Tips for Preparing for Hurricane Earl
Although the current forecast continues to show Hurricane Earl as tracking over 200 miles off the Virginia coast, with minimal impact to the Hampton Roads area, the City of Hampton and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) continue to urge residents to prepare for the storm.
Residents of Hampton may experience tropical force wind gusts Thursday and Friday and a high tide Friday morning of one to two feet above normal, which could result in minor to moderate flooding. While the storm is predicted to remain off Virginia's coast, there is a chance the storm will move west through the Hampton Roads area, bringing more severe weather conditions. Therefore, it is essential that residents closely monitor the storm and prepare an emergency plan for their family.
Hampton residents are encouraged to assemble an emergency supplies kit with items such as non-perishable food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, radio, and first aid supplies. Families should also review their evacuation and shelter plans, discussing where family members will meet, arranging transportation, designating a family contact, and preparing a plan for pets. Residents are also encouraged to talk to their neighbors about how they can work together during and after the storm.
Most importantly, residents should listen to local instructions regarding evacuation orders, shelter openings, where to find assistance, and weather warnings and watches. Hampton residents can visit www.hampton.gov, call 311 (727-8311 from outside Hampton or from a cell phone), sign up for email updates at www.hampton.gov/eNews, or visit www.facebook.com/HamptonVA for updates.
The City of Hampton continues to actively monitor the storm and evaluate emergency response plans. City staff are participating in conference calls with VDEM throughout the week and providing updates to the public.
For further information on preparing a family emergency plan or assembling a supplies kit, visit www.hampton.gov/eoc or www.ReadyVirginia.gov. VDEM and the Virginia Department of Transportation have also created a series of online videos to help families understand storm surge and how an evacuation would work. The videos are available at www.youtube.com/vaemergency.
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