Isaac: What You Should Be Doing Now
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – With Tropical Storm Isaac lumbering in our general direction, there are some things you should be doing now.
Wednesday would be a great day to break out your hurricane kit and check it to make sure you have all the supplies you will need. It's also worth checking your shutters to make sure you have all the panels or if you have the sliding kind – make sure they slide.
"We call it 'blue sky' because it is always good to do these things when it's blue skies and not wait til the weather is threatening to start saying 'Okay, where are my batteries, are they charged'," said Broward Emergency Manager Chuck Lanza.
On Wednesday John Clarke dug out his generator after several relatively quiet hurricane seasons. He tried several times to fire it up with no luck. He found there was corrosion inside the gas tank.
"I'm going to take the spark plug out and make sure I'm getting a spark," said Clarke, "And get fresh fuel in it."
Clarke also checked on his storm shutters.
"There's just tons of debris and stuff," said Clarke as he tried to close his accordion style shutters.
After clearing the twigs and leaves out of the tracks, Clarke realized the shutters need some attention.
"It's been a long time since the last storm," said Clarke. "I'll probably come out with some WD40. You get all kinds of stuff that starts living in these outdoor shutters."
Clarke's wife Dawn started her morning by checking on their hurricane supply kit to make sure it was properly stocked with non-perishable food, batteries, flash lights, sanitizer and other necessities.
"When we go to get the kit and look through it and see what to replenish, we'll fill the gas tanks in the car at that point and make sure our propane tank is full," Dawn said.
"We want people to make sure they have the right supplies," said Lanza.
He said right now people should be doing exactly what the Clarke's are doing.
"I would expect people to go out in their yard and sit there and decide what they're going to do and how they're going to do it and then we'll tell them when to do it," he said.
It's also not a bad day to store up some water and clean up around the yard.
If you don't have one, if may be worth your while to pick up an emergency radio so you can keep track of what is going on if the power goes out. They are readily available at supermarkets and department stores.
- GUIDE TO HURRICANE SUPPLIES
- GUIDE TO PREPARING YOUR PETS FOR A STORM
- GUIDE TO STORING GASOLINE FOR YOUR GENERATOR
- GUIDE TO PREPARING YOUR BOAT FOR A STORM
- GUIDE TO SAFE DRINKING WATER AFTER A STORM
Get your shopping done early as the stores will be more crowded at the end of the week as procrastinators decide that is when they need to stock up – just in case.
"You can't wait for the last minute for something like this, you really need to, anybody that's lived through a major hurricanes would know not to wait until the last second or you're going be in trouble," said Lanza.
These maps show where grocery stores and service stations with emergency generators are located. However, even though a store has an emergency generator it may not open after a storm.
- Check on preps for tropical weather with checklists, shutter advice, and even preparation videos at CBSMiami Hurricane Preps
Complete details on the storm, including up-to date maps and forecasts, at the CBSMiami Tropical Weather Center.
