Tips to be prepared for a hurricane

Hurricanes are strong storms that can be life-threatening as well as cause serious property-threatening hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes.

Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane. Know the difference between the threat levels and plan accordingly.

Know the Difference

Hurricane Watch

Hurricane conditions are a threat within 48 hours. Review your hurricane plans. Get ready to act if a warning is issued, and stay informed.

Hurricane Warning

Hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. Complete your storm preparations and leave the area if directed to do so by authorities.

Prepare

• Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
• Check your disaster supplies. Replace or restock as needed.
• Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).
• Close your windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you do not have hurricane shutters, close and board up all windows and doors with plywood.
• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting. Keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.
• Turn off propane tank.
• Unplug small appliances.
• Fill your car’s gas tank.
• Create a hurricane evacuation plan with members of your household. Planning and practicing your evacuation plan minimizes confusion and fear during the event.
• Find out about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs and make plans for your pets to be cared for.
• Obey evacuation orders. Avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.

Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding. It’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the U.S. For more information on flood insurance, please visit the National Flood Insurance Program Web site at www.FloodSmart.gov.

Respond During - Recommended Hurricane Supplies

• Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day
• Food—at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc.)
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
• Tools/supplies for securing your home
• Extra set of car keys and house keys
• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
• Rain gear
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Camera for photos of damage

Recover After

• Continue listening to a NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for the latest updates.
• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.
• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.
• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.
• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.
• Stay out of any building that has water around it.
• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes.
• Use flashlights in the dark. Do NOT use candles.
• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.
• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.
• Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

As you rebuild - 

• Secure double entry doors at the top and the bottom.
• Strengthen existing garage doors to improve the wind resistance, particularly double- wide garage doors.
• Protect windows with permanent storm shutters or one-half inch marine plywood that is pre-cut to fit your doors and windows.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts to prevent flooding and unnecessary pressure on the awnings.
• Select trees that are not as subject to uprooting to replace damaged ones. A gardening or landscaping professional can give you excellent advice.
• Identify a place to store lawn furniture, toys, gardening tools and trash cans that is away from stairs and exits to prevent them from being moved by high winds and becoming missiles.

Ask a professional to:

• Ensure roof sheathing is properly installed.
• Ensure end gables are securely fastened to the rest of the roof.
• Fasten the roof to the walls with hurricane straps.
• Elevate your home if it is near the coast and subject to flooding from storm surge.

Let Your Family Know You're Safe

If your community has experienced a disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well web site to let your family and friends know about your welfare. You may also call 1-866-GET-INFO to register yourself and your family.

Battlefields to Oilfields - PEC Veterans Program

Helping Veterans & Oilfield Employers Come Together Across the Nation

With 50% of the current experienced oil and gas industry workforce approaching retirement age, the “Great Crew Change” represents a unique opportunity for new, capable workers to obtain long-term careers in the oil and gas industry. Battlefields to Oilfields aims to prepare returning US veterans for fulfilling careers in the industry. The program provides:

• Multiple industry-recognized trainings and certifications
• Five weeks of training
• Housing and 3 meals a day
• Full funding through the Post-9/11 GI-Bill
• Job placement assistance
• Personal protective equipment

Course Overview

The training program will last approximately five weeks. This module is envisioned as a quick turn-key approach to help you as a veteran acquire oilfield safety and hands-on skills training that will qualify you to immediately apply for both offshore and onshore employment.

Goals

• Enhance veterans’ employability and readiness for work, while simultaneously addressing the Oil and Gas industry’s labor shortage
• Enable veterans in acquiring the skills and certifications required to work onshore and offshore in the Oil and Gas Industry
• Prepare the next generation of energy-industry workers and supervisors as the industry faces the “Great Crew Change,” with 50% of the current experienced workforce nearing retirement age
• Meet rising safety requirements and need for hands-on skills training in other industries, including marine services, shipyards, petrochemical, and “green” construction

Funding

The Battlefields to Oilfields program is provided at no cost to you under the post 9/11 GI-Bill. Under the Post 9/11 GI-Bill you will receive a housing stipend, which differs based on the cost of living at your location, as well as a book stipend. We will assist you with taking the proper steps to apply for the GI-Bill benefits. The Post-9/11 GI-Bill also provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001. In order to qualify for Post 9/11 GI-Bill benefits you must have received an honorable discharge.

Enrollment:

There are several steps involved in the enrollment process. The first is application and review. After your application is submitted, our enrollment specialist will call you to make sure that this program is right for you and give you a chance to ask any questions you may have beyond what is found in our FAQs and other literature. Once approved for the program, you will need to follow the B2O Checklist to secure enrollment.

The B2O Checklist details what documents are needed for enrollment and provides information on how you can obtain your Letter or Certificate of Eligibility for your Post 9/11 GI Bill from the VA. Some of the steps are passing a drug test and taking a physical in order to help you better understand whether a job in the oil and gas industry is right for you.

Once PEC receives all your documentation and the B2O Checklist is completed, you will be assigned a class date, packing list, and time to report to the B2O training facility in Morgan City, Louisiana.

Training:

B2O trains students in over 50 areas of oil and gas production along with required safety compliance. You will earn certificates of completion in SafeGulf and SafeLandUSA, Safety Environmental Management Systems (SEMS), HAZWOPER 40, and Production Safety Systems Training among many others. B2O is packaged and designed to save your potential employers several thousand dollars in training costs and set our graduates apart from the rest of the hiring pool.

The 28 days of training also contain job fairs, soft skills and interview training, aptitude assessments, and a resume writing interview. The B2O program allows time for companies to showcase their industry function and present their company directly to the students. There is also a day provided for students to travel within the local area to apply in person to companies in the vicinity.

Placement:

The placement process is a network of a foundation, introduction and continuing support.

The foundation for placement is the resume. You will be given a completed resume by our resume writing specialist. It is important to review this document and make certain that all is correct and complete.

Next you are introduced to a number of Oil & Gas Recruiters from various companies; these are our B2O job fairs, set up just for you.

Finally in order to make sure you secure the career you desire, we have long term support. If you need assistance editing your own resume for a specific job, we can enhance your current one. We also are available to fax, email or mail any portions of your certifications or resume to any potential employer.

Thunderstorm Safety

A thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces hail at least 1 inch in diameter or has wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Heavy rain from thunderstorms can cause flash flooding, and high winds can damage homes and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages.

Know the Difference

Severe Thunderstorm Watch - Severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property.

Every year people are killed or seriously injured by severe thunderstorms despite advance warning. While some did not hear the warning, others heard the warning and did not pay attention to it. The information in this section, combined with timely watches and warnings about severe weather, may help save lives.

Be Prepared for Thunderstorms and Severe Weather

• Learn about your local community’s emergency warning system for severe thunderstorms
• Discuss thunderstorm safety and lightning safety with all members of your household
• Pick a safe place in your home for household members to gather during a thunderstorm This should be away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could be broken by strong winds or hail
• Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a severe thunderstorm
• Make trees and shrubbery more wind resistant by keeping them trimmed and removing damaged branches
• Protect your animals by ensuring that any outside buildings that house them are protected in the same way as your home
• Consult your local fire department if you are considering installing lightning rods
• Get trained in first aid and learn how to respond to emergencies
• Put together an emergency preparedness kit:

̶    Water—one gallon per person, per day

 ̶   Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare
̶    Flashlight
̶    Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
 ̶   Extra batteries
̶    First aid kit
̶    Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
 ̶   Multi-purpose tool
 ̶   Sanitation & personal hygiene items
̶    Copies of personal documents
̶    Cell phone with chargers
̶    Family & emergency contact information
 ̶   Extra cash
Responding appropriately during a thunderstorm
• Listen to local news or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, like darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind.
• Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely to occur. Many people struck by lightning are not in the area where rain is occurring.
• If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter in a substantial building or in a vehicle with the windows closed. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds.
• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger from lightning. If thunder roars, go indoors! The National Weather Service recommends staying inside for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap.
• Avoid electrical equipment and telephones. Use battery-powered TVs and radios instead.
• Shutter windows and close outside doors securely. Keep away from windows.
• Do not take a bath, shower or use plumbing.
• If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.
• If you are outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe.


Take the appropriate steps to stay safe
• Never drive through a flooded roadway. You cannot predict how deep the water may be.
• Stay away from storm-damaged areas to keep from putting yourself at risk from the effects of severe thunderstorms.
• Continue to listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or to local radio and television stations for updated information or instructions, as access to roads or some parts of the community may be blocked.
• Help people who may require special assistance, such as infants, children and the elderly or disabled.
• Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately.
• Watch your animals closely. Keep them under your direct control.


If Lightning Strikes


Follow these steps if someone has been struck by lightning:
Call for help. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. Anyone who has sustained a lightning strike requires professional medical care.
Check the person for burns and other injuries. If the person has stopped breathing, call 9-1-1 and begin CPR. If the person is breathing normally, look for other possible injuries and care for them as necessary. People who have been struck by lightning do not retain an electrical charge and can be handled safely.


Let Your Family Know You're Safe
If your community has experienced a disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well web site to let your family and friends know you are safe. You may also call 1-866-GET-INFO to register yourself and your family.

Tornado Safety

Tornadoes are violent by nature. They are capable of completely destroying well-made structures, uprooting trees and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. Tornado intensities are classified on the Fujita Scale with ratings between F0 (weakest) to F5 (strongest). Although severe tornadoes are more common in the Plains States, tornadoes have been reported in every state.

Know the Difference

Tornado Watch - Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives!

Tornado Warning - A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Tornado warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Go immediately under ground to a basement, storm cellar or an interior room (closet, hallway or bathroom).

How to Prepare for a Tornado

• During any storm, listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.
• Know your community's warning system. Communities have different ways of warning residents about tornados, with many having sirens intended for outdoor warning purposes.
• Pick a safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
• Practice periodic tornado drills so that everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching.
• Consider having your safe room reinforced. Plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection can be found on the FEMA web site.
• Prepare for high winds by removing diseased and damaged limbs from trees.
• Move or secure lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants or anything else that can be picked up by the wind and become a projectile.
• Watch for tornado danger signs:
 ̶   Dark, often greenish clouds – a phenomenon caused by hail
̶    Wall cloud – an isolated lowering of the base of a thunderstorm
 ̶   Cloud of debris
 ̶   Large hail
 ̶   Funnel cloud – a visible rotating extension of the cloud base
 ̶   Roaring noise

What to Do During a Tornado
• The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement or safe room.
• If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
̶    Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes or other severe winds.
 ̶   Do not seek shelter in a hallway or bathroom of a mobile home.
• If you have access to a sturdy shelter or a vehicle, abandon your mobile home immediately.
• Go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately, using your seat belt if driving.
• Do not wait until you see the tornado.
If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter:
• Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.
• If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park. Now you have the following options as a last resort:
̶    Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a       blanket if possible.
 ̶   If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering       your head with your hands.
• Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.
What to Do After a Tornado
• Continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions.
• If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
• Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damage.
• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately.
• Stay out of damaged buildings.
• Use battery-powered flashlights when examining buildings – do NOT use candles.
• If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly and call the gas company or fire department.
• Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
• Keep all of your animals under your direct control.
• Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard.
• Check for injuries. If you are trained, provide first aid to persons in need until emergency responders arrive.


As you rebuild:
• Strengthen existing garage doors to improve the wind resistance, particularly double-wide garage doors.
• If your home has been significantly damaged and will require rebuilding parts or all of it, consult with your contractor about having a tornado safe room built during the process. A tornado safe room can save lives. Plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection can be found on the FEMA web site.
Ask a professional to:
• Look at common connections in wood frame buildings and add anchors, clips and straps that will provide more strength to your home.
• Reinforce masonry walls that provide structural support to your home.
• Secure your chimney. Masonry chimneys that extend more than six feet above the roof or have a width of 40 inches or more should have continuous vertical reinforcing steel placed in the corners to provide greater resistance to wind loads.
• Permanently connect your manufactured home to its foundation to decrease the potential for damage from high winds.


The Red Cross encourages those in tornado-prone areas to use the Tornado Safety Checklist, which provides information on what you can do before, during and after a tornado strikes.


Let Your Family Know You're Safe
If your community has experienced a disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well web site to let your family and friends know you are safe. You may also call 1-866-GET-INFO to register yourself and your family.