Ready not ready? Hurricane Preparedness Checklist for Virginia | Local news

• Would you be ready if you had to spend several days without electricity?
• Do you have what you need at home if fallen trees or floodwater make it difficult to get around the city?
• Are there people in your life who would need extra help to prepare?

It is not necessarily directly impacted by hurricane force winds to knock down trees or cause flooding in inland areas. The Emergency Management Department of Virginia suggests doing these things before a tropical storm or hurricane:

• Look for light items around the yard, such as garden furniture, trash cans and other things you might want to secure or bring inside.
• If there is time, cut or remove damaged tree branches that could fall on the house.
• Clear downspouts, drains and gutters blocked by leaves or debris.
• If you have a generator, test it and make sure it works.
• Make sure you do not have gas or money in case of a prolonged or widespread power outage.

VDEM breaks down disaster preparedness in three stages: get a kit, make a plan, stay informed. Here are some highlights of what VDEM advises; There may be other things to consider depending on your situation.

Food and water for at least three days: Store it with non-perishable food items, and a gallon of water per person per day is recommended.

Hygiene: Toilet paper, plastic garbage bags, soap, disinfectant wipes, etc.

Health: First aid supplies, replacement eyeglasses, prescriptions and additional medications, equipment or devices needed.

Radio: especially the one that works with batteries or a crank and receives the NOAA weather radio.

You may already have many of these things in your home, but a quiet weekend might be a good time to put them together in a plastic bin. Check the kit from time to time to see what needs to be added or replaced. Take the habit of adding an item or two every time you visit the store, instead of waiting until the last minute.

Collect numbers: Do not rely entirely on a smartphone to find what you need. Write contact information for workplaces, schools, doctors, insurance and other important numbers, and keep them in your kit.

Discover how to get in touch: Designate meeting places and a point of contact outside the city for the family.

Make copies: Create backups of your important documents or files and store them in a safe and secure place.

Check on your loved ones: If a member of your family lives in a care facility, especially in a coastal area, contact the administrators to find out their plan. If they live alone, make sure someone from the area can see them before and after the storm. If you or someone you know needs extra help because of a visual impairment or reduced mobility, 2-1-1's makeup can put you in touch with operators can provide details of community resources.

Know your source: There are many weather apps, but some may not be very useful for predicting unusual situations. The National Meteorological Service and the local media are likely to have the most reliable and detailed information in rapidly changing situations.

Have a backup: Have more than one way to get weather warnings and news, especially if the power is off or if the cellular network is overloaded. It is there that a good weather / AM / FM battery powered radio is a good thing to have. You can also sign up to receive official text alerts from your local emergency officers.

For local alerts, visit www.vaemergency.gov and scroll to the lower right area of ​​the page. Look for a drop-down menu under "Sign up for local alerts."