Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc.

General preparations at home for a disaster

• If you or a family member has a special medical need, you must contact the appropriate county emergency management office (EMO) on a yearly basis. The EMO will send you a form to complete and return to them.  Mailing them the form will ensure that the county will take responsibility for you in the event an evacuation is ordered. They cannot make arrangements for your evacuation unless they know you are there.
  

• Obtain a hurricane preparedness guide from the local newspaper, TV station or library and follow the instructions for preparing a disaster kit for the home.  Usually check-off lists are included in these instructions. If you cannot find a disaster guide, call the appropriate county Red Cross office.
  

• In the event of a hurricane, adequate advance warning systems are in place in Florida. However, in case of a tornado, you may only have minutes. In either case, you should have a safe place in your home to go. The ideal location is an interior closet without windows. Make sure all family members are aware of the safe room in the house.
  

•  Listen to your TV and radio stations for the latest weather reports.  Better still, buy a weather emergency radio, which is an excellent tool for being prepared, especially for tornados.
  

• Stock a special shelf of water and food for use during and after a disaster.

• Check all of your doors and windows to make sure they are airtight. Check your garage door, as it may require reinforcement. If you do not have storm shutters, this may be the time to purchase or make them.
  

• Clean up loose tree branches and other debris from your yard. Bring in all lawn chairs or ornaments. Remove any loose objects in the yard. These items can cause damage in strong winds.