Well, once the summer comes rolling around, there are many people that have to deal with the reality that it’s the beginning of hurricane season. Thankfully, the NYC area doesn’t get slammed as hard or as regularly as places in the Southeast. That being said, we do get a fair amount of bad storms, so you always have to be prepared for loss of power and other issues. It certainly doesn’t hurt to know how to be handle a tough situation.
To help you prepare, the New York Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has created the Ready New York: Hurricanes and New York City Guide, which includes general tips on how to prepare for any emergency, instructions on how to develop a hurricane disaster plan and secure your home before a storm, and a map of New York City hurricane evacuation zones. They have published it in 11 languages.
Some quick, helpful hints include keeping enough supplies in your home to survive on your own for at least three days. If possible, keep these materials in an easily accessible, separate container or special cupboard. You should indicate to your household members that these supplies are for emergencies only. Check expiration dates of food and update your kits when you change your clock during daylight-saving times.
Since the bad storm we had last year, we have stocked up on some emergency supplies just in case, including:
- One gallon of drinking water per person per day
- Non-perishable, ready-to-eat canned foods and manual can opener
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries (you can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries)
- Whistle
- Iodine tablets or one quart of unscented bleach (for disinfecting water ONLY if directed to do so by health officials) and eyedropper (for adding bleach to water)
- Personal hygiene items: soap, feminine hygiene products, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc.
- Phone that does not rely on electricity
- Child care supplies or other special care items
This isn’t meant to scare you…just get you thinking about taking some small but important steps. It could help you avoid some real messy situations!
Vera Sweeney is a mom of two beautiful children and the founder of 
