What You Can Do to Prepare
- Stay Informed: Monitor weather forecasts and updates from reliable sources such as the National Hurricane Center at https://www.weather.gov .
- Emergency Kit: Prepare an emergency kit containing water, non-perishable food, pet food, medications, flashlights, batteries, a radio, portable phone chargers, and important documents.
- Secure Your Home: Reinforce windows, trim trees, and remove loose objects to minimize potential hazards. If a storm is on its way, fill your vehicle’s gas tank, secure it in the garage or covered parking and store some emergency supplies in it if you need to leave quickly.
- Evacuation Plan: Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes and have a plan in place if you need to leave quickly. Follow evacuation orders promptly as weather conditions can rapidly change. Create an Emergency Preparedness Plan and know where your family and pets will go for shelter in case of an evacuation. Be aware that not all shelters accept pets, so be sure to prepare a “Pet Plan B”.
- Communication: Share the emergency plan with your family well before a hurricane is near and share your evacuation whereabouts with family and friends in case you need to leave your home.
- Protect Documents: Safeguard important documents in waterproof containers or digitally back them up.
What We Do to Prepare
- Preventative Maintenance: Ensuring the reliability of water services is our top priority. We conduct regular inspections and maintenance of our water infrastructure to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities before they become issues during a storm.
- Backup Systems: We understand the importance of uninterrupted water supply, especially during emergencies. That’s why we’ve invested in backup power systems for our water treatment plants, ensuring that water continues to flow even in the event of power outages. Additionally, the remote technology that we’ve installed at our plants provides real time information and updates that are so valuable during severe weather events.
- Emergency Response Plan: Our team has developed a comprehensive emergency response plan which includes ongoing communication between operators, technicians, and customer service. This plan allows us to swiftly address any disruptions to water services and minimize inconvenience to our customers.
- Staying Connected: Communication is key during emergencies. We prioritize keeping our customers informed before, during, and after the storm. Whether it’s through social media, our website, or direct notifications, we’re committed to keeping you updated every step of the way.
By working together and taking proactive measures, we can minimize the impact of tropical storms and hurricanes on public health and safety. Being prepared is the key to weathering the storm successfully.