As we enter the 2011 Hurricane Season, which experts are predicting to be very active, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is offering personal preparedness tips for the all of the citizens of the Commonwealth. “Every home and business should have a stocked basic emergency supply kit that could be used for any emergency, regardless of the time of year,” states MEMA Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “Everyone should keep certain items around the house and workplace in the event you are isolated for three to five days without ‘power”.

Each kit will be unique to each family, but should include a portable radio, flashlight, extra batteries, a supply of nonperishable foods, along with bottled water, a first aid kit, extra prescription medication, and extra food and supplies for infants and pets.

“All families should develop a ‘Family Emergency Communication Plan to help ensure everyone is safe. You should contact your local authorities to learn about your community’s potential evacuation routes and the location of emergency shelters,” said Schwartz. “It is important to familiarize yourself with your Community’s Emergency Plans, before an emergency situation occurs.” Develop a Disaster Supply Kit ‘Go Bag’, with essentials in case you must evacuate quickly.

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2. FAMILY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN 
Develop a Family Emergency Communications Plan in case family members are separated from one another during an emergency (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school, camp or at a friend’s house). This plan should also address reunification after the immediate crisis passes. 

• Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the Family Emergency Communications Plan contact person. During and immediately after a disaster occurs it is often easier to access a long distance telephone number than a local one. Also, calling outside a disaster area is usually easier than calling into the same area. 

• Make sure everyone knows the name, address and telephone number of the Family Emergency Communications Plan contact person. 

• Designate two meeting areas for family members - one within your community (your primary location), and one outside of your community (your alternate location). Sometimes an emergency could impact your neighborhood or small section of the community, so a second location outside of your community would be more accessible to all family members. A Family Emergency Communications Plan can help reassure everyone’s safety and minimize the stress associated with emergencies.

3. STAY INFORMED 
Educate yourself and family about emergency plans for your community, place of business, your child’s school and camp. Know what potential risks your community and neighborhood are susceptible to in a hurricane, such as storm surge, flooding, etc. Carefully monitor the Media and follow instructions from Public Safety officials as hurricane approaches. MEMA’s Hurricane Tips for Business Owners.

The business community should be aware of the potential of hurricane damage in the Commonwealth. Each business owner should prepare or review their own Preparedness and Recovery Plan. ‘Business as usual’ will not happen without good planning.

• Review your property insurance with your insurance agent. Take photographs or make a video of your business establishment! both inside and outside. 

• Determine and establish a written Hurricane Preparedness Plan for your business and its contents. Coordinate this plan with local and state officials. Specify the conditions under which the plan will be implemented. 

• Test your plan! reviewing it annually. Establish an employee-training program on your Hurricane Plan. 

• Make plans for protection of your computer files! including an off-site backup system to secure and safely store data. 

• Protect corporate records, keeping duplicates at an alternate location. 

• Well in advance! acquire emergency protective equipment and supplies. Heavy plastic sheeting, duct tape, sandbags, emergency generator, chain saw and large pieces of plywood will help protect your property. 

• Bring in display racks and other objects! such as trash cans that might cause damage if airborne. 

• Remove outdoor signs, especially those that swing or are portable. 

• Move merchandise, equipment or furniture away from windows or skylights. Elevate boxes or equipment, if possible. 

• Turn off electricity and disconnect all electrical appliances and equipment (except for refrigeration equipment) in case there is a power outage. An ensuing power surge could be damaging to connected equipment. 

• Inform all employees on when and how you will notify them to report back to work. 

• Develop an employee identification system such as picture ID badges. This may help employees gain access to the area after a hurricane.

• If possible, make arrangements to pay employees in cash. It may be several days before banking institutions are operational.

I hope this is helpful to you! Christopher F. Hawthorne CPCU,CRIS,CIC,LIA, Thomas Gregory Associates Insurance Agency, Inc., 601 Edgewater Drive, Suite 235, Wakefield, Massachusetts 01880, Office (781) 914-1038 Fax (781) 246-2601, chawthorne@thomasgregory. com

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