Are you ready for hurricane season?

As June 1 marked the beginning of Hurricane season in the Atlantic, which runs through Nov. 30, experts at Baylor College of Medicine offer tips to help you be prepared in the event of an emergency.

Get Ready

Dr. Bobby Kapur, assistant professor of medicine-emergency medicine at Baylor, said there are several precautions to take to make sure people are safe during hurricanes:

• Build an emergency kit.
• Create a plan for family members, including pets, for a safe evacuation.
• As a family, identify a friend or relative who lives outside of the city as a point of contact to notify that you are safe.
• Know where you will go in your house in the event of severe weather. Make sure it is away from windows, will keep you safe in the event of flooding and all family members can easily exit after the storm.
• Have a set place to meet outside of your home in the event of an emergency.

Create your emergency kit

To evacuate or not?

Kapur said high-risk populations, people with infants and children, the elderly and anyone with severe medical conditions, should evacuate an area anticipating a hurricane as soon as possible. These populations should evacuate early to avoid being stuck in traffic.

If you don’t evacuate, be prepared to hunker down. Find the safest place in your home that is away from windows, will keep you safe in the event of flooding and you can easily exit after the storm.

Your health and hurricanes

Families should also know what to do if someone is injured during a hurricane. Small scrapes and abrasions can be treated with supplies from the first-aid kit. But if bleeding cannot be controlled, get help as soon as possible.

During hurricanes symptoms of chronic diseases can get worse. If you or a family member experience issues with severe dehydration, dizziness or fainting, chest pain or trouble breathing, they should be treated as soon as possible by a health care professional.

In Houston? Review the evacuation map.

Check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website for more details for help planning for disasters.

-By Audrey M. Marks