JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
It is now hurricane season and members of the JBLE community should be prepared if a hurricane were to strike in the area.
Some of the hazard risks that are associated with hurricanes are storm surges, high winds, inland flooding, tornadoes and power outages. To assist the JBLE community the following tips were provided by the Air Combat Command safety office to prepare and keep the community safe during the 2016 hurricane season, which runs through November 30.
The ACC safety office encourages members to have emergency supply and food kits on hand in case of a hurricane or disaster.
When preparing emergency supply kits, the JBLE community should take into consideration where they live and customize the contents to meet the needs of their family members. Full kits can be stored at home and smaller kits can be maintained at the workplace, vehicle and other locations.
Basic Emergency Supply Kit to include; water, food, battery powered radio, flashlight, whistle, dust mask, moist towelettes, manual can opener, local maps and a cell phone with charger.
Additional items that families should consider are; cash, matches in a waterproof container, least one week’s supply of medications, toilet paper, soap, plastic garbage bags, and personal hygiene items.
Emergency food kits should also be prepared in advance with select foods that do not require refrigeration, preparation and little or no water. These include foods like ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits or vegetables, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers, canned juices, non-perishable pasteurized milk, high energy foods, vitamins and foods for infants.
Along with emergency supply and food kits, members should be aware of the Hampton Roads safety procedures.
Hurricane gates are installed along Interstate 64 to help emergency responders reverse the roadway during a major evacuation due to storm surge. The gates are located on the eastbound ramps along I-64 before the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel - Exit 273, to I-295 in Richmond - Exit 200. If the governor orders an interstate lane reversal, all lanes on I-64 will carry westbound traffic. No traffic will be allowed to travel east on the interstate during a reversal
If the gates are down, there will be only two exits for reversed traffic before I-295, Exit 234 in Williamsburg where services include gas, food, lodging and a hospital, and Exit 205 at Bottoms Bridge where services include gas and food.
Virginia’s Department of Transportation advises Hampton Roads residents to find out if they live in an area susceptible to flooding. Storm surge maps are available at www.vaemergency.gov.
The Midtown Tunnel and Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will close when an approaching tropical storm or hurricane produces winds of 39 mph, and is forecasted to intensify.
The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, James River Bridge, Downtown Tunnel, Coleman Bridge and the High Rise Bridge will close when an approaching tropical storm or hurricane produces 45 mph winds, and is forecasted to intensify.
For more information on emergency supply kits, hurricane preparation tips and checklists, and other helpful links, visit www.jble.af.mil/library/hurricane information/index.asp, www.virginiadot.org or www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia/getakit.