Westchester Advises Residents To Prepare For Hurricanes

WHITE PLAINS, NY — With a tropical storm possibly making its way up the east coast, Westchester County is reminding residents that it should review their emergency plans and obtain critical supplies in case severe weather strikes the Hudson Valley.

The National Weather Service said Tropical Storm Elsa, as of Wednesday, was a little more inland than it was Tuesday, putting the center of the storm close to New York City and Long Island by 8 a.m. Friday. The cone of probability now reaches into the Hudson Valley.

Latimer said that now is a good time to gather the essentials you would need if and when a major storm hits, with the potential for flooding or power outages.

"These items can quickly disappear from store shelves when a hurricane is looming, or in its aftermath," he said.

County emergency responders recommend residents set aside several days' worth of non-perishable food, water and medicine, and keep on hand other critical supplies like flashlights and batteries in case they are stuck in their homes without power.

Residents should also have a "go-bag" ready in case they are asked to evacuate on short notice during an emergency.

Latimer said that recent experiences with storms have shown us that we must take hurricanes seriously, with many of our homeowners suffering significant property damage and power outages for an extended period of time.

"Mother Nature is hard to predict," he said, "but it can give us peace of mind to be prepared."

With hurricane season running through Dec. 1, the county Department of Emergency Services suggests an emergency preparedness kit that includes:

• Gallon of water per person per day
• Three-day supply of canned, packaged or other shelf-stable, ready-to-eat foods.
• Foods that can be stored include ready-to-eat canned meats and fish, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal and granola, peanut butter, nuts, crackers and canned fruit or juice
• Manual can opener and eating utensils
• Flashlights and batteries
• First aid kit
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio

Residents should also make a list of their medications, charge their cell phones and laptops and fill their car's gas tank.

The go-bag should also contain some masks, wipes and hand sanitizer.

Homeowners who have oil tanks should top them off and tighten the cap to prevent spills. Above-ground tanks should also be strapped to a secure fixture to prevent tipping in case of flooding.

Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler said food and generator safety are essential during and after any power outage or emergency.

• Before a storm hits, set your refrigerator to the coldest setting to keep food fresh longer if you lose power.
• Keep your refrigerator closed as much as possible. Do not assume refrigerated foods are safe.
• Foods that are fully frozen are safe to use.
• Foods that have warmed to room temperature for more than two hours or have come into contact with floodwaters should be discarded. When in doubt, throw it out.
• During a prolonged outage, discard these foods if they were not kept below 45 degrees Fahrenheit: meat, poultry, seafood, cold cuts, hot dogs, eggs, cream, sour cream, yogurt, milk, custards, puddings, soft and shredded cheeses, cut fruit, cooked vegetables, pasta, casseroles, unbaked cookie and bread dough, gravy, creamy salad dressings, fish sauces, hoisin sauce, opened spaghetti sauce and garlic in oil.
• After disposing of spoiled food, disinfect the refrigerator to avoid further contamination.
• Discard any cans of food that are rusted, dented or open.
• If appliances are wet, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Then, unplug appliances and let them dry out. Have appliances checked by a professional before using them again.
• Storm clean-up can produce a great deal of garbage, which invites insects and rodents. Store your garbage in watertight, rodent/insect-proof containers with tight-fitting covers.
• A generator should never be run in a basement, garage, porch or carport. Only operate a generator outdoors and away from open windows.
• Do not exceed the rated capacity of your generator. Doing otherwise could damage it and any appliances connected to it.
• If your generator has a detachable fuel tank, remove it before refilling. If this is not possible, shut off the generator and let it cool before refilling.

The county Department of Public Safety said motorists should stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary during inclement weather. When on the road, drivers should avoid ponding water that may be deeper than it appears or be quickly rising.

If power is lost, call Con Edison or NYSEG directly. The phone numbers are: Con Ed power outage or gas and electrical service problems: (800) 75-CONED; NYSEG electricity power outage: (800) 572-1131; NYSEG gas power outage: (800) 572-1121.

Families should also consider what additional preparations to make for people with special needs or who care for the elderly, infants or pets. Family members also should plan for how they will communicate if local phone service is not available or overwhelmed by high demand.