Surviving a Storm During a Pandemic: Evacuating your Home

10/12/2020 (Permalink)

When a storm hits and you need to evacuate your home during a pandemic, take these extra steps to keep your family safe from infection.

Just about every aspect of life changes when you’re in the midst of a pandemic. That includes keeping your family safe if you have to evacuate your home after a hurricane, tornado or other damaging storm. Beyond the planning you should do to prevent and survive storm damage during a typical year, you’ll have to take extra precautions to minimize exposure to a contagious viral pathogen.

Your two primary concerns are where to go and what to bring.

Where to Shelter

Finding a safe place to shelter during a pandemic will be more challenging than it normally would be. Check your local emergency management agency and local authorities for the latest guidelines on sheltering, which should be up to date with your state or local public health executive orders.

Going to a large community shelter, like a school gym, won’t be the ideal option in a pandemic, because of the need to distance from other evacuees—although it may be necessary in a mass evacuation situation. If you must go to a large group shelter, expect these pandemic-related requirements:

• a health screening upon entry
• regular wellness checks for symptoms and fever
• face masks for all individuals
• more distance between cots and other furniture
• more frequent hand washing, cleaning and disinfecting
• an isolation area for individuals with symptoms of infection

You should try to locate a hotel, hostel or campground instead, which will allow you to keep your family separated from others. Start calling for a reservation when the storm is on the way.

You can also ask friends and family who are out of the storm’s path if you can shelter with them. You’ll need to take precautions, though, which may include quarantining in a separate room or area of the house if you or your hosts have symptoms of infection or have been recently exposed to the virus.

What to Bring

The American Red Cross advises homeowners to keep two emergency supply kits in your home when a storm threatens. Your stay-at-home kit will include enough nonperishable food, water, medications, hygiene items and cleaning supplies to supply you and your family for up to two weeks.

Your three-day evacuation kit is similar to your stay-at-home kit, but it must be portable and ready to go in an instant. Include these items:

• nonperishable, easy-to-eat food
• water (1 gallon per person per day)
• all needed medications (bring a two-week supply of these)
• personal hygiene supplies
• cleaning and disinfecting products, including hand sanitizer, wipes and tissues
• three or more face masks for each family member

We’re Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of West Hartford has specialized training and experience in natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage remediation, fire restoration services and chemical cleanup. Call SERVPRO of West Hartford (860.206.6141) any time.

If your home or business suffers damage from a storm or other natural disaster, call SERVPRO of West Hartford today at 860.206.6141

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If your home or business suffers damage from a storm or other natural disaster, call SERVPRO of West Hartford today at 860.206.6141