SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - At the peak of the hurricane season and with several weather events in the forecast, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials encourage Puerto Rico residents to get their families and property ready, today. Taking timely preparedness measures enhances the response and recovery processes from these events and any other incident.
“We want to remind everyone in our communities, that taking all necessary steps and having emergency plans in place is the right thing to do at this time," said Orlando Olivera, FEMA's Caribbean Area Office Coordinator in Puerto Rico. “Connect with your community, discuss with your neighbors how you can help each other before and after a disaster. Sharing information and joining efforts can ease the recovery process. It is time to be ready."
With a few steps, get your family and business ready for the hurricane season.
* Know Your Risk: To search for general information about risks in your area, visit www.ready.gov.
* Get Prepared: Make sure you have family evacuation and communications plans, update your emergency supply kit, and evaluate your flood insurance needs.
‒ Know your zone. Make yourself familiar with your community’s evacuation zones, so you’ll know exactly where to go. Remember: if a hurricane threatens your community and local officials say it's time to evacuate, don't hesitate -- go early.
‒ Complete a family communication plan. Plan how you will assemble your family and loved ones and anticipate where you will go for different situations. Agree on the ways to contact one another in an emergency, identify meeting locations, and make a Family Emergency Communication Plan.
‒ Download the FEMA app. It includes disaster resources, weather alerts, safety tips, The app also provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and recovery centers, tips on how to survive disasters, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service.
* Stay Informed: Use trusted sources of information when getting ready. Sign up for alerts from your local emergency management office so notifications, including evacuation orders, go directly to your phone. Monitor local news for alerts and warnings in your area and follow directions of local officials. Make sure you have a battery-operated or hand-crank radio available should the power go out.
Additional information is available at www.ready.gov/hurricanes and www.fema.gov which offer tools and resources to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency events.
Source: Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
