Hurricane Matthew – How to Prepare

Hurricane Matthew is heading straight for the entire island chain and is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds. Just one year after Hurricane Joaquin’s landing in The Bahamas, we are now faced with another dangerous hurricane in a few days.

I hope that everyone is taking Hurricane Matthew seriously and taking all of necessary precautions to be prepared in the case of an emergency.

Here are a few things you should be doing in the time leading up to landfall.

Hurricane Preparation:

1. Stay up to date with weather reports and emergency instructions
2. Know where your nearest hurricane shelter is in case you need to make an emergency evacuation.
3. Start putting together emergency supplies (food, water, first aid, medicine)
4. Secure all important documents in watertight containers or bags
5. Put up shutters and secure all loose items in your yard
6. Keep car gas tank full and make sure it is running properly
7. Make an emergency plan with your family

Hurricane Supplies:

1. Enough drinking water to last 3- 5 days ( 1 gallon per person, per day)
2. Water for sanitation (flushing toilets, cleaning, bathing)
3. Non-perishable food supply (don’t forget about pet food)
4. Cleaning Supplies & disinfectants such as Bleach, Dettol, Pinesol
5. First Aid Kit
6. Battery Powered Radio’s, Fans, Lanterns – Back up battery for cell phone
7. Extra Batteries
8. Cash & Credit Cards
9. A change of clothing and shoes (in case of evacuation)
10. Medicine
11. Gas or Diesel for generators
12. Tarps, Tools, Duct Tape
13. Rain Gear (rain coats, rain boots, umbrellas)
14. Sand Bags (place against doorways to prevent water getting into your home)

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Here are some photos from when I did Hurricane Relief last year in Long Island a few days after Hurricane Joaquin had passed. PLEASE take these photos as a warning of what may be coming our way and take the weather reports seriously. Prepare as best as you can and remember to help your neighbors if you are able to.

(All photos taken by me immediately after Hurricane Joaquin October 2015)

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Emergency Services Contacts:

Police Command Centers
326 6346
326 7871
302 8352
302 8356

MEDICAL SUPPORT
AAS Lifeflight (Air Ambulance)
Tel. (242) 377-1606 or (242) 323-2186
MED EVAC
Tel. (242) 322-2881
DOCTORS HOSPITAL AMBULANCE SERVICES
Tel. (242) 302-4747
ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY (PMH)
Tel. (242) 326-7014
BAHAMAS HYPERBARIC CENTER
Tel. (242) 362-5765 OR (242) 422-2434
PMH HOSPITAL
Tel. (242) 322-2861
NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Tel. 911, 919, (242) 323-2586
RED CROSS
Tel. (242) 323-7370
UTILITIES
WATER AND SEWERAGE
Tel. (242) 325-0505 or (242) 325-4504 (24 hours)
BEC POWER OUTAGE
Tel. (242) 323-5561/4
BTC TELEPHONE REPAIRS
Tel. (242) 225-5282
PROTECTION
POLICE
Tel. 911, 919, (242) 322-4444
CRIME STOPPERS
Tel. (242) 328-8477
FIRE
Tel. 919

RESCUE SERVICES
BASRA
Tel. (242) 325-8864, (242) 322-741, (242) 727-4888, (242) 359-4888
NEMA
Tel. (242) 322-6081