Laurel Residents Prepare for Hurricane Irene

As the East Coast braces for the arrival of Hurricane Irene the state of Maryland, along with other states up and down the Interstate 95 corridor, has issued a State of Emergency.

Many Marylanders are preparing to weather the storm at home and many Laurel residents are hoping the city will be on the far west side of the hurricane as it passes over the Free State. The west side of a hurricane is reported to be less violent and unlikely to have tornadoes unlike the east side of these storms. Sheltering in place can be done with special care and the right preparation.

For those few citizens who have not yet gathered their supplies the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) lists a variety of items that everyone should have on hand to prepare for an emergency. With the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene and anticipation of power outages, there are things that everyone should stock up on to properly prepare.

Below is a list of some of the essential gear everyone will need until power is restored. Governor Martin O’Malley has made it clear that “the first 72 are on you”.  This means that every citizen should prepare to be without power or immediate assistance for at least 72 hours. That is three whole days! One gallon of water per person per day, ready to eat foods that do not have to be heated or chilled, flashlights and batteries and a bath tub full of water in case you have to flush the commode are only a few of preparatory measures to take. Other items to have just in case as you shelter in place would be:

1. Prescription medication for several days
2. First Aid Kit
3. Battery operated or crank NOAA weather radio
4. Flashlight and extra batteries
5. Dry ice/bags of ice
6. Rubber Gloves
7. Games and books to pass the time
8. Tarp
9. Sturdy shoes and several pairs of socks
10. Waterproof jacket or poncho
11.  Hygiene products
12. Important financial and personal documents
13. Fully charged cell phone & landline
14. Tools
15. CASH!

Many of these supplies can be purchased at Walmart, Target or the Dollar Store. Other items can be secured from Lowes, Home Depot and Radio Shack. In Washington, DC and Maryland sandbags are being distributed ahead of the storm for those living in areas that are prone to flooding. If we all prepare and help our neighbors who are elderly or disabled we should be able to weather the storm together.

Be prepared! Be wise! Be safe!