Charleston Weekly

On June 1^st, hurricane season officially began,and Charlestonians have been keeping an eye out for any potential storm ever since. But instead of sitting around and just waiting for that dreaded tropical storm or hurricane to hit the area, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure that you're prepared in case a storm does decide to visit the Holy City. Read on for some tips on how to prepare for the 2012 hurricane season.

1. Take some time to build an emergency kit. Your kit should contain:

• Food: at least a three-day supply of food (non-perishable!)
• Water: one gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days—this water should be used for both drinking and sanitation purposes
• Flashlight along with some extra batteries
• Battery-powered radio with some extra batteries
• Basic first aid kit
• Whistle: to be used in case help is needed
• Garbage bags and baby wipes: for personal sanitation purposes
• Local maps
• Manual can opener
• Copies of insurance policies and other important documents
• Pet supplies (food, leashes, pet carriers, etc.)

2. Learn your community's hurricane evacuation routes sothat if you need to evacuate, you know exactly where to go.

3. Sit down with your family and come up with a hurricane emergency plan. This plan will include details regarding how you'll all get toa safe place, how you'll get in touch with each other, how you'll reconnect,and what to do in various emergency situations.

4. Understand the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning. A watch occurs when hurricane conditions are possible; a warning occurs when hurricane conditions are expected in the area.

5. Always maintain your automobiles! If you do need to evacuate, you'll need to use one of them (if not more), so it's important tokeep up with your oil changes, tire rotations, and other regular maintenance.

The following tips refer to what to do once you get the news that a storm is approaching.

6. Keep the radio or television on so you can be informedabout exactly what's going on and if you need to evacuate.

7. Fill up your bathtub(s) and sink(s) with water to be used in case your water goes out (in addition to the water in your disaster kit).

8. Take some time to secure your home. Bring any outdoor objects inside or into a shed or garage (patio furniture, etc.). Close yourstorm shutters.

9. Turn the temperature of your freezer and refrigerator down as low as possible. This is so that in case the power goes out, your food won't spoil as quickly. Avoid opening your fridge and freezer to keep them cold.

10. If you have a generator and need to use it, be sure that you don't run it near or in your home. Also ensure that you have enough fuel torun it for as long as necessary.

By taking these ten steps, you can rest assured that you're ready and prepared for any possible storms this hurricane season!