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Even after feeling the threat of five major hurricanes — all Category 3 or stronger — last year, a poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. revealed that most residents from Maine to Texas were not prepared for the 2009 hurricane season.

The poll, conducted as part of the National Hurricane Survival Initiative, had some alarming results for emergency management officials:

• • 83% said they have not taken steps in the past year to make their homes stronger.
• • 66% have no hurricane survival kit.
• • 62% don’t feel vulnerable to a hurricane or related tornado or flooding.
• • 55% do not have a family disaster plan.

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (NOAA) predicts the 2009 hurricane season will be near normal, with a 70% chance of having between 9 and 14 named storms. Of those, 4 to 7 storms could become hurricanes, including 1 to 3 major hurricanes — Category 3, 4 or 5. Clearly, if you’re one of the 35 million Americans who live in regions most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes, it’s time to prepare for the worst.

The map below displays all of the calls OnStar received when Hurricane Gustav hit the Texas Gulf Coast area in August of 2008. Blue dots represent each time a subscriber pushed their Blue Button and red dots represent Emergency button pushes.

Know the difference between a hurricane watch and warning.

If you are under a hurricane watch, hurricane conditions are a threat within 36 hours. You should review your hurricane plans, keep informed and be ready to act if a warning is issued. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours. Complete your storm preparations and leave the area if directed to do so by authorities.

Here’s what you should do:

• • Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for information from the National Weather Service.
• • Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).
• • Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you don’t have hurricane shutters, board up all windows and doors with plywood.
• • Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.
• • Fill your car’s gas tank.
• • Create an evacuation plan for your family. Identify two meeting places — one near your home, and one outside your area in case you can’t return home. Select an out-of-area emergency contact person.
• • Make plans for your pets.
• • Evacuate if advised by authorities.

Here’s what supplies you need:

• • At least a 3-day supply of easy-to-prepare, non-perishable food, and 1 gallon of water per person per day.
• • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather radio, if possible).
• • Manual can opener.
• • Flashlight, extra batteries.
• • First-aid kit.
• • 7-day supply of any medications and medical items (hearing aid batteries, glasses, etc).
• • Personal hygiene items.
• • Copies of personal documents (medical information and proof of address, deed or lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies, etc).
• • Family and emergency contact information.
• • Extra cash.
• • Extra clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.
• • Insect repellent.

OnStar and the American Red Cross

As part of Crisis Assist, OnStar Advisors can also help register subscribers on the American Red Cross Safe and Well Web site (redcross.org) so friends and families know they are safe. During a hurricane, OnStar can quickly access Red Cross online crisis services information to direct subscribers to open shelters, feeding sites and other disaster services and save them from making an additional call to the Red Cross. OnStar and the Red Cross first partnered during the 2007 hurricane season to provide disaster relief information to OnStar subscribers in or near affected areas.

For more information about being prepared during hurricane season, visit redcross.org.

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Tags: American Red Cross, Crisis Assist, Hurricane, Hurricane Gustav