Summer is just around the corner, and so is hurricane season. Weather experts are warning Americans to prepare for an active and potentially dangerous Atlantic season – which gets its official start on June 1. With the potential for heavy rain and strong winds, the threat of power loss, and dealing with potentially dangerous cleanup in the aftermath of a storm, experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) say preparing in advance is the best way to weather anything hurricane season may bring.

Robert Emery, DrPH, vice president of safety, health, environment, and risk management for UTHealth, said that while most Southeast Texans have been preoccupied with staying up to date on COVID-19 guidelines and precautions, it is important to begin prepping for the upcoming hurricane season as well.

“The pandemic doesn’t make the known hurricane season go away. The time to prepare is now, before a storm is barreling down on us,” he said.

Emery, who is also a professor of environmental and occupational health safety atUTHealth School of Public Health，说，在计划准备套件时要考虑的最重要的事情是问自己，如果飓风袭击，您和家人将需要什么才能生存72个小时。

“This will include items such as water (at least five gallons), nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, medications, and diapers for young children – whatever items your family depends on for survival,” Emery said.

氧气需求可能意味着额外的罐或backup generators, experts say. Older adults and people with disabilities may have special needs to consider. Infants will need baby food. Don’t forget hand sanitizer or cleansing wipes. Have at least two weeks of any prescription medication on hand in the event you are unable to access a refill for an extended period of time due to evacuation or delivery interruptions.

It is also important to prepare your home for the upcoming season, such as securing any items outside your home that could be blown around during high winds. Store important documents in a watertight location. Examples include zip lock bags, plastic containers, or other watertight containers. In addition, it is important to have a backup plan for evacuation in case the worst happens. Be sure to pack phone chargers, jumper cables for your vehicle, any medications you will need, an extra pair of eyeglasses, identification, cash, blankets, and pillows, as well as food, a water bowl, and leashes for family pets.

对于有行动不便或其他挑战的人来说，重要的是，他们与可信赖的个人接触，他们可以在本赛季之前提供支持并协调计划。

“People with mobility impairments and others who use battery-powered mobility devices, like electric wheelchairs or ventilators, should have backup generators available or be prepared to find alternative places to charge their batteries,” saidLex Frieden，健康信息学教授UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics.

“Also, individuals should register for evacuation assistance by calling 311. Operators will obtain specific information about a person’s needs, including information about caregivers, pets, medical equipment, and mobility assistance devices that may need to be evacuated along with the individual. This information will only be used by local offices of emergency management to rescue people in the event evacuation is deemed necessary,” Frieden said.

While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued new guidelines stating fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear a mask indoors or outdoors to protect against the coronavirus, do not throw your N95 or KN95 masks away! They may still be needed to protect from other communicable diseases if you have to evacuate to a shelter, and are critical for storm cleanup.

“绝对需要一个合适的面膜进行清理 - 可以过滤掉灰尘和霉菌残留物，例如N95或KN95，以避免呼吸刺激。您还需要在建筑区域中使用的其他物品。诸如安全眼镜，硬帽，几双工作手套之类的东西，在此期间，一双湿的钢趾靴子是理想情况下具有防水性的，并且多对厚的袜子都将对任何后果清理都有用。”说威廉·珀克森（William Perkison），医学博士，MPH，UTHealth公共卫生学院环境与职业健康安全助理教授。

For step-by-step instructions on how to properly wear a N95 or KN95 mask, visitosha.gov.

Perkison还建议，从Covid-19中恢复的人应该对适当的风暴清理防护装备特别谨慎，因为应避免进一步的呼吸刺激。

For more information on hurricane safety and preparedness, visitreadyharris.org,FEMA.gov, or the国家飓风中心.

For more information on building a preparedness kit, visit the American Red Cross’s hurricane preparednesspage.

Media Inquiries: 713-500-3030