Helpful Information During a Hurricane

NOLA.com
St. Charles Parish Information Website

Norco Hurricane/ Freeze Emergency Hotline: 1-877-231-1122

Check in Reminder

The purpose of the procedure is to help us make sure our employees in the directly impacted area are safe and accounted for.  When we better understand more specifically where the storm will make landfall and the probable impact, we will activate the check-in process for the areas directly impacted by the storm in order to confirm the safety, and if needed, support requirements of our staff.  As a reminder, the check-in numbers are (866) 745-5489 or (877) 40-SHELL.   

Are You Ready?

Shell and Motiva are prepared for the 2006 hurricane season and we want our employees and customers to be prepared as well. To help you prepare, Shell and Motiva are partnering with the American Red Cross and providing a hurricane preparedness brochure at Shell gas stations across the Gulf Coast. 
 
   
 
Are you ready for hurricane season? Click on the links below to access useful preparedness information.  To access this information in another language, please click on one of the links below:

• Hurricane Preparedness Brochure in English, Spanish or Vietnamese.

	Build Your Disaster Supplies Kit Find out some suggested items to include in your disaster supplies kit. Start building today.
	What To Do... Learn some tips on what to do now, as the storm approaches, if you stay home, if you must evacuate, and even after a storm.
	Create Emergency Communication Plan In the event you and your family become separated during a disaster, this plan can help you re-connect.

Create Emergency Communications Plan 

This list will help family members re-connect if separated during a disaster.

• List all phone numbers for family members: work, school, home, cell
• Designate a contact person for family members to check in with if they can't reach each other. It's ideal if your contact person lives outside your area because after a disaster it's often easier to call outside than locally.
• Each family member and the contact person should keep a copy of the list at home, work and in their cars.
  

What To Do 

Become aware of the actions you should take as a storm approaches, during a storm and after a storm. Outlined below are some useful tips.   

What To Do Now  

• Decide where you plan to go if you are requested to evacuate. You may go to a hotel or motel, stay with friends or relatives in a safe location or go to a Red Cross shelter.
• Put together your disaster supplies kit. Do it now.  If you wait until a storm approaches, stores may be out of needed items.
• Create your Emergency Contact List.
• Plan for pets. Pets are not allowed in public shelters. To make arrangements for your pet, contact your vet, local SPCA or Humane Society.

As the Storm Approaches

• Monitor TV and radio for the latest storm developments. Hurricanes are unpredictable.
• Have your car ready. Fill it up and check oil, water and maintenance.
• Check your emergency evacuation supplies.
• Make sure you have some cash on hand. Power could be out for days and  ATM machines won't work.
• Board up or put storm shutters on windows.
• Turn the refrigerator and freezer controls to the coldest settings.
• Fill empty freezer spaces with reusable ice containers, or fill empty milk containers about four-fifths full of water, cap the containers loosely and place in empty space.
• If food in freezer does defrost, use it within one or two days. Never refreeze food that has thawed completely.
• Clear your yard of loose objects, bicycles, lawn furniture, trash cans, etc.
  Secure your boat.
• Leave swimming pools filled. Super-chlorinate the water and cover pump and filtration systems and intakes

If You Stay Home        

• Obtain and mark clean containers for storing water for drinking and cooking.  You should have a minimum of one gallon per person per day for seven days. Store water in the bathtub for flushing toilets.
• Have a week's supply of non-perishable foods.  Have a manual can opener.
• Stay inside, away from windows.
• Wait for official word that the danger is over before going outside. Don't be fooled by the storm's calm eye.
• If the power goes out, keep spoiling and thawing of food to a minimum, by opening the refrigerator or freezer as seldom as possible. Food will stay frozen for up to 48 hours if a freezer is full and tightly packed and the door is kept closed. Food in a partly filled freezer may keep for 24 hours.
• How do you tell if food has gone bad? The rule of thumb is, "If in doubt, throw it out!"

If You Must Evacuate

• Leaving early will shorten your travel time. Leaving later may not allow you enough time to reach safe shelter.
• Pack necessities: Plenty of water and non-perishable food, Disaster Supplies Kit, Emergency Contact List, proof of residency, cash, extra clothing and sleeping bags or bedding.
• Bring games, puzzles and books to keep children entertained.
• Turn off water and electricity at the main valve, breakers or fuses.
• Turn off propane gas tanks that serve individual appliances like a stove or grill. Do not turn off natural gas unless local officials advise to do so.
• If bringing pets, pack pet food, carriers for each and strong leashes.

After a Storm

• If you evacuated, have valid identification. You will not be allowed back into your area unless you can show proof of residency.
• When re-entering your home, proceed with caution.
• Be cautious with fires. Do not strike matches until you are certain there are no gas leaks.
• If at home, stay there and avoid sightseeing, which can impede emergency and recovery response from officials.
• If a power outage occurs, turn off or disconnect all motor-driven appliances and fixtures to avoid damage from sudden surges when power is restored. It's safer to use flashlights than candles.
• Beware of snakes, insects and animals driven to higher ground.
• Avoid downed or dangling utility wires.

Build Your Disaster Supplies Kit

Listed below are some suggested items to keep in your diaster supplies kit. Start today by gathering things from around your house or purchasing them at a local store.    

Water

• Store one gallon of water per person per day (two quarters for drinking, two quarts for food preparation / sanitation)
• Keep at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your household

Food

• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
• High-energy foods: peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix
• Food for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets

Tools and supplies

• Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
• Battery-operated radio or TV and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Fully charged cell phone and extra batteries
• First Aid Kit
• Cash or traveler's checks, change
• Non-electric can opener, utility knife
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Insect repellent
• Aluminum foil, plastic storage containers
• Signal flare
• Paper, pencil, needles, thread and medicine dropper
• Shut-off wrench (to turn off household gas and water)
• Whistle
• Plastic sheeting
• Map of area (for locating shelters)

Sanitation

• Toilet paper, towelettes, soap, liquid detergent, feminine supplies, personal hygiene items, plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)

Clothing and bedding

• Extra clothing, sturdy shoes boots, rain gear, hat and sunglasses
• Blankets or sleeping bags

Documents

Keep records in a waterproof, portable container:

• Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
• Passports, Social Security cards, immunization records
• Bank account numbers and companies, credit card account numbers and companies
• Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

Special Needs Items

• Formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk
• Medications, prescription drugs, denture needs, contact lenses and supplies, extra eyeglasses