Hurricane & Tropical Storm Information
In preparation and response to Hurricane Irene, the following Red Cross shelters are open as of
Noon Friday, August 26:
- New Castle County/Wilmington
- William Penn High School, 713 E. Basin Rd., New Castle
- Middletown High School, 120 Silver Lake Rd., pet friendly
- Kent County
- Lake Forest High School, 5407 Killens Pond Rd., Felton, pet friendly
- Smyrna High School, 500 Duck Creek Parkway
- Sussex County
- Beacon Middle School, 1210 Kings Highway, Lewes
- Indian River High School, Clayton Ave., Frankford, pet friendly
- Milford High School, 381 North St., Milford, pet friendly
Those relocating to shelters should bring the following personal items:
- Bedding
- Special needs foods, snacks
- Personal hygiene items
- Medications
- Games, books, toys to occupy children
If additional shelter capacity is necessary, alternate locations will be announced.
American Red Cross – 800-777-6620
Know what Hurricane WATCH and WARNING mean.
HURRICANE WATCH: Hurricane conditions are possible in the
specified area of the Watch, usually within 36 hours.
- For up-to-date storm information, listen to 1150AM WDEL
Prepare to bring indoors lawn furniture, outdoor
decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything
else that can be picked up by the wind.
Prepare to cover ALL windows of your home. If
shutters have not been installed, use precut plywood, as described
below. Note: Tape does not prevent windows from breaking; so taping
windows is not recommended.
- Fill your car's gas tank.
- Recheck manufactured home tie-downs.
Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first
aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.
HURRICANE WARNING: Hurricane conditions are expected in
the specified area of the Warning, usually within 24 hours.
Listen to the advice of local officials, and leave
if they tell you to do so.
- Complete preparation activities.
If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors,
away from windows.
Be aware, the calm "eye" is deceptive; the storm
is not over. The worst part of the storm will happen once the eye
passes over and the winds blow from the opposite direction. Trees,
shrubs, building and objects damaged by the first winds can be broken
or destroyed by the second winds that blow from the opposite direction.
Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen
during and after a hurricane passes over. Remain indoors, in the
center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows.
Stay away from flood waters. If you come upon a
flooded road, turn around and go another way. If waters are rising
rapidly around you, get out of the car and climb to higher ground.
Prepare a personal evacuation plan. Identify ahead of time where
you could go if you are told to evacuate. Choose several places - a
friend's home in another town, a motel, or a shelter. Keep telephone
numbers for those places handy as well as a road map of your locality.
You may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if major roads
are closed or clogged. Listen to 1150AM WDEL for evacuation
instructions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately!
Prepare for high winds. Install hurricane shutters or precut
3/4" marine plywood for each window of your home. Install anchors for
the plywood and predrill holes in the plywood so that you can put it
up quickly. Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or
damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can
blow through.
Assemble a Hurricane Supply Kit. Include the following items in your kit:
- Trunk or large storage container
- Food, manual can opener
- At least three gallons of water per person
- Repair supplies to include duct tape, pocket knife, tools and nails
- First aid kit, prescription medications and copies of prescriptions
- Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members
- Portable radio, batteries
- Flashlight, candles, matches, lighter
- Games or cards
- Ice chest with any available ice
- Lock box with personal documents and computer back up files
- Sheets of plastic or plastic bags
- Protective clothing, rainwear/slickers, and bedding, or sleeping bags
- Whistle
- Small gas camp stove with fuel
- Written instructions for how to turn off gas and water if authorities
advise you to do so. (Remember, you'll need a professional to turn them back on.)
Find a large storage container for the kit. Choose as many containers as you need to fit all of the supplies.
Collect canned food for the kit. Include soups, peanut butter, beans, crackers, vegetables and other food that does not spoil without refrigeration. Add enough food to sustain your entire family for at least two weeks. Remember to pack a manual can opener.
Purchase bottled water and place in the kit. Have enough to supply your family for two weeks. Each person needs 2 liters of water every day. Prepare to have extra water for hygiene and for washing dishes.
Place repair supplies into the hurricane survival kit. Gather together sheets of plastic, tools, nails, duct tape and paint.
Make a first aid kit. Include adhesive bandages, bug repellent, burn cream, aspirin, pain relievers, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and two weeks worth of any required prescription medications.
Buy plenty of candles and flashlights. Each family member requires their own flashlight. Include dry matches, a lighter and extra batteries.
Place a portable self-generating radio in the survival kit. This provides you updated information during the hurricane. If you don't get a radio that can be hand-cranked or can run on solar power, buy at least seven sets of batteries for the kit. This should keep the radio and flashlights running for two weeks.
Make a small bag with toiletries for the family. Include games, cards, books and toys.
Find a large ice chest. Place any food from the refrigerator or freezer into the chest. If you have access to ice, dump ice over the food to keep it as cool as possible.
Prepare for an evacuation. Every hurricane survival kit needs a fire or lock box. Keep important documentation and computer back-up files in the protected box. Have rain slickers available for the family to wear during the evacuation. Talk with the family about what to do in case of an emergency. Have an escape route and a rallying point.
Tell the family where the survival kits are located in the house. Make it someone's personal responsibility to grab the kit if your family has to evacuate.
Know what to do after the storm is over.
Keep listening to 1150AM WDEL for instructions. If you
evacuated, return home when local officials tell you it is safe to do
so. Inspect your home for damage. Use flashlights in the dark; avoid
using candles in case of gas leaks.
Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen
Weldin Stewart wants to assure all Delawareans that the Department of
Insurance, working in conjunction with the Delaware Emergency Management
Agency, has a plan in place which will enable all affected policyholders
to make claims as soon as possible following the hurricane. The Commissioner
is currently engaging the ten leading property and casualty companies writing
business in Delaware and is implementing the DEMA-prescribed protocol for
getting DOI personnel and the companies’ catastrophic adjusters into the
affected areas as soon as authorized to do so by DEMA. The Commissioner
urges all Delawareans to have their inventory of possessions on hand in
order to expedite the processing of their claims. Should you have
claim-related questions or complaints, the DOI’s Consumer Services Unit
will be working extended hours on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 and Thursday,
September 1, 2011 from 8:00 AM through to assist you with these matters.
The DOI’s Consumer Services Hotline number is 1-800-282-8611.
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