Evacuate or Stay at Home?
Always listen to authorities regarding whether you should evacuate or stay at home.
If a hurricane is coming, you may hear an order from authorities to evacuate (leave your home). Never ignore an order to evacuate. Even sturdy, well-built houses may not hold up against a hurricane. Staying home to protect your property is not worth risking your health and safety.
If you need to evacuate:
- Grab your emergency supply kit and only take what you really need with you (cell phone, chargers, medicines, identification like a passport or license, and cash).
- Unplug your appliances. If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water.
- Never drive through flooded areas—cars and other vehicles can be swept away or may stall in just 6 inches of moving water.
- Head for the NEMO Emergency Shelter that is nearest to your home.
If you need to stay home:
- Keep your emergency supply kit in a place you can easily access.
- Listen to the radio or TV for updates on the hurricane.
- Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message that the hurricane is over. Sometimes, weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but then quickly gets bad again.
- Stay away from windows—you could get hurt by pieces of broken glass or flying debris during a storm. Stay in a room with no windows, or go inside a closet.
Be ready to leave. If emergency authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go to a shelter or a neighbor’s house.
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) has published the list of Emergency Shelters for 2022. There are a total of 145 Emergency Shelters spread throughout all 15 Constituencies in the country.
A full list of the Shelters may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/Searchlight1/photos/pcb.5150374898364300/5150374858364304