Hurricane Bret A Reminder for the Triangle to Be Ready

Posted 11:00 a.m. Aug 21, 1999 — Updated 11:00 a.m. Aug 21, 1999

RALEIGH — Hurricane Bret is now a tropical storm but -- as the first hurricane of the season to make U.S. landfall --North Carolina Emergency Managementauthorities suggest Triangle residents use it as a reminder of what they should do tobe prepared.

Three years ago,Hurricane Franleft a swath of disaster across the Triangle, and anyone who lived through it knows how dangerous forceful storms can be.

"Fran dumped 8 to 12 inches of rain as she came through the Triangle," Tom Ditt said. In addition, it sent huge trees through roofs of houses and cars alike, snapped powerlines and poles, and deposited debris across major roadways.

Ditt has been through the worst of storms with North Carolina's Division of Emergency Management. He says whether people live in the Triangle or at the beach, the keys to survival can fit on your dining room table.

Getting prepared now, he says, is the key to hurricane survival. It could be too late when a storm approaches.

People who wait until the last minute can expect grocery stores and hardware stores to be cleared out of all the things needed to weather a severe storm.

So what should be packed in a hurricane survival kit? Here are some suggestions:

A gallon of water per person per day for three to five days

Non-perishable foods

Can opener

First aid kit, medication

Battery-powered radio

Valuable papers placed in sealable plastic bags

Toys for the kids, as well as anything else needed to survive.

A pair of sturdy shoes handy because walking outdoors after a severe storm can injure unprotected feet.

Suggest A Correction