Emergency Preparedness
Hurricane Season Preparedness
Every year on June 1, hurricane season begins. Are you prepared with the necessary items and information to keep your family safe in the event of a hurricane? After 2005’s record breaking hurricane season, you cannot take the chance of not being prepared for a hurricane. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are several items and ideas you and your family should look over in order to be prepared for a hurricane.
Preparing for a Hurricane
The following are things you should do to be prepared for a hurricane.
• Learn about your community's emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes and locations of emergency shelters.
• Identify potential home hazards and know how to secure or protect them before the hurricane strikes. Be prepared to turn off electrical power when there is standing water, fallen power lines or before you evacuate. Turn off gas and water supplies before you evacuate. Secure structurally unstable building materials.
• Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it.
• Locate and secure your important papers, such as insurance policies, wills, licenses, stocks, etc.
• Post emergency phone numbers at every phone.
• Inform local authorities about any special needs, i.e., elderly or bedridden people or anyone with a disability.
Emergency Supplies You Will Need
You should stock your home with supplies that may be needed during the emergency period. At a minimum, these supplies should include:
• Several clean containers for water, large enough for a 3-5 day supply of water (about five gallons for each person).
• A 3-5 day supply of non-perishable food.
• A first aid kit and manual.
• A battery-powered radio, flashlights and extra batteries.
• Sleeping bags or extra blankets.
• Water-purifying supplies, such as chlorine or iodine tablets or unscented, ordinary household chlorine bleach.
• Prescription medicines and special medical needs.
• Baby food and/or prepared formula, diapers and other baby supplies.
• Disposable cleaning cloths, such as "baby wipes" for the whole family to use in case bathing facilities are not available.
• Personal hygiene supplies, such as soap, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, etc.
• An emergency kit for your car with food, flares, booster cables, maps, tools, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, sleeping bags, etc.
Preparing to Evacuate
Expect the need to evacuate and prepare for it. The National Weather Service will issue a hurricane watch when there is a threat to coastal areas of hurricane conditions within 24-36 hours. When a hurricane watch/warning is issued, you should:
• Fill your automobile's gas tank.
• If no vehicle is available, make arrangements with friends or family for transportation.
• Fill your clean water containers.
• Review your emergency plans and supplies, checking to see if any items are missing.
• Tune in the radio or television for weather updates.
• Listen for disaster sirens and warning signals.
• Prepare an emergency kit for your car with food, flares, booster cables, maps, tools, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, sleeping bags, etc.
• Secure any items outside which may damage property in a storm, such as bicycles, grills, propane tanks, etc.
• Cover windows and doors with plywood or boards or place large strips of masking tape or adhesive tape on the windows to reduce the risk of breakage and flying glass.
• Put livestock and family pets in a safe area. Due to food and sanitation requirements, emergency shelters cannot accept animals.
• Place vehicles under cover.
• Fill sinks and bathtubs with water as an extra supply for washing.
• Adjust the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the coolest possible temperature.
Source: www.cdc.gov
The following are addresses of the emergency shelters in the area:
Ben Hill County
Ben Hill Middleschool
134 J.C. Hunter Drive
Fitzgerald, Ga. 31750
Fitzgerald High School
601 W. Cypress Street
Fitzgerald, Ga. 31750
First Baptist Church
402 S. Merrimac Drive
Fitzgerald, Ga. 31750
Berrien County
Berrien County High School
500 Smith Avenue
Nashville, GA 31369
Berrien County Middle School
800 Tifton Road
Nashville, GA 31369
Nashville First Baptist Church
301 N. Washington Street
Nashville, GA 31369
Ray City First Baptist Church
504 Pauline Avenue
Ray City, GA 31645
Nashville Hope Baptist Church
1011 Dogwood Street
Nashville, GA 31369
Alapaha Baptist Church
Hwy 129 N.
Alapaha, GA 31622
Nashville United Methodist Church
304 S. Berrien Street
Nashville, GA 31369
Berrien County Agriculture Center
500 County Farm Road
Nashville, GA 31369
Brooks County
Bethel AME Church
1203 South Court Street
Quitman, GA 31643
Cook County
Cook Elem. School
1512 North Elm Street
Sparks, Ga.31647
Cook Middle School
1601 North Elm St.
Sparks, Ga 31647
Cook Primary School
1531 Patterson ST.
Sparks, Ga.31647
Elchols County
Echols Sr. Citizens Center
170 Church of God Street
Statenville, GA 31648
Irwin County
Irwin County High School
149 Chieftain Drive
Ocilla, GA 31774
Irwin County Elementary School
LAX Highway
Ocilla, GA 31774
Ocilla Church of God
302 Fitzgerald Highway
PO Box 611
Ocilla, GA 31774
Lowndes County
Central Church of Christ
304 W. Central Avenue
229-242-6115
Park Avenue Methodist
100 E. Park Avenue
229-242-3562
Grace Victory Church
303 N. Forrest Street
229-253-9081
Mathis Auditorium
2311 Williams Street
229-259-5444 or 229-333-1816
Turner County
Turner County Civic Center
354 Lamar St
Ashburn, GA 31714