Hurricane Idalia: Get Prepared Now!
Beginning Wednesday, South Carolina will be impacted by Hurricane Idalia. There could be 4 to 8 inches of rain or more, isolated tornados, and flooding. Wind gusts up to 50+ miles per hour are possible in certain areas, and power outages are possible!
Now is the time to make sure you are prepared:
Before the Storm:
- Build or update your personal emergency kit. Your kit should have the essential items you can't live without. Learn more about what's needed in your kit. You can also read this kit list from ready.gov.
- Build or update your service animal or pet's emergency kit. Learn more about what's needed in their kit.
- Make sure you have enough food and medicine if you need to shelter in place for a long period of time.
- Make sure your medical equipment or accommodations that use batteries are fully charged and in good working condition.
During the Storm:
- Never drive through flooded areas. If you approach a barricade, do not drive around it! As little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, and two feet of water can cause your car to be swept away. Turn around, don’t drown.
- Watch your local news media for storm updates. If the storm updates say to shelter in place, do so!
- If you need to evacuate, take only the essential items, including your emergency kit and medical supplies.
- If you lose power, follow these tips to keep your water and food safe. The link includes a link to a video that explains what to do.
If you need to stay home:
- Keep paying attention to the radio or TV for updates on the hurricane or flooding.
- Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message that the storm is over. Sometimes, the weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but then gets worse again quickly.
- Stay away from windows. You could get hurt by pieces of broken glass during a storm.
- If emergency authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go to a shelter or a neighbor’s house.
If you need to evacuate:
- Only take what you really need with you, like your cell phone, chargers, medicines, ID, and cash.
- Make sure you have your emergency kit.
- If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water.
- Follow the roads that emergency workers tell you to take, even if there’s traffic. Other routes might be blocked and unsafe.
After the Storm:
- If you have durable medical equipment or adaptive technology that gets damaged by the storm, contact Able SC. We may have a replacement for you, free of charge.
- If you had to evacuate during the storm, only go home when authorities tell you it's safe to do so. If your home was flooded during the storm, you will need to clean and disinfect it to stay safe. You should clean and disinfect anything that could have been touched by flood water, including toys for kids or pets.
What if there's a flood? Here's how you stay safe:
- If you are escaping flood water to save your life, do not stay in the attic of your house. If the highest floor of your home becomes dangerous, get on the roof. Call 911 for help and stay on the line until the call is answered. If your disability prevents you from doing this, call 911 as soon as possible and tell them!
- Pay attention to the radio or TV news to follow instructions. Flood water is a drowning risk for everyone, even if you can swim. Swiftly moving shallow water can be deadly, and even shallow standing water can be dangerous for small children.
- Vehicles do not protect you from flood waters. They can be swept away or stall in moving water. If flooding happens while you're in your car, get to higher ground. Get out of areas that could flood like dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc.
If you are in an area that is in danger of flooding or you are under a flood watch or warning:
- Get your emergency kit, including prescription medications, and stay tuned to your local radio or television station for updates.
- If you have to evacuate, turn off the main power switch and close the main gas valve to your home.
- Have your immunization (shot) records handy or know when you got your last tetanus shot in case you get a puncture wound or a wound becomes infected during or after the flood. Immunization records should be stored in a waterproof container.
- Fill bathtubs, sinks, and containers with clean water. Sanitize the sinks and tubs first by using bleach. Rinse and fill with clean water.
What if there's a tornado? Here's how you stay safe:
- Check out this easy read tornado safety fact sheet from the National Weather Service
- Check batteries in flashlights and battery-operated or hand-crank weather radios. Keep these items nearby in case you lose power.
- Be ready to take cover in a basement or a windowless area of your home, such as a bathroom, hallway, under stair area, or large closet.
- Be sure you and everyone in your household knows where to meet if you are separated. This is also important if your home is damaged and you need to go to a shelter or to friends or family.
What if there's a power outage or downed power lines?
- NEVER touch a fallen power line. Call the power company to report fallen power lines.
- Do not walk or drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water.
- If you believe someone has been electrocuted, call or have someone else call 911. Do not touch them unless you know they are not touching the electrical current. You can use a piece of wood, cardboard, or plastic to push them off the current safely.
- If a power line falls across your car while you are driving, stay inside your vehicle and continue to drive away from the line.
- If your engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Warn people not to touch your car or the line. Call or ask someone to call 911. Do not allow anyone other than emergency workers to come to your vehicle.
- If your power breaker is in standing water, never turn the power on or off yourself. Call a qualified electrician.
- Never use a gas-powered generator or gas power source inside your home, basement, or garage! Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. Never use a grill or fire pit indoors. These things make carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a deadly invisible gas with no smell. The gas can build up and kill you.
- If you need a generator, choose a battery-powered one!
How can Able SC help me?
- If you have a disability, we can give you information if you need advocacy and support. Just call us: 800.681.6805
- We can help you get durable medical equipment like canes, walkers, AT chargers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, accessible cots, etc. if your items were lost or damaged during the emergency.
- We make sure people with disabilities are accommodated in emergency shelters and other locations! This includes advocating for equal access to information, food, sleeping, bedding, etc. at the shelter. Call us if you are having trouble: 800.681.6805
- We send shelter modifications to make sure they are accessible. We send things like adjustable/accessible cots, ramp, temporary disabled parking signs, shower hoses, shower chairs, communication boards, and technology, etc.
- We navigate FEMA, American Red Cross, Partnership for Inclusive Disasters, and other Emergency Services, including aiding with FEMA or Red Cross applications! We are here for you!
Deep Dive Sources:
- Emergency Preparedness Workbook for People with Disabilities
- SCEMD, Family Emergency Kit
- Red Cross, Survival Kit Supplies
- CDC Emergency Prep
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