Partners,
I’ve adopted the below series of suggested posts that I originally put together last year for Hurricane Dorian, for Hurrican Laura, to share with your residents on Nextdoor to help keep them safe, encourage them to lend a hand to each other, and make them aware of valuable resources available to them.
Feel free to share any and all of the following suggested posts with your residents on Nextdoor and other social channels. Please also see our Engagement Plan for Emergency Managers which contains additional helpful posts and these hurricane-related infographics from NOAA.
If your public agency is not yet utilizing our free government interface to communicate with your residents, please fill out this form to get started.
Suggested posts to help your residents prepare
SUBJECT: 10 tips to help you prepare for Hurricane Laura
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Neighbors,
At 10 am CDT, Hurricane Laura was located 225 miles south-southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and a minimum central pressure of 956 mb. Laura is moving toward the northwest near 16 mph. On the forecast track, Laura will approach the Upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts this evening and move inland within that area tonight. The center of Laura is forecast to move over northwestern Louisiana tomorrow, across Arkansas Thursday night, and over the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday.
Laura is a category 4 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening is expected and Laura is forecast to become a category 4 Hurricane this afternoon. Rapid weakening is expected after Laura makes landfall.
With the help of our public agency partners and friends at FEMA and NOAA, we’ve put the following tips together to help you, your family and neighbors get ready for a hurricane.
- Ensure you have food, water, and medications for each person in your home for seven days.
- Have an evacuation plan. If you’re told to evacuate, do so immediately! If you stay, you will put your life AND the lives of first responders at risk.
- Refill your gas tank and stock your vehicle with emergency supplies and a change of clothes in case an evacuation order is given.
- Make sure you have a flashlight, extra batteries, and first-aid supplies. Fill your bathtubs with water to use for flushing the toilet.
- Have enough cash on hand to last seven days.
- Take a minute to invite your neighbors to join Nextdoor — the more of you who are connected, the easier it will be to help each other.
- Bring patio furniture, garbage cans, and anything that could become a projectile inside; they could become dangerous in high winds.
- As the storm approaches, be aware of quickly moving water and flooded roads. Do not drive around barricades, or through high water.
- Use Nextdoor to check in on your neighbors — and to stay updated on how the storm is affecting your neighborhood. If it is safe to do so, check in on your neighbors who are elderly and vulnerable to ensure they are prepared and safe during the storm. If you do so in person, due to COVID-19, be sure to wear a mask and keep at least 6 feet of distance at all times. Do not enter another person’s home.
- Remember that during disasters, sending text messages is usually more reliable and faster than making phone calls because phone lines are often overloaded.
If you have other tips for your neighbors, share them below as a comment. You can also find lots of good tips at https://www.rady.gov/hurricanes. For more information Hurricane Laura please visit https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Laura
Get prepared now and keep an eye out for each other!
SUBJECT: Let’s lend a hand to our neighbors
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Neighbors are always helping neighbors
Neighbors,
As you prepare yourselves and your families for Hurricane Laura, it is also vital for you to remember to lend a hand to each other. During times of emergencies and disasters in the past, you have been there for each other and you will likely need each other again when Laura makes landfall.
Below are three ideas on how you can be helpful to each other. Please also share your ideas in the comments.
- Check-in on neighbors who are elderly and vulnerable. Make sure they have an evacuation plan and the means to evacuate. If they do not, please reach out to local authorities. Also, be sure they have food, water, and needed medications. Posting on Nextdoor is a great way to reach your neighbors and get crucial conversations started. If you do so in person, due to COVID-19, be sure to wear a mask and keep at least 6 feet of distance at all times. Do not enter another person’s home.
- Post to Nextdoor to offer to help your neighbors put up hurricane shutters or run an errand and pick up food, supplies, and medication.
- Consider letting your neighbors know if you have a generator so those who may rely on electricity for medical equipment know of an option they can turn to should the power go out.
Finally, don’t forget, follow any evacuation orders if and when given.
Be safe and take care of each other!
If you know have ideas on other ways you and your neighbors can help each other, post them as a comment below.
POLL: Have you secured your loose outdoor items?
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To post a Poll, select the Poll option along the top of the post menu.
Secure loose items before strong winds
For “Ask a question”: Have you secured your loose outdoor items?
For “Add a poll description”: Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected along portions of the coastal areas of TX and LA. In addition to life-threatening storm surge and dangerous waves are likely as well as very high winds.
So tell us, have you secured your loose outdoor items?
If you have any other tips, leave them below as a comment.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, they are secure
- No, not yet, thanks for the reminder
SUBJECT: Generators should always be used OUTSIDE the home
Generators should always be used outside
Neighbors,
Did you know that it is only safe to use generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from all doors, windows, and vents?
If the power goes out, many of you will turn to generators. If you do, make sure you have carbon monoxide alarms in your home and do not use a generator in a wet area as this can cause shock or electrocution.
Also, be sure to connect appliances to the generator with heavy-duty extension cords. Do not fuel your generator when it is running as spilling gas on a hot engine can cause a fire.
If you have other generator tips, leave them below.
SUBJECT: What you need to know about storm surge
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Image or storm surge showing family and how high water from storm surge is over their head
Neighbors,
Storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane. It poses a significant threat from drowning. A mere six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes only two feet of rushing water to carry away most vehicles — including pickups and SUVs.
Watch this short video to see how dangerous storm surge can be -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHuAiELwlLU
Storm surge can cause water levels to rise quickly and flood large areas — sometimes in just minutes, and you could be left with no time to take action if you haven’t already evacuated as instructed. During the peak of a storm surge event, it is unlikely that emergency responders will be able to reach you if you are in danger.
Storm surge values do not correspond well to the hurricane wind categories (of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) that range from 1 to 5. These categories are based only on winds and do not account for storm surge. Tropical storms, category 1 or 2 hurricanes, major (category 3 to 5) hurricanes, and post-tropical cyclones can all cause life-threatening storm surge.
Storm surge can occur before, during, or after the center of the storm passes through an area and can sometimes cut off evacuation routes, so do not delay leaving if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
POLL: Have you taken pictures or made photocopies of your important documents?
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Image passport, birth certificate, insurance card, and marriage certificate
For “Ask a question”: Have you taken pictures or made photocopies of your important documents?
For “Add a poll description”: Dear neighbors, with Laira approaching, it’s important to make sure you have pictures or photocopies of your important personal identification documents such as drivers licenses, birth certificates, and Military ID, as well as homeowners/renters insurance and flood insurance policies. You will also want to make sure you have photos or photocopies of property records, estate documents, and financial and medical information such as bank account statements and insurance cards.
If you have any other tips, leave them below as a comment.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, we have photos or photocopies of important documents
- No, we don’t, thanks for the information
SUBJECT: See damage, reply to this post with a picture and location
Photos of damage
Neighbors,
If your property or nearby trees, power lines, roads, bridges, or buildings get damaged, it would be helpful to us if you would kindly take a picture and reply to this post with the location, description, and image. We will use this information to help coordinate a response if needed.
Please only venture outside if it is safe to do so.
SUBJECT: Hurricane Laura Home Clean Up Hotline (844) 965–1386
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Crisis Clean Up resources for Hurricane Laura
Neighbors,
A Home Cleanup Hotline for survivors of Hurricane Laura will be open through September 14th, 2020. Call the number below for help with home cleanup. As they are able, reputable and vetted relief agencies may assist you and your neighbors in cutting fallen trees, removing drywall, insulation, flooring, furniture, appliances, tarp roofs, etc. All services are free, but the service is not guaranteed due to the overwhelming need.
TO REQUEST HELP CALL: (844) 965–1386
PLEASE NOTE: This hotline CANNOT assist with social services such as food, clothing, shelter, insurance, or questions about FEMA registration. Volunteers work free of charge and provide the tools and equipment necessary to complete the work.
If you know of other resources, please share them with your neighbors below as a comment.
