Mercer County Advises Residents To Be Ready For Hurricane Season

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes is advising county residents to plan and prepare for potential hurricanes and tropical storms during the late summer and fall.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, but the height of hurricane and tropical storm activity in New Jersey is mid-August to late October. When they approach land, tropical storms and hurricanes can be extremely deadly and destructive, even as far inland as Mercer County.

“In Mercer County, we have first-hand experience with how devastating hurricanes and tropical storms can be, so no one should take hurricane season lightly,” Hughes said. “It’s essential that you and your family be ready before a storm strikes, and not put yourselves or others at risk by waiting until the last minute to prepare.”

Hughes suggested taking the following readiness steps in preparation for hurricane season:

• Put together a kit of emergency supplies that includes a three-day supply of canned, non-perishable, ready-to-eat food; a three-day supply of water (a total of 3 gallons per family member); prescription medications; a battery-operated radio and extra batteries; a flashlight and extra batteries; and a first aid kit.
• Make a plan for what you and your family will do during an emergency, including how pets will be cared for. Know how you will evacuate and how to “shelter in place,” which means stay home and avoid driving if at all possible.
• Stay informed of possible threats by tuning in to your local media outlets for the latest breaking weather news. Also register for the Mercer County emergency notification system by visiting www.mercercounty.org and clicking on “Alert Mercer” at the top of the home page.

For more information on how to properly prepare your home or business for hurricane season, visit http://ready.nj.gov/plan-prepare/hurricanes.shtml.

Attached image is a Patch file photo