When the hurricane has passed:
1. Remain in shelter until informed by local authorities that it is safe to leave.
2. Keep tuned to your local radio or television station for advice and instructions from your local government on:
- Where to go to obtain necessary medical care in your area.
- Where to go for necessary emergency assistance for housing, clothing, and food.
- Ways to help you and your community recover from the emergency.
3. Stay out of disaster areas. Sight-seeing interferes with essential rescue and recovery work, and may be dangerous as well.
4. Drive carefully along debris-filled streets. Roads may be undermined and could collapse under the weight of a car.
5. Avoid loose or dangling wires, and report them immediately to your power company or to the local police or fire department.
6. Report broken sewer or water mains.
7. Prevent fires. Because of decreased water pressure fire fighting becomes difficult.
8. Check refrigerated food for spoilage if power has been off during the storm.
Remember:
Hurricanes moving inland can cause severe flooding. Stay away from levees, river banks, and streams until all potential flooding is passed. Local authorities will announce when it is safe to return to your home. Stay tuned to local stations for current information.
When you get home:
Look for visible structural damage before you go inside. Watch for loose or dangling electrical power lines and broken sewer lines.