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Hurricane Preparedness

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Hurricane Dorian Devastated the Bahamas and Parts of the Carolinas

Featured Image: The Atlantic

Myrtle Beach geared up for Hurricane Dorian this week, luckily much of the Grand Strand was left largely unharmed despite the hundreds of thousands of power outages. Sadly, the northern Bahamas were not as lucky and suffered the largest impact from the hurricane as the storm was at a category 5 level when it struck the islands. The official death toll is 43 and continues to rise as rescue workers reach more areas. The United Nations believe almost 70,000 are left homeless on Abaca and Grand Bahamas, the areas which took the grunt of the impact, due to the damage. Follow CNN’s live updates here.

Northeast South Carolina and North Carolina were impacted as well as flooding and tornadoes have hit the region. Outer Banks residents’ homes flooded, leaving hundreds trapped by high water. Ocracoke Island, in the Outer Banks, suffered catastrophic flooding, described by residents as levels they had never seen. The island is only accessible by boat and air, but Governor Roy Cooper said medical and search and rescue teams were on the way. Here are just a few of the ways you can donate and help the Bahamas as well as the impacted communities in the Carolinas:

  • The Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund, set up by the Bahamian government, is accepting wire transfers. Find instructions here. 
  • The American Red Cross is accepting donations by phone (800-435-7669) or online. 
  • The Salvation Army is accepting money for relief both in the Bahamas and here in the United States
  • The Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation, established by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, is accepting donations and supplies.

Find more organizations working to aid in the rescue work in the Bahamas and the United States, accepting donations here.

The Grand Strand region was impacted by the hurricane as well with trees, powerlines and even traffic lights downed across the region. Take a look at some pictures of the impacts the storm left on Myrtle Beach:

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Our WMBF crew got dramatic video of an apparent tornado in North Myrtle Beach early this morning. A transformer appears to blow toward the end. Please stay safe out there today! . . . #scwx #dorian #wmbf

A post shared by WMBF News (@wmbfnews) on Sep 5, 2019 at 4:42am PDT

 

 

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Little River. Two days ago versus today. Photo by Hunter Szigety #hurricanedorian #beforeandafter #scwx

A post shared by WPDE ABC15 (@wpdeabc15) on Sep 5, 2019 at 8:49am PDT

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Make Sure You’re Prepared for Hurricane Season With This Checklist

Featured Image: Business Magazine Gainesville

We are in the midst of hurricane season, have you thought about how you can prepare yourself and your home? If not, we’ve got you covered with a checklist of everything you need to know for before, during and after a potential hurricane.

Before the Hurricane:

You should bring in any items that could be moved, displaced or be a potential danger to your property and the property of your neighbors. If you can’t bring these items inside your home, you should at least make sure that they are secured and can stay in place. If possible, you should always try to board up your doors and windows. Turn the fridge and freezer on high in case of power loss, and unplug small appliances. Make sure you have a full tank of gas and double-check your supply list (provided below). Educate yourself with your community’s evacuation plan, and always evacuate if authorities advise you to do so. Try to stay up to date on the news and weather situation for as long as you can, or until the power goes out.

To make sure you have everything you need when the hurricane hits, now is the time to check your supplies and run to the store for anything you might be missing. We’ve rounded up a few items that we think are always helpful below:

  • Generator (if possible)
  • Extra 5-gallon can of gasoline
  • Three day supply of food, water, and medical supplies
  • Flashlight
  • NOAA radio
  • Extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Multipurpose tool
  • Copies of personal documents
  • Cell phone
  • Portable charger
  • Extra cash
  • Rain gear
  • Extra clothes
  • An emergency blanket

You should also create an emergency plan with your family and close friends. For example, if power is lost and your phone is dead, how will you get in touch with them? Make sure you create a plan, like calling once power is back on and you are safe so that there is a clear understanding of when your loved ones will hear from you and no unnecessary panic takes place.

During the Hurricane:

If you aren’t advised to evacuate and you decide to stay put, the most important thing to remember when riding out a hurricane is to stay safe. Make sure your windows and doors are boarded and secured, lay down towels by doorways to potentially block any water that may try to seep into your home, and then head to your safe space.

The safe space within your home should be a room with no windows, preferably on the ground floor. You should stay put with others in your home during the storm and try not to leave your safe space or go outside at all.

Since hurricanes can take quite some time to pass, be patient and stay secure as long as needed!

After the Hurricane: 

Before exiting your safe space, the first thing you should try to do is listen to the NOAA broadcast or local news to get any major updates and stay alert for extended rainfall and flooding. Only exit your safe space or return home when authorities announce that it is safe to do so, and avoid flooded areas and washed out bridges when driving. Be wary of dangling power lines, and avoid any building that has water around it. Inspect your home and take pictures for insurance purposes, and use flashlights in the dark. Avoid drinking or using tap water until you can confirm it’s not contaminated. Finally, make sure you contact your loved ones who are waiting to hear from you.

We always hope the South Carolina coast and its residents remain unscathed during the hurricane season, but to stay on the safe side, we urge you to take the precautions listed above.

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4 Quick Tips to Stay Prepared for Hurricane Florence

Featured Image:  Jack Gruber, USA TODAY.

Bigger than South Carolina and North Carolina combined, Hurricane Florence is about to make quite the impression. Florence, now downgraded to a category 2 storm with winds of 110 mph, is still a real threat to our coastline especially when it comes to rainfall, storm surge, and flooding. Even though it is now expected to shift south to make landfall just below Myrtle Beach on Saturday, it’s exact direction is still somewhat unknown. With comparisons to devastating Hugo of 1989, the only thing certain about a cone of uncertainty like this, is that the best thing to do is be prepared for any and every outcome.

Check out these quick tips for surviving Hurricane Florence:

1. Create a plan and execute it.

Pack an emergency kit, including money, medication, and a few days worth of food and water. Also, get gas before leaving! Many gas stations are beginning to run out of gas. To see what gas stations you can fuel up at, check out Gasbuddy. If your house floods, you can’t return home immediately, so it is essential to have a plan, especially if you live in a flood zone. Not sure if you live in a flood zone? Get informed here.

2. Bring all valuables with you during evacuation. If you stay, keep them safe!

It is highly recommended that you photograph or scan important documents, such as driver’s license, passports, social security cards, prescriptions, and all other legal documents. You can upload them to a hard drive, take them with you when evacuating, or store them in a fireproof, watertight container. Keep this, and other important belongings, with you or in a place with higher elevation.

3. Stock up on plenty of bottled water and non-perishable food.

It is also recommended that you freeze all cold products in case you lose power. This will allow your cold products to remain cool for a longer period of time. In case of lost power, a tightly packed freezer can stay cold for 48 hours. Non perishable foods will be your best option, in case you lose power for many days. Keep these items, and water, stored on high, secure shelves so they will be safe away from flooding. Along with food and water, be sure to safely store your household chemicals. When they mix with floodwaters, they become dangerous to your health and can cause fires and explosions.

4. Secure your doors and window.

Board up your windows to prevent leaks and broken glass, and if necessary secure your doors as well. If you do not board up your windows, to prevent damage, clean up yard debris! Safely dispose of branches, secure rain gutters, and clear your yard of bikes, trash cans, and outdoor furniture.

Read more from the source.

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