Officials stress importance of stocking emergency supplies - FOX19.com-Cincinnati News, Weather & Sports

With Hurricane Sandy threatening the state, Gov. Dannel Malloy is asking residents to monitor the storm's path and stock up on emergency supplies.

"Just as the state is monitoring (Sandy), the public should do the same," he said in a press release.

Gov. Malloy and the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security offered the following tips to prepare for Sandy's onslaught.

Basic Emergency Supply List:

• One gallon of water, per person, per day for at least three days
• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• A whistle to signal for help
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Family Emergency Plan:

• Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you've listed them as emergency contacts.
• Teach family members how to use text messaging. Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.

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