SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City and Lower Manhattan Ready for Hurricane Sandy

Oct. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- Hudson County, NJ - October 28, 2012 -- As Hurricane Sandy continues to gain momentum moving northward, SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City and Lower Manhattan urges residents and business owners to remember the importance of being ready.

Hurricane Sandy poses a potentially major threat to residents from Virginia all the way up through New England. Emergency officials are encouraging residents to get prepared now. SERVPRO’s Disaster Recovery Team has been put on alert and will be deployed to affected areas as needed.

The key to disaster preparedness is having an emergency plan in place before disaster strikes. Here are a few tips to help protect your family and your property in the event of a weather-related disaster.

Build a basic emergency supply kit. A basic kit should be stocked to supply you and each of your family members with water and food for at least three days. Consider including food for pets, as well as any necessary medications in your kit. Recommended emergency supply kit items include:

Water (one gallon/person per day)
Three day non-perishable food supply
Manual Can Opener
Battery-operated Radio, preferably a NOAA Weather radio
Flashlight and extra batteries
First Aid Kit
Whistle (to signal for help)
Dust Masks or bandanas
Local Maps
Important Documents, such as copies of Insurance Policies, identification and Bank Account information
Matches (in a waterproof container)

Make a Family Emergency Plan. You may not be home or with family when disaster strikes. Plan in advance where you will meet and how you will contact each other. Visit ready.gov to access a Family Emergency Plan template to assist in your planning.

Stay Informed. Learn the elevation level of your property. This will help you know how your property could be affected by heavy rainfall and whether it is prone to flooding. Know your community evacuation routes and determine where you would go and how you would get there if evacuation becomes necessary. Finally, listen to local authorities for direction.

Prepare your Property. In the event of a hurricane or severe storm, you may need to prepare your home or business for impact. You can do this by covering all of the windows; permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with plywood. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking. Keep trees and shrubs around your home trimmed to make them more wind resistant. Clear any debris from gutters and downspouts. Secure all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and any other items not secured.

"It’s time to prepare,” said SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City and Lower Manhattan owner, Lance Harvey. “While we can only watch what is predicted and can’t change the storm’s path, what we can do is prepare our homes and our families so we can remain safe.”

For more emergency preparedness resources, residents can contact SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City at 201-656-0035 or SERVPRO of Lower Manhattan at 212-564-6365 or visit www.servprohobokenuc.com.

About SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City and Lower Manhattan

SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City and Lower Manhattan is a leading provider of fire, water, mold and other specialty cleanup and restoration services.  Independently owned and operated, SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City and Lower Manhattan responds to property damage emergencies ranging from multi-million dollar disasters affecting entire communities to those suffered by individual businesses and homes.