Hurricane Ready in Maine

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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	July, 2009	Return to newsletter index

Hurricane ready in Maine

Lately, there has been much discussion about disasters in Maine with respect to how prepared emergency service providers are to respond to the needs of its citizens during and after a disaster. While hurricanes in Maine are relatively rare, the last one to brush Maine was Hurricane Gloria that arrived as a category 1 storm on Friday, September 27th, 1985 with maximum winds of 86 mph. Three injuries were attributed to this storm. While many may think that Mainers are resilient people when it comes to disasters, we only need to consider that six years later Hurricane Bob (downgraded to a tropical storm when it came to Maine) with maximum winds of 61 mph was responsible for 2 injuries and 3 deaths. Maybe we don't hunker down as much as we ought to when major storms strike the coast of Maine.

It's difficult to spend time to get ready for storms that rarely affect Maine, but it's always a good time to think about strategies to get ready when a major storm is predicted to work its way up the eastern seaboard. Here are ten things that should be given consideration when a major storm is being predicted to affect the area:

Take steps to protect the most valuable papers that you have such as deeds, passports, old family photos, social security cards, birth certificates, motor vehicle titles etc. Whatever papers would be most difficult if not impossible to duplicate.
Think ahead to protect the property that you will leave behind. Take a video of the interior and exterior of your residence, making sure to record a broad picture of the entire residence to be able to make a positive correlation between the pre storm condition and post storm damage.
When preparing to relocate during the storm and staying with relatives is not an option, consider booking a room in a hotel or motel in another town or state where you know you will be safe.
If you are relocating, remember to consider the acceptance of any pets that you may have at the location that you are booking. Not being able to care for your pets will be a major problem for you when you begin to rush to head for cover and time is of the essence. Remember to bring pet food, leashes etc. and anything that will help you manage your pet and minimize the stresses of being away. Even your pets will sense stress and be stressed as well.
Clothes. Keep a bag of clothes for each person in the household in a designated spot in the hall closet. Also include overnight clothes and sleeping gear in the event that you end up in a shelter. Include toiletries for everyone to help maintain personal hygiene.
Additionally, give serious consideration to extra cash as ATM machines may be without power, extra batteries, flash lights, battery operated portable radio, foods that don't require refrigeration, candles with small butane lighter, necessary medications and any supplies for small children such as diapers, baby wipes and baby food.
Items to keep everyone busy such as board games, books for adults & kids, coloring books and crayons, a deck of cards, note pad and writing instruments. Many of these items can be placed in an easy to handle plastic container.
If you're planning to batten down the hatches and ride out the storm at home, store multiple gallons of water for flushing and washing if your water supply is from a well, and enough bottled water for cooking and drinking. Buy enough plywood to cover the windows that will bear the brunt of the storm. Since plywood is a hot commodity days before a storm, determine exactly what you will need and purchase and store these supplies a couple of weeks before the storm. If not available, tape your windows in crisscross fashion to improve their stability.
As the storm worsens, stay downwind in your home, meaning if the living room is receiving the brunt of the storm, move to the opposite side of the home.
Finally, stay inside. However tempting it may be to videotape or take pictures of the storm, be sure to do so from indoors where it's safe and dry. Emergency preparedness is a critical element for successfully weathering any storm.