1. HURRICANE DISASTER SUPPLY KIT

•  Canned goods and nonperishable foods, particularly those that do not need cooking:

• Canned meats and fish
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Canned soups and puddings
• Canned fruit juices
• Dried fruit and nuts
• Bread, cookies and crackers
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Coffee and tea

•  Manual can opener

•  Bottled water (1 gallon per person/per day)

•  Prescription medication (2-week supply)

•  Extra eyeglasses

•  Pet food/supplies

•  Water purification tablets (halazone)

•  Disposable plates, cups, and utensils

•  Infant care items:

• Disposable diapers
• Baby wipes
• Baby food
• Formula

•  First aid supplies

•  Masking and duct tape

•  Flashlight or lantern, with extra batteries

•  Battery operated radio, with extra batteries

•  Watch or battery operated clock

•  Ice chest

•  Matches

•  Canned heat (sterno)

•  Portable outdoor camping stove or grill with fuel supply

•  A certain amount of cash

•  Important documents (Such as wills, deeds, prescriptions, passports, birth certificates, health record, proof of address, Social Security number)

•  Emergency generator

•  Plastic trash bags

•  Plastic sheeting or tarp

•  Chlorinated bleach

•  Personal hygiene items

•  Other useful items:

• Work gloves
• Sun lotion
• Insect repellent
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Pliers
• Wrenches
• Handsaw
• Razor knife
• Ax or chainsaw
• Rope caulking
• Nails and screws
• Rope and wire
• Broom, mop and bucket
• All-purpose cleaner
• Ladder
• Sandbags
• Portable generator
• Tree pruner
• Shovel, rake and wheelbarrow
• Sheets of plywood

2. FAMILY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

Develop a Family Emergency Communications Plan in case family members are separated from one another during an emergency (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school, camp or at a friend’s house). This plan should also address reunification after the immediate crisis passes.

• Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the Family Emergency Communications Plan contact person.  During and immediately after a disaster occurs, it is often easier to access a long distance telephone number than a local one. Also, calling outside a disaster area is usually easier than calling into the same area.

• Make sure everyone knows the name, address and telephone number of the Family Emergency Communications Plan contact person.

• Designate two meeting areas for family members – one within your community (your primary location), and one outside of your community (your alternate location). Sometimes an emergency could impact your neighborhood or small section of the community, so a second location outside of your community would be more accessible to all family members.

A Family Emergency Communications Plan can help reassure everyone’s safety and minimize the stress associated with emergencies.

3. STAY INFORMED

Educate yourself and family about emergency plans for your community, place of business, your child’s school and camp.  Know what potential risks your community and neighborhood are susceptible to in a hurricane, such as storm surge, flooding, etc. Carefully monitor the Media and follow instructions from Public Safety officials as hurricane approaches.

#The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, and local resources to protect the public during disasters and emergencies.  RIEMA helps develop plans for effective response to all hazards, trains emergency personnel, provides information to families and communities, and assists in recovery from disaster losses.  You can learn more about RIEMA by visiting the RIEMA homepage at www.riema.ri.gov

NOAA Expects Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season

An “active to extremely active” hurricane season is expected for the Atlantic Basin this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service. As with every hurricane season, this outlook underscores the importance of having a hurricane preparedness plan in place.

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is projecting a 70 percent probability of the following ranges:

• 14 to 23 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:
• 8 to 14 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:
• 3 to 7 could be major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

“If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.“The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared.”

The outlook ranges exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. Expected factors supporting this outlook are:

• Upper atmospheric winds conducive for storms. Wind shear, which can tear apart storms, will be weaker since El Niño in the eastern Pacific has dissipated. Strong wind shear helped suppress storm development during the 2009 hurricane season.

• Warm Atlantic Ocean water. Sea surface temperatures are expected to remain above average where storms often develop and move across the Atlantic. Record warm temperatures – up to four degrees Fahrenheit above average – are now present in this region.

• High activity era continues. Since 1995, the tropical multi-decadal signal has brought favorable ocean and atmospheric conditions in sync, leading to more active hurricane seasons. Eight of the last 15 seasons rank in the top ten for the most named storms with 2005 in first place with 28 named storms.

“The main uncertainty in this outlook is how much above normal the season will be. Whether or not we approach the high end of the predicted ranges depends partly on whether or not La Niña develops this summer,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “At present we are in a neutral state, but conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for La Niña to develop.”

“FEMA is working across the administration and with our state and local partners to ensure we’re prepared for hurricane season,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “But we can only be as prepared as the public, so it’s important that families and businesses in coastal communities take steps now to be ready. These include developing a communications plan, putting together a kit, and staying informed of the latest forecasts and local emergency plans. You can’t control when a hurricane or other emergency may happen, but you can make sure you’re ready.”

The President recently designated May 23 through 29 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. NOAA and FEMA encourage those living in hurricane-prone states to use this time to review their overall preparedness. More information on individual and family preparedness can be found athttp://www.Ready.gov and http://www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.

NOAA scientists will continue to monitor evolving conditions in the tropics and will issue an updated hurricane outlook in early August, just prior to what is historically the peak period for hurricane activity.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at http://www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.

On the Web:

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center: http://ww.hurricanes.gov

FEMA: http://www.fema.gov and http://www.ready.gov

Stay informed – The public should monitor the progress and strength of Bill through local television, radio and internet. Boaters can monitor its progress on VHF channel 16. Information on small craft advisories and warnings can also be found on VHF channel 16.

Evacuate as necessary – If mandatory evacuations are set for an area, the public is urged to heed evacuation orders. Coast Guard personnel and other emergency responders may not be able to evacuate those in danger during the storm.

Secure your belongings – Vessel owners are urged to double-check their mooring lines and secure life rings, life jackets and other loose items, preventing their vessel and equipment from breaking free and causing damage.

Be cautious of hazardous materials – If you have hazardous materials on or near the water, you are responsible for any spills that may occur. Take the necessary precautions to secure them prior to any heavy weather.

Mariners are reminded that drawbridges along the coast may deviate from normal operating procedures prior to a storm. They are generally authorized to remain closed up to eight hours prior to the approach of gale-force winds of 34 knots or greater, and whenever an evacuation is ordered.

Tips for swimmers on how to avoid and survive rip currents:

Never swim alone.

Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out!

Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.

If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.

Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim toward shore or a boat.

If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim toward shore or a boat.

If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by facing the shore or boat, waving your arms, and yelling for help.

If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 911. Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape. Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s 2008 recreational boating statistics show:

709 fatalities, 3331 injuries, 4789 accidents and $54 million in property damage.

90 percent of drowning victims – 459 of 510 – were not wearing life jackets.

Only 10 percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction.

State officials cautioned boaters and swimmers to stay aware of surf conditions as the projected path of Hurricane Bill is predicted to pass several hundred miles east of Massachusetts.  Even at that distance, Hurricane Bill is expected to have an impact on coastal regions.  Swimmers and boaters must take precautions given the potential high seas and strong currents expected to be associated with this event over the remainder of the week.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) offers these tips for those around the water, particularly swimmers and boaters.

• Always check surf conditions.

• Swimmers should never swim alone, preferably on beaches with lifeguards. If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.

• Always be aware of the dangers of rip currents. Remember to never swim against the current, but parallel to the beach to an area where the current is weaker and you can safely return to shore.
• Never turn your back to the ocean, as you may be swept off coastal bluffs or tide pool areas and into the water by waves that can come without warning.
• Be careful standing on seawalls while watching the surf.

• Boaters should continually obtain the latest available weather forecast for your boating area as well as U.S. Coast Guard and harbormaster warnings and directives.
• Identify hurricane holes and safe harbors in the area in case you are caught at sea.

• Boat owners should assemble emergency equipment and supplies, as well as all of the necessary gear on board to properly tie down their vessel.
• Realize that you may not be able to pull your boat out of the water.  Precious time is lost if you are searching for gear as a storm approaches
  .
• Have a plan worked out with your marina operator so there are no questions or confusion when the time comes to tie up or pull your boat from the water.
• Insure your vessel is as watertight as possible. Use duct tape and plugs to seal hatches, ports, windows, doors and vents.
• Remove all electronics, valuables and non-essential items.
• Have your insurance policies, boat registration, a recent photograph and description of the vessel, gear inventory, marina or storage lease agreement and important telephone numbers (local harbormaster, U.S. Coast Guard, National Weather Service, insurance agent) in a secure place off of the boat.
• When you are through, help your neighbor.  It only takes one poorly tied boat in a marina to destroy an entire dock.
• Do not stay on the boat.

With hurricane season underway, it is a good reminder to take the proper steps to ensure your family’s safety.  Ensure that your Family Emergency Kit is stocked for a 3-5 day period, your Family’s Communication Plan is in place, and you have become informed of your community’s Emergency Plans regarding potential notification systems, emergency shelters and evacuation routes.

Massachusetts EMA Website

If a storm threatens, the site will be used to disseminate information about evacuation procedures for coastal residents. In the meantime, the site has information on the upcoming hurricane season, Cape Cod emergency traffic plans, shelters, and tips to protect property and prepare yourself in case a storm hits.

The site features a lot of information on evacuations from hurricane-prone areas of the state. Also included on the site are links to pet friendly hotels and preparing a disaster supply kit.

Should a storm threaten Rhode Island, many people will be asked to evacuate their homes. Click on any of the towns or cities on the map below to see the evacuation map for your area.