NEW ORLEANS
– The recent severe
storms and tornadoes
that have occurred
regionally should
serve as a reminder
to Louisiana
residents that each
household needs to
have a disaster
preparedness plan,
said officials at
the Governor’s
Office of Homeland
Security and
Emergency
Preparedness (GOHSEP)
and the U.S.
Department of
Homeland Security’s
Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA).
GOHSEP and FEMA urge
everyone to have
disaster supplies
ready, including:
·
Flashlights and
extra batteries;
·
Sturdy shoes;
·
Cash and credit
cards;
·
Portable,
battery-operated
radio and extra
batteries;
·
Emergency food,
water and
non-electric can
opener; and
·
First-aid kit and
manual, essential
medicines.
When a tornado
approaches, there is
just a short amount
of time to make
life-or-death
decisions. Planning
and quick response
are keys to
survival.
Ask an out-of-state
relative or friend
to serve as the
“family contact.”
After a disaster,
it’s often easier to
call long distance.
Make sure everyone
in the family knows
the name, address
and phone number of
the contact person.
A tornado
watch
is issued by the
National Weather
Service when
tornadoes are
predicted in your
area. Remain alert
for approaching
storms. This is the
ideal time to remind
family members where
the safest places
within your home are
located, and listen
to the radio or
television for
further
developments.
A tornado
warning
is issued when a
tornado has been
sighted or indicated
by weather radar.
When a tornado
warning is issued,
take shelter
immediately in a
building with a
strong foundation;
move to an interior
room such as a
bathroom or hallway
on the lowest floor,
and get under a
sturdy piece of
furniture. Stay away
from windows. If
shelter is not
available, lie in a
ditch or low-lying
area a safe distance
away from the unit.
Mobile homes and
travel trailers,
even if tied down,
offer little
protection from
tornadoes and should
be abandoned. These
homes can overturn
quite easily,
therefore these
residents should
plan to seek shelter
in nearby buildings.
