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- Ready Beaufort County: Preparation
Ready Beaufort County: Preparation
Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, and when disaster strikes, you may not have much time to respond. Depending on the disaster - a hurricane, winter storm, or hazardous material spill - you could be confined to your home without water and electricity for days, or you may be asked to evacuate the area.
Before, during, and after a disaster, local officials and relief volunteers will be working hard to keep people safe. However, they may not be able to reach everyone quickly, so it is important to plan ahead before disaster strikes. The following are some steps you can take to make sure you are prepared for an emergency.
Create an Emergency Plan
Create an emergency plan, including plans for evacuation or sheltering in place.
- Identify your flood zone - check the North Carolina Flood Maps and visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Map Service Center for more information. If you are at risk for flash flooding, watch for warning signs such as heavy rain.
- Become familiar with your evacuation zones, evacuation routes, and shelter locations.
- Protect your property - keep drains and gutters clear, install check valves in plumbing to prevent backups, consider hurricane shutters, and review insurance policies.
- Involve kids in the planning process. Welcome to Ready Kids!
Build an Emergency Supply Kit
Build an emergency supply kit with enough supplies for three to seven days for each household member, including pets.
- Consider each family member's specific needs, including medication and dietary restrictions, for children, seniors, and those who may need extra help in the event of an emergency.
- If you have pets or a service animal, include them in your preparedness planning
- Keep important documents in a safe place or create password-protected digital copies.
Stay Informed
Stay informed before, during and after an emergency event.
- Learn about local hazards that could impact our area.
- Register for Beaufort County emergency alerts through HyperReach.
- Subscribe to National Weather Service updates.
- Follow Beaufort County Emergency Services on Facebook.
- Get ReadyNC.
- In the event of an emergency, listen to local news and radio for weather forecasts and alerts.