info from Hurricane Preparedness Site National Hurricane Center

What is your Evacuation Level??

Check Here for when and if you have to leave during a hurricane! 

Dunedin Floodplain

According to the FEMA 100 yr Floodplain, only Fairway Drive east from Harrison Drive is in Floodplain.

See Pre-Hurricane checklist below from Florida Peninsula Insurance

• Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
• Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
• Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet.
• Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
• Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
• Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.
• Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance. National Flood Insurance Program
• Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit.
• Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.
• Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.

Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days

Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel
— paper plates / plastic utensils

Blankets / Pillows, etc.

Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes

First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs

Special Items - for babies and the elderly

Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes

Flashlight / Batteries

Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio

Cash (with some small bills) - Banks and ATMs may not be open or available for extended periods.

Keys

Toys, Books and Games

Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag
— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.

Tools - keep a set with you during the storm

Vehicle fuel tanks filled

Pet care items
— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water
— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash

 

HIGH WIND SAFETY ACTIONS - before hurricane season

• Find out if your home meets current building code requirements for high-winds. Experts agree that structures built to meet or exceed current building code high-wind provisions have a much better chance of surviving violent windstorms.
• Protect all windows by installing commercial shutters or preparing 5/8 inch plywood panels.
• Garage doors are frequently the first feature in a home to fail. Reinforce all garage doors so that they are able to withstand high winds.
• If you do not live in an evacuation zone or a mobile home, designate an interior room with no windows or external doors as a “Safe Room”.
• Before hurricane season, assess your property to ensure that landscaping and trees do not become a wind hazard.
  - Trim dead wood and weak / overhanging branches from all trees.
  - Certain trees and bushes are vulnerable to high winds and any dead tree near a home is a hazard.
  - Consider landscaping materials other than gravel/rock.

HIGH WIND SAFETY ACTIONS - as a hurricane approaches

• Most mobile / manufactured homes are not built to withstand hurricane force winds. Residents of homes not meeting that level of safety should relocate to a nearby safer structure once local officials issue a hurricane evacuation order for their community.
• Once a hurricane warning is issued, install your window shutters or plywood panels.
• When a hurricane warning is issued for your community, secure or bring inside all lawn furniture and other outside objects that could become a projectile in high winds.
• Listen carefully for safety instructions from local officials, and go to your designated “Safe Room” when directed to do so.
• Monitor NOAA Weather Radio.
• Do not leave your “Safe Room” until directed to do so by local officials, even if it appears that the winds calmed. Remember that there is little to no wind in the eye of a hurricane.

BEFORE THE DISASTER

• Make sure that your pets are current on their vaccinations.  Pet shelters may require proof of vaccines.
• Have a current photograph
• Keep a collar with identification on your pet and have a leash on hand to control your pet.
• Have a properly-sized pet carrier for each animal - carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand  and turn around.
• Plan your evacuation strategy and don't forget your pet!  Specialized pet shelters, animal control shelters, veterinary clinics and friends and relatives out of harm's way are ALL potential refuges for your pet during a disaster.

If you plan to shelter your pet - work it into your evacuation route planning.

DURING THE DISASTER

• Animals brought to a pet shelter are required to have:  Proper identification collar and rabies tag, proper identification on all belongings, a carrier or cage, a leash, an ample supply of food, water and food bowls, any necessary medications, specific care instructions and news papers or trash bags for clean-up.
• Bring pets indoor well in advance of a storm - reassure them and remain calm.
• Pet shelters will be filled on first come, first served basis.  Call ahead and determine availability.

AFTER THE DISASTER

• Walk pets on a leash until they become re-oriented to their home - often familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and pets could easily be confused and become lost.  Also, downed power lines, reptiles brought in with high water and debris can all pose a threat for animals after a disaster.
• If pets cannot be found after a disaster, contact the local animal control office to find out where lost animals can be recovered.  Bring along a picture of your pet if possible.
• After a disaster animals can become aggressive or defensive - monitor their behavior.

Don't forget your pet when preparing a family disaster plan.

PET DISASTER SUPPLY KIT

• Proper identification including immunization records
• Ample supply of food and water
• A carrier or cage
• Medications
• Muzzle, collar and leash

Help your neighbors, especially the elderly.

If we have to endure a Storm, let us do it together!       

HARDWARE ITEMS

• Manual can and bottle openers.

• Folding stove, oven mitts.

• A battery-operated radio and/or television along with extra batteries.

• Battery-operated lanterns and enough flashlights for each member of the family, plus extra batteries and bulbs.

• Duct tape.

• Lightweight fire extinguishers.

• Wrench to turn off household gas and water. Keep it near the shut-off valves.

• Chain saw, gassed up, oiled and ready.

• Generator.

HOUSEWARES

• Plastic trash bags with ties and large, sealable plastic bags. Use them to protect important documents, furniture, clothing, blankets and pillows.

• Paper towels and plates, bowls, cups, detergent and plastic utensils.

• Toilet paper and personal hygiene supplies like shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and tampons.

• Baby supplies such as baby food, diapers and formula.

• Matches in a waterproof container

• Camera film for ''before'' and ''after'' pictures.

• Plain chlorine bleach or iodine.

• Clean, empty containers for storing drinking water: at least one gallon per person per day.

• Ice chests or coolers.

• Pet supplies, such as cat litter, a scooper and any medicine.

FOOD

• Milk. Choose evaporated, dry powder or shelf-stable varieties.

• Canned foods like vegetables, soups, fish, meats, fruits and fruit juice.

• Peanut butter and jelly.

• Bread, crackers, cookies, other baked goods.

• Cereal and granola bars.

• Dried fruits and nuts.

• Bottled water.

• Vitamins.

• Instant drink mixes (coffee, tea, etc.).

• Pet food and bowls.

OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS

• A road map of the area.

• Two week supply of medications. Keep copies of prescriptions.

• A first-aid kit, which might include gauze bandages, alcohol, aspirin, cotton balls, cough and diarrhea medicine, antiseptic ointment or spray for cuts, burn ointment or spray, ammonia inhalants, adhesive tape, scissors and tweezers.

• A change of clothing and footwear, and a blanket or sleeping bag for each person.

• Citronella candles and insect repellent.

• Sunscreen.

• Towels.

• An airline crate for pets.

Preparing your house for the storm

Preparing your home for a hurricane won't take as long as repairing the damage that could have been avoided with a few precautions.

Here are some tips:

• Make sure your homeowners, windstorm and flood insurance policies are effective.

• Talk with your neighbors to coordinate preparation plans; help each other out.

• Develop an evacuation plan so everyone in your family will know where to go if they have to leave.

• The greatest threat to your home in most hurricanes is not the wind itself but wind-blown debris that can break windows and doors. Bring in anything from the yard that could become wind-borne -- and ask neighbors to do the same.

• Tape will not protect your windows. If you don't have impact-resistant windows, then get shutters. Plywood panels should be a last-resort option and should be prepared and fitted beforehand. Plywood that is not properly attached to your house can rip off during high winds and become a projectile that can cause serious harm to your and your neighbor's property.

• If you buy shutters, check to make sure they meet Miami-Dade County wind-resistance standards. Standards to look for include the SBCCI Test Standard for Determining Impact Resistance from Windborne Debris (SSTD 12-97) or the ASTM Standard Specification for Performance of Exterior Windows, Glazed Curtain Walls, Doors and Storm Shutters Impacted by Windborne Debris in Hurricanes (ASTM E 1996-00).

• When shopping for shutters, ask about the weight gauge or thickness. The greater the thickness (for aluminum), the stronger the shutter. However, don't buy shutters that are too heavy to be installed efficiently before a storm.

• Reinforce the garage door and tracks with center supports. About 80 percent of residential hurricane wind damage starts with wind entry through garage doors, according to the Florida Alliance for Safe Homes.

• Consider buying shutters for the doors. Be sure to shutter any door containing a substantial amount of glass, and be prepared to wedge sliding glass doors and windows. In addition, pick one door -- such as a side door to the garage -- as an entry and exit point for the house. Ideally, that would be a steel door. If you have large attic wall vents, put shutters over them, and don't forget the skylights. Remember: any window or door being breeched by hurricane forces can contribute to roof failure, so shutter up.

• Bring inside objects that can blow away, such as your mailbox, garbage cans and lawn furniture. What you can't move, anchor down. If you have window unit air conditioners, secure them tightly.

• Take ''before'' pictures of your home and store them in a secure place where you can access them after the storm.

• Cover valuable indoor furniture with plastic. If you lose your shingles and the roof starts leaking, you may save your sofa. And remember, a large tarp or roll of heavy plastic are invaluable after a storm.

• Choose a safe room, preferably an interior hallway or bedroom with no windows, to ride out the storm. Keep a mattress and a functional fire extinguisher nearby.

What to do After the Storm Passes

Once the storm passes, it is essentially that family members remain in a secure location until such time as the authorities indicate that it is safe to venture outside.

More people are injured in a storm’s aftermath than during the actual event. Downed power lines, sharp objects, and dangerous debris are the most common culprits. Power generators should not be used indoors or in any enclosed area. It is critical that a homeowner assess all the potential danger areas before beginning any repair jobs. Your safety is our number one concern.

If your property suffered damage from the storm, you should:

• Report your claim immediately
• If safe to do so, make temporary repairs as necessary to prevent further damage and protect your property. Consider contacting a water extraction company to dry out your dwelling.
• Take photos of the damage prior to making temporary repairs
• Keep detailed receipts and present them to the adjuster

Emergency Information Websites:

Florida Division of Emergency Management http://www.floridadisaster.org/

Federal Emergency Management Agency http://www.fema.gov/

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes http://www.flash.org/welcome.cfm

Disaster Housing Resources http://www.dhronline.org/chooseState.cfm

American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/

Florida Department of Financial Services http://www.fldfs.com/

All photos are of scenes in or near Fairway Estates

Photos and website by Mike Dunlap, New World Celt