Activity Packet - Texas Windstorm Insurance Association

Dear Educator,
Thank you for opening the 2015 “Hurricanes: Be Aware and Prepare Teacher Activity Packet!”
This is our 22nd year working with teachers and other educators in the Texas Gulf Coast area to
engage students and their families about how being prepared in advance can save lives.
We are pleased to present this information in a way we hope is both useful to you in the
classroom, and interesting and informative to your students. The information and activities
are targeted to 3rd and 4th grade students and, where possible, we have included references
to pertinent areas of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards. Potential
relevant classroom subjects include English language arts and reading, science, social studies,
and technology applications. We’ve also included two Spanish language pages this year.
Each high quality, reproducible page is designed to either be used as part of the whole
packet or as a standalone lesson. And this year we have two pages specifically for parents,
to help them prevent loss of life and property during an emergency. Our sincere hope is that
kids will engage with this potentially lifesaving information, take it back home and help
it cascade into their communities.
In addition to lessons and activities, we've sent along an overhead map transparency to be used
in conjunction with the Hurricane Hunters page in the packet. Kids can follow along with you,
plotting latitude and longitude to track the paths of three hurricanes from years past.
Also this year, we're including a fun, hands-on "Make a Hurricane Hunter" airplane for kids
to make. This goes along with our friendly Hurricane Hunter character who appears throughout
the packet. Hurricane Hunters fly into hurricanes to learn more about them. They are brave and
curious and seek to demystify what are often very scary storms. They also educate and inform in
order to help save lives. We hope kids will see this character as an example for them to follow, as
our themes are "Be aware and prepare!" and "Don't be scared - be prepared!"
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) was established in 1971 by the Texas
Legislature to provide wind and hail coverage to applicants unable to obtain insurance in the
private market. TWIA’s primary purpose is to provide an adequate market for windstorm and hail
insurance in the 14 Texas seacoast counties, plus Harris County east of highway 146. TWIA is a
residual insurer of last resort and as such is not a direct competitor in the private market.
On the back of this page we've included ways for you to tell us how we're doing. Please help us
continue to make this packet useful to you and your community by sharing your feedback.
We truly hope you find these materials purposeful and helpful, and we encourage you to explore
the subject of hurricane awareness and preparedness individually, and as a community. This
packet is provided as a public service and is for informational, and educational purposes only.
TWIA has provided it to raise awareness about hurricanes and to help you and your students
prepare to act if a hurricane is imminent in your area. TWIA makes no warrantees or guarantees
regarding the information or advice contained in this packet. No single document can provide
the best advice for all situations, and information in this packet is not intended to replace, nor
should it be used to replace, guidance from your local government, and/or emergency response
system.
Sincerely yours,
Texas Windstorm Insurance Association
Name our Hurricane Hunter!
This year we’re introducing our TWIA Hurricane Awareness spokeshero - the
Hurricane Hunter! Hurricane Hunters fly into hurricanes to learn more about
them. They are brave and curious and seek to demystify what are often very
scary storms. They also educate and inform in order to help save lives. Our
weather hero’s mottos are “Be aware and prepare!” and “Don’t be scared - be
prepared!”
But our spokeshero needs a name! Can your students help us pick one?
Have your classroom brainstorm and select one name to submit to us at
[email protected]. We will choose the winner on May 1, 2015. The
winning entry will receive a real model of our Hurricane Hunter spokeshero,
with its new name emblazoned on the side!
HOW ARE WE DOING?
At TWIA, we’re always searching for the best ways to engage and inform about
hurricane preparedness. And we want this packet to be as useful to you and your
students as possible. We want to hear from you!
Please send your feedback to [email protected].
Some feedback might include:
• Are there other schools and/or 3rd or 4th grade teachers who didn’t receive this
packet and should?
• What would be beneficial for us to include next year?
• Would more Spanish language/ESL lessons be helpful?
Thank you so much for your time!
HOW A HURRICANE FORMS
1.
TEKS Grade 4 §110.15. English Language Arts and Reading (b)
The hurricanes we see here in Texas get their start in the warm water and
windy conditions off the western coast of Africa. The wind blows over the ocean,
evaporating the water and turning it into vapor. The vapor then rises, cools and
condenses into water droplets which form clouds. The cloud columns build higher
and thunderstorms develop. A tropical disturbance is born.
2. Air at the top of the disturbance warms again, creating high pressure that pushes
wind out and down to the surface. This causes low pressure at the surface, and the
air rises again and creates more thunderstorm clouds. The air at the top cools and
dries off, and then sinks down the center, like water going down a drain. Winds
become more intense and begin to rotate in a circular motion. When they reach 25
mph, the disturbance becomes a tropical depression.
3.
If the warm water of the ocean continues to feed the depression and wind speeds
increase to 39 mph, the depression becomes a tropical storm. A distinctive eye in
the center begins to form. It also gets a name from the World Meteorological
Organization’s annual list of names for tropical storms.
4. If the storm develops winds of at least 74 mph, it officially becomes a tropical
cyclone, or hurricane. It can gain strength if it stays over warm water. But if it
moves over land, it loses its energy source, and breaks apart.
HURRICANE ANATOMY:
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE PARTS OF A HURRICANE?
Moist Air
Warm Ocean
Eye: the area at the center of a hurricane around which strong winds rotate, but which
itself is relatively calm.
Eyewall: the area on the outside of the eye that produces the highest winds and most
intense rainfall.
Spiral rainbands: arm-like rings of thunderstorms that surround a hurricane, giving it a
distinctive appearance.
TEKS Grade 4 §110.15. English Language Arts and Reading (b)
CHILDREN OF THE STORM
Have you heard of the two children who can change
the weather? El Niño and La Niña!
El Niño and La Niña events are periods of unusually
high or low surface temperatures that happen in
the central and eastern Pacific Ocean - the area off
the western coasts of Ecuador and Peru in South
America. Scientists believe El Niño and La Niña
events are caused by global warming.
El Niño means “Little Boy” or “Christ Child” in
Spanish, and gets its name because it often occurs
around Christmastime. El Niño is a warming of the
surface temperature in the Pacific. In an El Niño
pattern, there are typically fewer hurricanes in the
Atlantic Ocean because it causes stronger trade
winds and greater stability in the atmosphere.
pacific ocean
Atlantic ocean
More Hurricanes
less Hurricanes
Warm, Wet
El Niño Effect
pacific ocean
Atlantic ocean
Less Hurricanes
more Hurricanes
cool, dry
La Niña means “Little Girl” in Spanish. La Niña
causes a cooling of the surface temperature in the
La Niña Effect
Pacific and shows up only about half as much as El
Niño. During a La Niña year, more hurricanes are likely in the Atlantic due to the weaker
trade winds and instability in the atmosphere.
Both events affect weather in the U.S. and around the world. In addition to affecting
hurricane frequency, these hotter and cooler weather patterns can cause extreme
weather conditions like floods and droughts.
ACTIVITY: FILL IN THE BLANKS
After you read the information above, fill in the blanks below with the correct answers.
1. Two weather events that can affect hurricanes are ______ and _______.
2. La Niña is Spanish for _______ ________.
3. During an El Niño year, ocean water in the Pacific is ________ than normal.
4. Scientists believe _______ __________ is responsible for causing El Niño and La
Niña events.
5. During a La Niña year, there are _________ hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean.
6. El Niño and La Niña weather events can cause __________ and __________ in the
United States and around the world.
TEKS Grade 3, §112.14. Science (b) (3)
THE CALM AFTER (AND BEFORE) THE STORM
The eye of a hurricane sits inside the eyewall, as high winds and rain move around it in a
circular motion.
The average eye is 20-40 miles in diameter. However, hurricane eyes can be as small as
2 miles in diameter or as large as 200 miles!
Often bringing calm winds and clear skies, the eye can make you think the storm is
over. But don’t be fooled! There is more storm to come. Some of the strongest winds and
heaviest rain can be found in the eyewall - the area that surrounds the eye. After the eye
has passed, the winds will blow in the opposite direction from before.
POWER SURGE
A storm surge is the rising of water that comes with low pressure weather systems
like hurricanes and is caused by heavy winds pushing ocean water to shore. During a
hurricane, the sea can rise 15 feet or more - that’s the average height of a one-story home!
How much flooding occurs in an area depends on the storm tide: a combination of storm
surge and the timing of the tide, how close the land is to sea level, and the size of the
waves being generated by the hurricane.
The greatest number of casualties during a hurricane comes from the storm surge.
This is why it’s so important to evacuate if authorities tell you to do so.
ACTIVITY: HURRICANE IN A BOWL
Determine which points in a hurricane are the strongest, and which are the weakest!
Materials needed:
• 2-liter bowl
• A large spoon
• Paper clip
• 12-inches of string
• Water
Fill the bowl with water, leaving 2-3 inches at the top. Attach the paper clip to the end
of the string. Using the spoon, stir the water in a circular motion. While the water is
spinning, dip the paper clip into the water at the edge of the bowl, in the center of the
bowl, and in the area just outside the center. Re-stir the water between trials.
Observe: At which point is the paper clip spinning fastest? At which point is the paper clip
spinning slowest?
Explanation: The most powerful part of tropical cyclones, or hurricanes, is the eyewall,
where winds are the strongest.
Hurricane in a bowl exercise taken from: http://kidsahead.com/external/activity/221
TEKS Grade 3 §126.7. Technology Applications, (b) (3)
SURFING FOR HURRICANE FACTS
When it comes to being safe, the more you know, the better! There are resources on
the Internet that can teach you about hurricanes and how you can help your family be
ready.
Visit this website: www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts/hurricanes and then answer
the questions below.
What does evacuation mean?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
During which months are hurricanes most common in Texas?
______________________________________________________________
While hurricanes can affect any state with a coastline, which states are most often
affected by hurricanes?
______________________________________________________________
Name three things you can do before a hurricane hits to help to be prepared:
1. _ ___________________________________________________________
2. _ ___________________________________________________________
3. _ ___________________________________________________________
List three things you can do during a hurricane to help to stay safe:
1. _ ___________________________________________________________
2. _ ___________________________________________________________
3. _ ___________________________________________________________
Write three things you SHOULD NOT do after a hurricane:
1. _ ___________________________________________________________
2. _ ___________________________________________________________
3. _ ___________________________________________________________
WHAT’S MY NAME? TROPICAL CYCLONES
§113.15. Social Studies, Grade 4 (b) (7) (C)
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly-rotating storm system with a low-pressure center, strong winds,
and thunderstorms that spiral out, and produce heavy rains. But around the world these storms
are known by different names. Those that develop in the Atlantic and northeast Pacific Oceans
(the ones we sometimes see in Texas) are called hurricanes. But in Asia they are known as
typhoons, and in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans they are called cyclones.
A long time ago, hurricanes were named randomly. Now there are six lists with 21 names
each, and one is used every year. For example, the list used in 2010 will be used again in 2016.
If a named storm does a lot of damage, that name is removed from the list and replaced with a
new one that begins with the same letter. For instance, Katrina was removed from the list after
that storm hit the U.S. coast in 2005.
We've hidden some of the 2015 hurricane names in the word search below. Can you find them all?
Be sure to look in every direction: forward, backward, and diagonal!
Hurricane Hunter says good luck!
ANA
BILL
DANNY
ERIKA
FRED
HENRI
IDA
JOAQUIN
KATE
LARRY
MINDY
NICHOLAS
ODETTE
ROSE
SAM
VICTOR
WANDA
S N E FD ZWB YWB H V Z V
A A R D Q X Q I U G S I N H Q F EN I CHO L A S C D I NC
D A M S Z K D L Z T J R R K X F N X O S W E U O H M I N D Y PAA J G Y T R I O G I E F U
J W N K R Y T Y N N A D H C B B O A R I U E V R E Q P I C D O L A N D R E T A K J C J J E P L G Q D E E N H R A B F A F P H A A U A S D I D K M X S E R I T NP I Y O I S AM Y X Q
C T D M L J N L R Y A B K J K I L Z GQ F Z W J Q E F W R L
E X E H W H U M N T J E I A Q HURRICANE
CROSSWORD
PUZZLE
Beware
and
Prepare
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
ACROSS
2. The calm center of a hurricane
12
5. Don’t be scared; be _________
7. Rising water and flooding causes a storm ________
8. Hurricanes in Asia
10. Plane that tracks hurricanes
11. When a depression becomes a storm it gets a _______
12. The start of hurricane season in the U.S.
DOWN
1. Hurricanes in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans
3. A _________ has winds between 25 and 38 MPH
4. El Niño and La Niña can cause _________ around the world
6. The first step in hurricane formation is called a tropical _________
9. The end of hurricane season in the U.S.
On average, six hurricanes will form in the Atlantic each year. Of those, some may
reach the Texas Gulf Coast area. If a hurricane comes ashore, there can be storm surge
flooding, wind damage, property destruction, and dangerous debris left over.
But as all Hurricane Hunters know, the best way to be safe is to be prepared! Talk with
your parents about creating a Family Communication Plan so everyone knows where to
go and how to reach others. Fill out these cards and give one to each member of your
family to make sure they know who to call and where to meet in case of an emergency:
FOLD HERE
FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION
EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME:_ _____________________________
____________________________________________________
TELEPHONE:_ __________________________________________
____________________________________________________
OUT-OF-TOWN CONTACT NAME:_ ___________________________
____________________________________________________
TELEPHONE:_ __________________________________________
____________________________________________________
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING PLACE:___________________________
____________________________________________________
TELEPHONE:_ __________________________________________
____________________________________________________
OTHER IMPORTANT NUMBERS:______________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
MAKE A LIST, CHECK IT TWICE
Before a hurricane strikes, take these steps to be ready to evacuate if necessary:
1. Build an evacuation kit. Put these and other items in a waterproof container:
• Non-perishable food (like dried fruit or peanut butter), can opener
• First aid kit
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, toilet paper
• Paper plates, plastic cups and utensils, paper towels
• Water for people and pets
• Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Whistle to signal for help
2. Create a Family Communications Plan. Give everyone a copy to keep in their wallets
or backpacks.
3. Prepare your house to prevent damage:
• Turn off gas and electricity
• Board-up windows
• Bring outside furniture inside
TAKING CARE OF OUR FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS
Pets are part of our families and should never be left behind in a
disaster. They rely on their human friends to take care of them!
If you plan ahead, you can make sure they are just as safe as the
rest of your family.
Just like you, your pets will need some basics away from home:
food, clean water, and a safe, comfortable place to rest. Make sure
your pet is wearing a collar with your phone number on it, or that
they have been micro-chipped, so you can find them if they get lost.
Use the checklist below to start building your pet’s hurricane kit.
PET
SAFETY
Always remember to be kind! Your furry friends may be nervous,
and a pat on the head or reassuring voice could go a long way.
BUILD YOUR OWN PET HURRICANE KIT (use a waterproof container):
• Animal first-aid kit
• A week’s worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food (be sure it’s still fresh)
• Disposable litter trays like aluminum roasting pans and litter or paper towels
for cats
• Dishes for food and water
• Collar or harness and leash
• A week’s supply of any medicine your pet requires
• A week’s worth of bottled water
• A crate or carrier for each pet (large
enough for them to turn around in)
• Blanket
• Sturdy toys to help alleviate stress
Surge
Stormy
Some information on this page taken from: http://www.aspca.
org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness
TEKS Grade 3 §110.14. English Language Arts and Reading, (b) (20)
BE A HURRICANE HELPER!
Imagine you live next door to Mrs. Wallace. She’s a nice, older lady who lives in a house with
her dog, Rex, and her cat, Mitsy. You’ve been over to Mrs. Wallace’s house many times before
and she bakes your favorite cookies.
You tell her you learned all about hurricane preparedness in school and she says she wouldn’t
know what to do if a hurricane was coming. She asks you to help her get ready.
What would you tell Mrs. Wallace she needs to do? What steps would you tell her to take to get
ready for hurricane season? Write your story below.
TEKS Grade 3 §113.14. Social Studies (b) (5)
OUR HURRICANE HUNTER SPOKESHERO
REPORTING FOR DUTY!
Whenever a hurricane or typhoon threatens the United States
or Caribbean islands, weather heroes called Hurricane Hunters
take to the skies! Flying directly into and through the storm,
their planes carry special equipment that can measure wind
speed and barometric pressure. The information they gather
helps meteorologists predict the strength and the path of these
storms, which can save lives.
YOU CAN BE A HURRICANE HUNTER!
Plot the courses of these three hurricanes from the last five years: Arthur, Gonzalo, and Rita.
Remember: always read latitude first, then longitude!
34°
33°
N
32°
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
W
New Orleans
Houston
E
S
Galveston
Atlantic Ocean
Corpus Christi
31°
30°
29°
28°
27°
Brownsville
Miami
Gulf of Mexico
26°
BAHAMAS
25°
24°
Havana
23°
22°
CUBA
MEXICO
21°
HAITI
Port-Au-Prince
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC
San Juan
Mexico City
JAMAICA
Santo Domingo
Kingston
PUERTO RICO
20°
19°
18°
17°
16°
15°
14°
13°
99° 98° 97° 96° 95° 94° 93° 92° 91° 90° 89° 88° 87° 86° 85° 84° 83° 82° 81° 80° 79° 78° 77° 76° 75° 74° 73° 72° 71° 70° 69° 68° 67° 66° 65° 64° 63° 62°
Longitude
Arthur
Gonzalo
Rita
32° Latitude, 78° Longitude
17° Latitude, 62° Longitude
21° Latitude, 70° Longitude
29° Latitude, 77° Longitude
18° Latitude, 63° Longitude
22° Latitude, 75° Longitude
28° Latitude, 78° Longitude
20° Latitude, 65° Longitude
23° Latitude, 81° Longitude
27° Latitude, 79° Longitude
22° Latitude, 67° Longitude
27° Latitude, 91° Longitude
30° Latitude, 79° Longitude
25° Latitude, 68° Longitude
32° Latitude, 94° Longitude
34° Latitude, 76° Longitude
27° Latitude, 67° Longitude
34° Latitude, 92° Longitude
Latitude
Austin
Beaumont
¿CÓMO SE FORMA UN HURACÁN?
1.
Los huracanes que vemos aquí en Texas tienen su inicio en el agua tibia y condiciones
de viento en la costa occidental de África. Cuando el viento sopla sobre el océano, el
agua se evapora y se convierte en vapor. El vapor se eleva, se enfría y se condensa en
gotas de agua que forman las nubes. Las columnas de nubes se acumulan más altas y
tormentas eléctricas se desarrollan. Asi nace una disturba tropical.
2. Aire en la parte superior de la disturba se calienta de nuevo, creando alta presión
que empuja el viento fuera y hacia abajo a la superficie. Esto causa baja presión en
la superficie, y el aire se levanta de nuevo y crea más nubes de tormenta. El aire en
la parte superior se enfría y se seca, y luego se hunde en el centro, como el agua se
va por el desagüe. Los vientos se vuelven más intensos y comienzan a girar en un
movimiento circular. Cuando llegan a 25 mph, la disturba se convierte en una
depresión tropical.
3.
Si el agua caliente del océano sigue alimentando las velocidades de la depresión el
viento aumenta a 39 mph, la depresión se convierte en una tormenta tropical. Un
ojo distintivo en el centro comienza a formarse. También se le da un nombre de la
lista anual de la Organización Meteorológica Mundial de nombres para las tormentas
tropicales.
4. Si la tormenta desarrolla vientos de al menos 74 mph, se convierte oficialmente
en un ciclón tropical o huracán. Puede aumentar fuerza si permanece sobre aguas
cálidas . Pero si se mueve sobre la tierra, pierde su fuente de energía y se deshace.
ANATOMÍA DE UN HURACÁN:
¿PUEDES IDENTIFICAR LAS PARTES DE UN HURACÁN?
aire húmedo
océano cálido
Ojo: la zona en el centro de un huracán en torno al cual giran los vientos fuertes, pero que
en sí es relativamente tranquila.
La pared del ojo: la zona en el exterior del ojo que produce los vientos más fuertes y las
lluvias más intensas.
Bandas de lluvia espirales: Anillos como brazos de tormentas eléctricas que rodean un
huracán, lo que le da un aspecto distintivo.
LOS HIJOS DE LA TORMENTA
¿Has oído hablar de los dos niños que pueden
cambiar el clima? El Niño y La Niña!
Los eventos de El Niño y La Niña son los períodos
extraordinarios de altas o bajas de superficie que
suceden en el Océano Pacífico central y oriental - la
zona frente a las costas occidentales de Ecuador y
Perú en Sur América. Los científicos creen que el
fenómeno de El Niño y La Niña son causados por el
calentamiento global.
El Niño o " Niño Jesús " significa “Little Boy” en
Ingles y recibe su nombre debido a que a menudo
se produce alrededor de la Navidad . El Niño es un
calentamiento de la temperatura de la superficie
en el Pacífico. Durante un patrón de El Niño,
normalmente hay un menor número de huracanes
en el Océano Atlántico , ya que causa vientos alisios
más fuertes y una mayor estabilidad en la atmósfera.
Oceano Pacifico
Mas huracanes
oceano atlantico
menos huracanes
cálid0, húmedo
Efecto El Niño
Oceano Pacifico
menos huracanes
oceano atlantico
Mas huracanes
Fresco, seco
Efecta La Niña
La Niña significa “Little Girl” en Ingles. La Niña
provoca un enfriamiento de la temperatura de la
superficie en el Pacífico y se muestra sólo la mitad tanto como El Niño. Durante un
año de La Niña, más huracanes son probables que en el Atlántico debido a los vientos
alisios más débiles y la inestabilidad en la atmósfera que causa.
Ambos eventos afectan el clima en los EE.UU. y en todo el mundo. Además de
afectar a la frecuencia de huracanes, estos patrones climáticos más calientes y más
fríos pueden causar condiciones climáticas extremas, como inundaciones y sequías.
ACTIVIDAD: LLENE LOS ESPACIOS EN BLANCO
Después de leer la información anterior, llene los espacios en blanco con las
respuestas correctas.
1. Dos fenómenos meteorológicos que pueden afectar a los huracanes son ______ y
_______ .
2. En Inglés , La Nina significa ________ _________.
3. Durante un año de El Niño, la temperatura de el agua en el Oceano Pacífico es mas
________ de lo normal.
4. Los científicos creen que _______ __________ es responsable de causar los
fenómenos de El Niño y La Niña.
5. Durante un año de La Niña, hay _________ huracanes en el Océano Atlántico.
6. Los fenómenos meteorológicos llamados El Niño y La Niña pueden causar
__________ y __________ en los Estados Unidos y alrededor del mundo.
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PREPARE AT HOME
COASTAL BUILDING CODES
Homes, schools and other structures built in coastal areas where hurricanes are likely to
hit should be built according to coastal building codes. These are rules enacted by state
and local governments and are designed to save lives and reduce property damage.
One example of how to build a structure according to these specialized codes is to use
hurricane clips and anchor bolts. Hurricane clips (also known as wind clips or hurricane
ties) keep the top of a building attached to its base. Anchor bolts are used to attach
structures to concrete, like walls to their foundations.
Following coastal building codes can help keep people safe and reduce the damage caused by
hurricanes and other natural disasters. Contact your local city officials for more information.
REDUCING PROPERTY DAMAGE BEFORE A STORM
A little preparation can go a long way in the event of a hurricane or other windstorm.
You can take these steps now to prevent damage to your home and even save lives.
• Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection
for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” exterior grade or marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. NOTE: Tape does not prevent windows from
breaking.
• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure.
This will reduce roof damage.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind
resistant.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and
expensive structural damage.
• Bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is
not tied down.
Suggestions from http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
COVER YOURSELF
Be sure you have BOTH flood and windstorm insurance coverage. Did you know that flood
insurance does not cover wind damage, and that windstorm insurance does not cover flood/
storm surge damage?
Review your plan. If changes to your insurance coverage are needed, plan ahead and don’t
wait until the last minute. Most insurance companies cannot offer a windstorm policy when a
storm appears in the Gulf of Mexico. Flood coverage requires a 30-day waiting period before it
becomes effective after you purchase it.
BUILD YOUR OWN DISASTER KIT
• 3-day supply of non-perishable food (dried
fruit, canned tuna fish, peanut butter, etc.)
• Can opener
• Paper plates, plastic cups and utensils, paper
towels
• Water – at least a gallon per person, per day
for drinking and hygiene
• First aid kit
• Prescription medication and glasses
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and other
personal items
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• Fire extinguisher
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
and extra batteries
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• Cell phone with charger, extra battery and
solar charger
• Local maps
• Cash or traveler’s checks
• Pet supplies, pet food and extra water for
your pet
A full list can be found at: http://www.ready.gov/document/family-supply-list
PET SAFETY
Pets should never be left behind during a disaster evacuation. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, FEMA
passed the 2006 PETS Act, which requires state and local emergency preparedness operational plans take
into account the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals before, during and after a
disaster.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends keeping an “EvacPack” and supplies handy for your pets. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is. This kit
should be clearly labeled and easy to carry. Items to consider keeping in or near your pack include:
• Pet first-aid kit and guide book (ask your vet what to
include, or visit the ASPCA Store to buy one online)
• 3-7 days’ worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food (be
sure to rotate every two months)
• Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are
perfect)
• Litter or paper toweling
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
• Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
• Pet feeding dishes
• Extra collar or harness as well as an extra leash
• Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof
container with a two-week supply of any medicine
your pet requires (Remember, food and medications
need to be rotated out of your emergency kit—
otherwise they may go bad or become useless.)
• Bottled water, at least 7 days’ worth for each person
and pet (store in a cool, dry place and replace every
two months)
• A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one
for each pet
• Flashlight
• Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
• Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated
and need to make “Lost” posters)
• Especially for cats: Pillowcase or EvackSack, toys,
scoopable litter
• Especially for dogs: Extra leash, toys and chew toys,
a week’s worth of cage liner.
Information on this page taken from: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness
PREPARE AND SURVIVE
Here are some additional things you can do ahead of time to ensure you and your family will be okay,
whether you evacuate or shelter in place. Let your kids help and they’ll feel like part of the team!
• Fill your car with gas
• Fill plastic bags with water and place them in
the freezer
• Get extra cash out of the bank
• Fill prescriptions
• Build a large hurricane kit for home and a
smaller, portable one in case you must evacuate
• Check on your elderly or infirm neighbors

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