10 Jun Tips to Prepare for Hurricane Season
The Atlantic Hurricane season has begun and will last until November 30, 2024. There is an 85% chance of above normal Hurricane activity this year and OWASA wants all customers to be prepared in the event of severe weather. Listen to OWASA Safety Manager Steve Naylor discuss how you can prepare for Hurricane season on WCHL’s “Wonderful Water.”
Ensuring access to clean drinking water for your family is one of the most important things you can do during and after a Hurricane. Some tips to prepare for Hurricane season include:
- Preparing an emergency plan or checklist and ensuring every member of your household is familiar with it. Visit Ready.gov for guidance on how to prepare an emergency plan for Hurricane season
- Storing bottled water and gallon water containers for every member of your family. Make sure to store extra water for children, nursing mothers, those that are elderly and sick, and pets, as well as for flushing toilets, brushing teeth, and washing dishes.
- Avoid flood water as it can contain high levels of bacteria, whether or not it contains wastewater.
- Keep hydrants, water meters, and manhole covers free of yard debris, garbage cans, plants, mulch, and other obstructions so repairs can be made quickly if necessary
- If you pay an OWASA bill, make sure your contact information is accurate and up to date in Agua Vista. OWASA will send out alerts to customers if the water supply is affected by severe weather.
- If you lease or rent property and are not responsible for your water bill, sign up for OC Alerts to receive updates about weather and public safety emergencies
- Follow OWASA’s Facebook and Twitter accounts for updates during an emergency!
To report a water emergency in the event of severe weather, call OWASA at 919-968-4421. If you have any questions about preparing for Hurricane season, contact OWASA Safety Manager, Steve Naylor, at snaylor@owasa.org or 919-537-4297.