8ths inch thick exterior grade plywood to withstand flying debris.
• For masonry buildings, use masonry screws that cut their own thread in concrete, or use lag shields inserted into predrilled holes. Wood screws can be used for wood framed home

Hurricane Shutters
Typically made of metal, vinyl or polycarbonate, these shutters come in many designs. Check options with a licensed installer and be sure they meet the 2002 Florida Building Code.

Hurricane Screens
Some of the newest options available are permanently attached metal mesh screens or flexible woven polypropylene netting. Both are approved for use throughout Florida.

Prepare Your Garage Door

• Garage doors deserve extra attention because of their large size. And, statistics prove that’s true. According to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), about 80 percent of wind damage in homes starts with wind coming through the garage door.
• State regulations mean stronger doors
  Since 2002, Florida building codes have required significantly stronger garage doors on all homes in Pinellas County. If your garage door was installed before 2002, call the manufacturer to determine the strength of the door. Or, have a building inspector check the door to determine its wind-worthiness.
• For safety’s sake, older garage doors should either be replaced or retrofitted with more bracing.

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Prepare Your Roof -

• Your home’s roof is the first line of defense against rain. And, it is very vulnerable to a hurricane’s fury. High wind can tear shingles, underlayment and even the roof sheathing off.
• Before a storm threatens, take a good look at your roof. Are the shingles in good condition? Is there any damage that you might need to have repaired? Remember, any leaks you may already have could be made worse by wind-driven rain and the impact of storm debris.
• A quick inspection of the underside of your roof from inside the attic can also tell you a great deal about its structure. Look along the rafters or the tops of the roof trusses. Are there large nails driven through the sheathing, not secured into the framing? That could mean the roofers misnailed the roof deck when they installed it. One or two may be OK, but more than that, and your roof’s strength could be compromised.
• If you need to have your roof redone, be sure to ask the roofer to renail your sheathing to ensure it is properly secured, and specify wind-resistant shingles.

Prepare Your Yard

Getting your yard ready to weather the storm can keep you and your home safe. High winds can turn even the heaviest items into deadly projectiles that can break through your windows, doors and even walls. To prepare:

• Properly prune trees and shrubs well before any storms threaten. Do not leave piles of branches that can become missiles in high winds.
• Keep your gutters and down spouts clear and in good repair.
• Replace rock mulch with shredded bark.
• When a hurricane warning is issued, bring in all yard items such as furniture, toys, bird baths/feeders and barbecue grills.
• Do not drain your pool. Super chlorinate the water and turn off all electricity to the pool for the duration of the storm.

Prepare Your Vehicles

During a weather emergency, you will rely on your vehicle to get supplies, provide a cool blast of air-conditioning and recharge your cell phone. Vehicle maintenance tips:

• Check your tires, belts, hoses, filters, oil and air-conditioning.
• Make sure you have jumper cables, road flares or reflectors, a first aid kit and a can of non-flammable inflatable tire repair compound.
• Have car chargers for phones, laptops and/or a small power inverter to convert the car’s DC battery power into an AC plug.
• Pack an empty gas can in case you need to get more gasoline.
• Remove all non-essential items from your vehicle to keep the interior space ready for evacuation items.

Weather Alert Radios Save Lives

Severe weather can often strike quickly, even during the very early morning hours. An alarm from a weather alert radio can mean the difference between life and death because every minute counts in that kind of situation. Pinellas County Emergency Management staff strongly urges residents to buy a weather alert radio. Just like a smoke alarm, this alert can save your life. Weather alert radios can be found at many retailers, in catalogs and online.

Dangerous Chemicals and Hurricanes

At many homes, chemicals such as fertilizer, paint, automotive fluids and pesticides can be found in garages, sheds and kitchens. While most of these chemicals are being used, there are those products you may have bought years ago and used once. If a hurricane’s damaging wind and rain were to break these containers, chemicals would be introduced to the environment, posing potential health issues.

Now is a great time for you to go through your home to find those chemicals you don’t need anymore and bring them to the Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center (HEC3). Pinellas County Utilities operates this facility where residents can drop off their hazardous chemicals for free. The HEC3 center is located at 2990 110th Avenue North, St. Petersburg and is open:

Monday through Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Closed
Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Third Saturday of the month from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed Sun and observed county holidays

If you bring chemicals to the HEC3 center, remember:

• Do NOT mix chemicals together.
• Keep products in original labeled containers if possible.
• Place containers in cardboard boxes; use crumpled newspaper in the boxes to prevent breakage.
• Place leaky containers in clear plastic bags and transport in boxes with newspaper.
• Put boxes in the trunk or in the back of vehicle away from passenger.
  The HEC3 Center cannot accept automotive/marine batteries, biological/infectious waste, empty paint cans, explosives, fire extinguishers, propane tanks, radioactive waste or smoke detectors. Call (727) 464-7500 for more information.
  

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3. Select A Safe Room

If you don’t have to evacuate and plan to weather a hurricane at home, set up a safe room for you and your family in case your home is damaged. This is also a good place to store emergency supplies, important papers and battery-powered radios.

Make sure the room has a solid-core door with heavy duty hinges for greater protection. Use long screws to ensure the hinges are anchored securely. Installing a deadbolt lock, like those found on entry doors, will further help protect you and your family.

Where your safe room should be located depends upon how many levels are in your home or building.

• In a one-story house, the ideal safe room is in the center of your home with few or no windows.
• In a two-story house, seek out an interior first-floor room such as a bathroom, closet or space under the stairs.
• In a multiple-story building, go to the first or second floors and take refuge in halls or other interior rooms away from windows. Interior stairwells and areas around elevators shafts are generally the strongest parts of a building.

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4. As A Storm Approaches

If you are planning to leave the area, go early.

Other tips:

• Refill your prescriptions. Make sure you have at least a one-week supply. (see prepare your medications)
• Fill your car’s gas tank. Have the oil, water and tires checked. Gas pumps cannot operate during power outages. Place emergency items inside like booster cables, tire repair kit and spare tire, flashlight with extra batteries
  and matches.
• If your home may flood, stack valuable items and cover them with plastic.
• Get cash. Credit cards may not work.
• Secure your boat and make arrangements for your pets early.
  When a Hurricane Watch is issued, a storm may affect our area within 36 hours. This is the time to review your Family Plan and Emergency Survival Kit checklist as well as:
• Contact family members to coordinate efforts and exchange plan information.
• Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings.
• Freeze drinking water in plastic jugs.
• Stock up on an emergency water supply. Sterilize bathtub, jugs, bottles, utensils and containers.
• Set up 5-gallon buckets with tight-fitting lids for use as emergency toilets. Line each bucket with a heavy-duty plastic trash bag.
• Install shutters or precut plywood over windows.
• Drop the water level in your pool by 1 or 2 feet. Shock the pool with extra chlorine to compensate for heavy rains.
• Turn off the pool pump. Put outdoor furniture and pool equipment into the pool, but remove after the storm passes to prevent rusting.
• Listen for weather updates and information on local TV or radio. The NOAA Weather Radio is a reliable source. Turn to Pinellas Channel 18, Your County Connection, to receive the latest official Pinellas-specific information. Don’t rely on rumors and speculation.

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5. If You Must Evacuate

When an evacuation order is given, only 8 to 12 hours are left before conditions become too treacherous to be on the road. If the evacuation order applies to your area, you should:

• Secure all windows and doors tightly.
• Put your Disaster Survival Kit in your car.
• Turn off electric, water and gas.
• Wear protective clothing like long pants, long sleeve shirts and sturdy shoes.
• Lock your home.
• Evacuate quickly but safely. The sooner you leave, the less time you spend in a traffic rush.
• Only evacuate as far as necessary. Traffic gridlock could leave you stranded. When the storm passes, you may not be able to get back in. Officials suggest going to someone else’s home in a non-evacuation area.
• Let friends and family know your plans.

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6. When A Hurricane Warning Is Issued

Hurricane conditions are less than 24 hours away and violent weather may come quickly. If you are not ordered to evacuate, complete your preparations and head to your home’s safe room.

• Move your supplies and emergency supplies kit to your safe room.
• Close all interior doors. Secure and brace external doors, particularly double inward-opening doors and garage doors.
• Most importantly, stay inside and do not leave your shelter.

7. When the Storm's Impact is Felt

While the approach of a hurricane can be an anxious time, living through the storm can be terrifying. If you live in an ordered evacuation zone, you should already be at your safe place (host home, hotel or shelter). If you are not evacuating, it’s time to get you and your home ready for the storm.
Here are some important tips to remember:

• Stay tuned to local news and Pinellas 18 for updates.
• Use your weather radio when power is lost.
• Make sure your emergency supplies are out and ready.
• Make any last-minute preparations to secure yards, windows and vehicles.
• Sanitize and fill your bathtub with water.
• Stay indoors.
• Close all interior doors—secure and brace external doors.Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm - winds may pick up again.

If your power goes out, use flashlights, lanterns or chemical light sticks. Burning candles can cause irritation to eyes and airways, and should not be left unattended. Most importantly, stay calm.

8. If Your Home is Breached

Even though you have taken the necessary precautions to protect your home, the exterior can be breached. Debris can break through and trees can crash through your roof. When this happens, take these immediate actions:

• Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level of your home. Remember, put as much house between you and the outside.
• Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object if you cannot make it to a safe room.
• Consider leaving your home ONLY if remaining poses an imminent threat to your life.
• Otherwise, wait until the storm has passed to tend to the damage.

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Hurricane Handbook Table of Contents