TDI Offers Hurricane Evacuation Tips

• Plan your escape route early. Check with Red Cross or other authorities for location of the nearest shelter. Monitor storm reports. Consider crowded roadways and possible flooding in deciding your route and departure time.
• Know where all family members are. Make arrangements for pets if you plan to evacuate to a shelter. Pets are not allowed in shelters.
• Prepare for being away from home. Fill your gasoline tank as soon as a hurricane watch is posted. Gather blankets, sleeping bags, flashlights, candles or lamps, matches, a portable radio, fresh batteries, first aid kit, special dietary and other non-perishable foods, containers of drinking water, prescription medicines, eye glasses, hearing aids, infant needs and lightweight folding chairs.
• Consider insurance claims. Know the name of your agent and company. Also, unless they are stored in a safe place, take insurance policies, an inventory of possessions -- including receipts and photos or videos -- and other valuable papers with you when you evacuate. This speeds up claims processing.
• Protect your property. If you have time to act:
• Buy emergency repair items - masking tape, lumber, plastic sheeting, sandbags and sand. Keep all receipts for insurance or tax purposes.
• Protect large windows with storm shutters or plywood panels; use tape on small windows.
• Brace garage doors, move loose items indoors and secure television antennas.
• Remove loose and dead branches from trees and shrubbery.
• Move boats and trailers to garages or warehouses or tie down next to house.
• Check and strengthen mooring lines of boats still in water.
• Drain swimming pools at least halfway to reduce chances of flooding.
• Check your tie-downs if you live in a mobile home.
• Lock windows and doors and turn off all utilities if you evacuate.

For more information contact: PIO@tdi.state.tx.us