Preparation of the hurricane season
Pre-alert phase ii (36 to 48 hours before the cyclone)
- Be attentive to weather reports.
- Group all your important papers (Review your emergency kit, plate x).
- Place your animals closer to your home so you do not have to leave your home when the exit ban is in effect.
- Secure your windows to be better protected.
- Make sure a window or door of your house can open on the opposite side from the windy one to escape in case of danger.
- Fill up with fuel if your area is under threat to build up fuel.
Alert phase i (15 to 24 hours before the cyclone)
- If your home is in a high-risk area or if you live near a gully, stream or beach, make arrangements to go to the designated shelters or to a less exposed home to floods.
- Place your animals in the previously identified shelters.
- Secure everything that can be carried away by the wind and that is outside the house: trash, tools, posters, decorative lamps, light bulbs, etc.
- Go down any heavy objects placed high: antennas, signs …, the coconuts hanging on your roof, to prevent them from falling on your house or being blown away by the wind.
- Remove and pack all light items in the house: paintings, frames, clocks books, office equipment, trinkets … hanging on the walls of your house or on shelves to prevent them from falling.
- Place tape on windows and doors, or place pieces of fabric on the inside of these windows and doors to protect against glass breakage.
- Avoid traveling to an area far away from home, especially if you are not sure to return within 15-20 hours.
- Avoid going to sea. If you’re already there, get back to the mainland fast.
- Reassemble the boats and anchor them firmly away from the shore.
- If a woman in the family is about to give birth, take her to the nearest hospital so she can get care if needed.
Alert phase ii (5 to 10 hours before crossing) and during the cyclone
- Avoid leaving your home if your house is solid and located outside a flood zone or sheltered from tidal waves. Outside, you risk great dangers.
- If you feel your home is seriously at risk, quickly go to the nearest shelter.
- Stay inside a house or building until the end of the hurricane.
- If the house shows signs of breakage during the hurricane, shelter under a table or under a lintel or in any other area of the house that would be safer.
- Do not stand behind glass doors and windows. They can break as a result of high winds or projectiles.
- Avoid placing yourself on a balcony so you do not fall.
- Watch for falling objects, if your roof is tiled, to avoid hurting yourself.
- Stay alert, calm and listen to the radio so you know what’s happening with the cyclone.
- Disconnect the power to reduce the risk of fire.
- Avoid lighting naked flames (matches, candles, kerosene lamps …). They can cause fires. Use a lighter or flashlight preferably.
- During the passage of the cyclone, the Frits can stop abruptly. This means that your area is at this moment in the “eye of the storm”. This situation lasts very little time. Stay safe as the winds return in the opposite direction. After a cyclone
- Check the condition of the house (if it does not no risk) and consolidate.
- Clean with chlorinated water and rearrange your house. Discard foods and medicines that have come into contact with water. Dispose of any contaminated or irretrievable material. This will reduce the risk of an epidemic.
- Do not drink untreated water. Do not eat spoiled food. This represents a danger to your health.
- Ventilate the parts extensively to lower the humidity …
- Keep your safety equipment. There is still a risk of injury.
- Do not touch any damaged electrical cables. This will prevent you from electrocution.
- Always wear shoes when moving around, so you do not get hurt.
- Avoid swimming in the rain or swimming pools to prevent injuries. electric shocks from thunder.
- Seek medical care for the victims. You will save lives.
- Report the damage (with photo, video if possible) to the civil protection authorities. You will help the authorities to better meet the needs of your locality.
- Keep listening to the radio to keep you informed.
- Avoid wasting energy.
- Continue to save drinking water. Water may continue to run out.
- Check your food stock to prevent it from spoiling.
- Avoid going to disaster areas unless you are qualified to help.