Manicia Reneus
North Bureau Chief
Between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Hurricane Irma has already done some damages in Caribbean islands St. Martin and Barbuda. As of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Hurricane Irma continued its course as a category 5 storm with sustained winds up to 185 mph.
As Irma continues moving northwest, closing in dangerously to South Florida, state officials are calling on people to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. Broward College has ceased all activities as of 6 p.m. Wednesday until Sunday. BC will give the All Clear after the storm has passed and the school has assessed all damages, if any.
It’s estimated that should Irma reached Florida, it will be as a category 4 hurricane with winds of about 150mph, according to several forecast models.
Here are some tips to stay safe during the hurricane and to make the aftermath of the storm as comfortable as possible:
Have food that is nonperishable. If you have perishable food, eat that first. In case, you don’t have electricity for a while, you want to be able to have something to eat. Food like peanut butter and granola are good to have during or after a hurricane.
Fill your tub with water. In case there is no water coming out of your faucet, you will be able to use the water out of your tub to drink. Tap water is safe to drink. If you prefer, this water can be used to wash dishes or do laundry by hand if you want to save your gallons of water for drinking.
Make sure you get enough batteries, flashlights and a NOAA radio. If the electricity goes out, it’s important to be able to see during the night for your safety.
Have all your electronic devices with a full charge any time. If you have portable chargers, make sure they are fully charged as well. If electricity goes out, ration the use of your electronics to make them last as much as possible.
Fill up your gas tank and get cash. If the damage is big and electricity is out for days, the only way to buy will be with cash.
If you live in a house, put sandbags in front of your home to reduce the amount of flooding inside.
If a flood occurs be sure to turn off all of your electricity if you are able to. When flooding is severe, there is a chance that it can cause someone to get electrocuted. Turning off the power can prevent someone from being hurt.
If you are someone that takes medication make sure that you have enough medicine. During a hurricane, you may not get a chance to go to Walgreens.
The most important thing you can do during a hurricane is to be calm and stay inside.
Lastly, price gouging is illegal. If you feel like stores are doubling their prices, call 866-966-7226 to report them.
Florida Emergency Information Line is operating 24/7. For updates on Hurricane Irma contact 1-800-342-3557. To find a shelter in your area TEXT shelter and your zip code to the number 43362.
For updates regarding classes and events at BC, the college will be updating twice daily at www.broward.edu.
Stay safe Seahwaks!