PREPARE A DISASTER PLAN

 

Develop a plan with your household members that outlines what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in the event of an emergency. Use Ready New York: My Emergency Plan at NYC.gov/myemergencyplan.

 

KEEP A GO BAG READY

 

Every household member should have a Go Bag - a collection of items you may need during an evacuation - packed in an easy-to-carry container such as a backpack. Go Bag checklist: use the suggestions below to check off items as you include them in your Go Bag. Blank spaces have been provided for items you may want to add to the list, including medical devices and food for your dietary needs.

 

• Copies of your important documents in a waterproof and portable container (insurance cards, photo IDs, etc.)

• Extra set of car and house keys

• Copies of credit/ATM cards and cash

• Bottled water and nonperishable food such as energy or granola bars

• Flashlight

• Battery-operated AM/FM radio

• Extra batteries

• A list of medications you take, why you take them, and their dosages

• Doctors’ names and phone numbers

• First- aid kit

• Contact and meeting place information for your household and a small local map

• Child care, pet care, and other special items

• Print out of important passwords to important online accounts and/or devices you may need.

• Other personal items

 

ASSEMBLE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT

 

You may need to shelter in place (stay at home) during an emergency. Keep enough supplies in your home for at least three days. Additionally, basic services such as electricity, water, public transportation, and telephones may be disrupted for several days or longer. Make sure that you have enough additional supplies for potential service outages. Emergency supply kit checklist: use the suggestions below to check off items as you include them.

• One gallon of drinking water per person per day

• Non-perishable, ready-to-eat canned foods and manual can opener

• First-aid kit

• Flashlight

• Battery-operated AM/FM radio

• Extra batteries

• Whistle

• Iodine tablets or one quart of unscented bleach (for disinfecting water ONLY if directed to do so by health officials) and eyedropper (for adding bleach to water)

• Other items

 

IF YOU ARE NOT ORDERED TO EVACUATE

 

Make sure you have all recommended items in your emergency supply kit in case you lose power or other basic services. If you do not need to evacuate, shelter in place and make use of your emergency supply kit. Stay away from windows in case they break or shatter and stay indoors to avoid emergency hazards. If you have concerns about how a loss of power, basic services, and public transportation may affect you, consider evacuating.

 

IF YOU MUST EVACUATE

 

If the city issues an evacuation order for your area, evacuate as directed. The closest evacuation center is the NYC Technical College, located at 300 Jay Street. The City will communicate through local media specific instructions about which areas of the city should evacuate. Red Hook is in Zone 1 for hurricanes and floods. If ordered to evacuate, do so as directed. Use public transportation if possible. Public transportation may shut down hours before the event. If possible, move your car outside of flood zones to avoid potential damage to your vehicle.

 

KNOW WHERE YOU WILL GO

 

The City strongly recommends evacuees stay with friends or family who live outside evacuation zone boundaries. For those who have no other shelter, the City will open evacuation centers throughout the five boroughs. Evacuation centers include accessible facilities and accommodations for people with special needs. All evacuees will be accepted, and evacuees will not be asked about their immigration status at any New York City evacuation center. The closest evacuation center to Red Hook is NYC TECHNICAL COLLEGE at 300 Jay Street in downtown Brooklyn.

 

If you are going to an evacuation center, pack lightly, and bring:

• Your Go Bag

• Sleeping bag or bedding

• At least a week’s supply of any medication (if possible), medical supplies, or medical equipment you use regularly

• Toiletries

 

IF YOU HAVE PETS

 

Make sure your disaster plan addresses what you will do with your pet if an emergency requires you to leave your home. If you cannot shelter your pet at a kennel or with friends or relatives outside the evacuation area, call 311 to determine if your local shelter accepts pets. Please bring supplies to care for your pet, including food, leashes, a carrier, and medication. Pets may be allowed at some but not all NYC shelters. During Sandy, the Jay Street and Brooklyn Tech High School shelters did not take pets.