May 19, 2009
Hurricane season began June 1. Are you ready?
Does your family have a plan in the event you need to leave your home? Have you prepared a GO Bag of the essential items you would need for your family to sustain for couple of days? If your answer is “no” to any of these questions, it is time to learn more about emergency preparedness and the services available to you to help in your efforts.
"Now is the time to prepare," said County Executive Andy Spano.
Produced inhouse by Westchester County’s Communications Office, our Preparing for Hurricanes video features an interview with Anthony W. Sutton, commissioner of the County’s Department of Emergency Services, in which he discussed the devasting affects of hurricanes and tropical storms, and focuses on the three things critical to preparing for all emergencies:
- Packing a bag with emergency supplies
- Developing a disaster plan for your family
- Promptly following directions that you receive from public officials (which you may receive from officials or via the media).
We recommend, too, that you use our new online tool – the hurricane evacuation zone finder -- that shows coastal areas that may need to be evacuated if a major storm comes our way. Enter your address and community to find out if you are in an evacuation area.. Learn more about how to deal with severe weather such as protecting yourself in an emergency, preparing a “go bag,” dealing with a power outage, and other critical tips to prepare for hurricanes in our Keeping Safe section.
All residents should prepare a disaster supply kit, containing the items they need to survive. The kit should include bottled water, canned food, flashlights, radios, batteries and medication. They should also contain cash, credit cards and any important documents in waterproof containers.
In addition to storing supplies, every family should develop a disaster plan that outlines what parents and children need to do in an emergency. The plan should include emergency contacts and the names of friends or family where they can stay if you need to evacuate. Every family member should know who to call and where to go before a hurricane strikes.
But most important, residents must listen to and follow instructions from local officials before leaving their homes. If a hurricane is forecast, the county will establish ongoing communications with local officials. Together, they will determine what protective actions residents should take.
“When a hurricane is forecast, you may not be able to find all the supplies you need in local stores,” said Sutton. “Now is the time to plan ahead and prepare your go bags and emergency kits.”
A disaster supply kit, should containing the items they need to survive, including bottled water, canned food, flashlights, radios, batteries and medication. They should also contain cash, credit cards and any important documents in waterproof containers.
Disaster Plan
A disaster plan should outline what parents and children need to do in an emergency. The plan should include emergency contacts and the names of friends or family where they can stay if you need to evacuate. Every family member should know who to call and where to go before a hurricane strikes.
Following Directions
Most important, residents must listen to and follow instructions from local officials before leaving their homes. If a hurricane is forecast, the county will establish ongoing communications with local officials. Together, they will determine what protective actions residents should take.
“If you are not told to leave your home because you live outside an evacuation zone and you leave anyway, you will only add to the traffic on our roadways and delay evacuation of those that need to leave,” said Sutton. “It is critical that everyone listen to instructions from officials. It is our mission to be sure that all residents in the county can be safe during a storm.”
For more information on preparing for hurricanes, visit
Septic Reimbursement 
