Hurricane Season has now begun. Residents are urged to update their family plan, restock their first aid kit and their supplies of non-perishable food.

Forecasters expect an active 2011 Atlantic hurricane season and residents should take steps to ensure their personal preparations. Statistically September is the peak month of the hurricane season, but early and late season storms sometimes form in the western Caribbean. When this occurs (as was the case with Hurricane Paloma) the lead time for preparation can be short. Services such as supermarkets, gasoline, banks, running water, electricity and many of the other items that we have grown accustomed to in our daily routines may not be available after a Hurricane. It could be a week or more before the flow of normal goods and services are restored. Don’t get caught out, set aside food and water for 5 to 7 days.

National Preparedness Day should be used to conduct preparedness activities such as:

• Service your generator if you have one
• Check your shutters, make sure that they fit and you have all the parts.
• Remove debris from the yard
• Trim back trees.

In addition ensure that travel documents are up to date and check on insurance policies to ensure they are current.

In the lead up to the National Day of Preparedness, members of staff from Hazard Management Cayman Islands will be handing out Hurricane Preparedness Information Kits on the weekends to customers at various local hardware stores. Participating stores include Cox Lumber Company, A.L. Thompson’s, Kirk Home Centre and Uncle Bill’s. If you haven’t already got your Hurricane Preparedness Information Kit they are available at the HMCI Office at Cayman Corporate Centre.

Get prepared now!