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Acting Commissioner O’Dowd Urges New Jersey Residents to Take Hurricane Precautionss
With June marking National Hurricane Month, there's no better time for families to review their emergency plans and prepare in the event a major hurricane should strike the Jersey coast.

“It is vital that individuals be prepared, especially during the summer when more people are likely to be at the beach,” said Acting Commissioner O’Dowd. “Even if a hurricane does not directly hit the Jersey Shore, rough currents and riptides can lead to serious injuries or drowning.”

Acting Commissioner O’Dowd encourages everyone to make the following preparations to protect their family in advance of a hurricane:

  • Know your town's evacuation routes.
  • Store flashlights (with batteries), candles and a transistor radio (with batteries).
  • Designate a meeting place for your family during an emergency.
  • Have emergency contact numbers easily accessible.
  • Make sure that you have at least a 3-5 day supply of non-perishable food and water.
  • Include prescription medications, baby supplies and any additional items for special medical needs.
  • Place an emergency kit in your car.

“As always, the best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens,” said Acting Commissioner O’Dowd. “By taking time to review emergency plans and develop emergency kits, families can avoid illness and death if a hurricane or major storm should strike New Jersey.”

The DHSS website has a page dedicated to preparing for natural disasters, with specific information on hurricane preparedness. Visit this website at www.nj.gov/health/er/natural.shtml to learn the specific things you can do to protect your family's health and safety.

For an extensive list of how to put a family emergency kit together, visit http://nj.gov/health/er/documents/kit.pdf.

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