Full Notification

Recommended Emergency Preparedness Kit Basics

1. Water (one gallon per person per day)
2. Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food
3. Emergency blankets
4. One week's supply of medication
5. Flashlight
6.Batteries
7. Battery-powered radio
8. First-aid kit
9. Sanitation and personal-hygiene items
10. Copies of important documents like medication lists, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, and proof of home ownership
11. Depending on the needs of your family, there may be other items you need to include, such as baby supplies--diapers, formula, and bottles.
12. Two-way radios, extra health-care items (glasses, etc.), and duct tape are also good to have on hand.

Recommendations For In and Around Your Home
1. If you have shutters that can be closed, close and secure them. 2. If you know the water in your home stops running if the power goes out, fill your bathtub and other large containers with water for bathing, flushing toilets, and cleaning. Do not drink this water.
3. Cover your windows with plywood if you think your home could be in danger of flying projectiles.
4. Garage doors are often the first feature to fail in a storm. Reinforce all garage doors.
5. YARD : Trim any weak, dead or overhanging branches from trees and bushes.
6. Clear rain gutters and downspouts.
7. Secure your lawn furniture, planters and other outdoor items, or bring them inside.
8. Turn off propane tanks. Shut off other utilities if emergency officials advise you to do so.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kelly Vence
Public Information Office
908-820-4124

MAYOR BOLLWAGE ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANE IRENE

ELIZABETH, NJ, August 25, 2011— As weather reports continue to indicate that Hurricane Irene is on a course to impact New Jersey, Mayor J. Christian Bollwage encouraged residents to be prepared.

“This weather event is anticipated to cause high winds and heavy rain, which may result in flooding and the loss of power throughout New Jersey’s communities,” said Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, “we encourage everyone to remain safely indoors and have non-perishable food, water and flashlights available during the storm.”

Hurricane Irene most recently hit the Bahamas and is currently traveling along the East Coast. If it stays on this course, the Category three storm is expected to make landfall in North Carolina on Saturday and New Jersey on early Sunday. The State of New Jersey has already issued a State of Emergency as all await the arrival of the hurricane.

Mayor Bollwage advised residents to utilize the City of Elizabeth’s numerous social media outlets to remain updated. “Storm information will continue to be posted throughout the weekend via the City’s Nixle communication and notification service, Facebook page as well as Twitter,” said Mayor Bollwage, “In the event that power is lost or cell phone and Internet service are interrupted, I encourage residents to also keep a battery-operated radio within their homes.”

Nixle updates enable municipal officials to communicate instantly with residents. Information can be sent to cell phones via text messages or through e-mail. If residents are interested in registering for this free service, they may visit www.nixle.com or text their zip code to 888777, however standard text message rates would apply.

Mayor Bollwage’s Twitter page is accessible from the City’s website located at www.elizabethnj.org and the official Facebook page of the City of Elizabeth can be accessed at http://www.facebook.com/CityofElizabethNJ.

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