What to do before a storm
There are many ways you can prepare your home and family prior to a storm.
- Sign up for alerts on storm tracking
- Prepare your home
- Clear your yard of furniture and potential projectiles
- Board up windows or put up shutters
- Be ready to turn off power in case of a flood
- Fill containers with clean water for drinking
- Place important documents or valuables in watertight containers
- Gas up vehicles and be ready if you need to evacuate
- Identify a safe spot for potential tornado activity
- inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway)
- Build/replenish your kit
- Make an evacuation plan
- Make sure to include pets in your plan!
- Prepare to execute your evacuation plan if needed, during the storm emergency personnel may not be able to help!
What to do during a storm
Make sure you know what to do during a storm to stay safe.
- Stay indoors
- Stay tuned to the news or other alert outlets on storm tracking
- Be prepared for tornadoes during a hurricane
- Turn off power if flood waters rise
- Do not drive or swim through flooded waters. Turn around don't drown!
- If needed call 911 for help
- Keep in mind that depending on the storm and flood waters emergency personnel may suspend emergency operations until it is safe.
- Keep calm and wait for the storm to pass!
What to do after a storm
Make sure you know what to do after a storm to stay safe.
- Listen to local officials for information
- If you evacuated make sure it is safe to come back from local officials
- When assessing damage be carful of down powerlines
- If there is still flooding turn around
- Do not touch electrical equipment if still wet
- Reporting Damage: it is important to do the following before clean up
- Take pictures of water lines on the house
- Take pictures of any damage, more pictures the better
- Document estimated cost of damage
- Send information to Pinellas County (the Madeira Beach Community Development team can also help get information to the County)
- Contact your insurance company for further information on your policy and what information they need
- Debris Clean Up
- Public Works will work hard to collect debris on the curb
- Debris pick up will start with major roads and continue into neighborhoods
- Garbage pick up might not be on a regular schedule as the dumping of debris takes a bit longer post storm
- Dispose of sandbags properly
- Public Works will work hard to collect debris on the curb
- Properly apply for permits for restoration (contact the Building or Community Development Departments for specific information)